Engine Repair Isn't Always Major

Keep Your Car On The Road With Engine Repair

When it comes to making sure your car stays in top running condition and gets you safely from point A to point B, engine repair is a necessary maintenance aspect. Your car’s engine is made up of many parts, all of which can wear down or break in time. Even the smallest problems can quickly turn into larger ones, so to keep your car running, prompt repairs are essential.

Engine Components

A car’s engine is an intricate machine made up of more than 500  parts, and in order for the vehicle to keep running perfectly, each one needs to be functioning and in good condition. While some engine components are unlikely to break, others are prone to normal wear and tear. Engine repairs are often necessary due to broken or worn out parts such as:

• Spark plugs and wires
• Head gaskets
• Intake manifolds
• Sensors
• Belts, chains, rods or pulleys

How to Tell if an Engine Needs Repairs

The most common way to know that your engine is in need of some TLC is seeing the “Check Engine” light come on. There are, however, a few other things to watch out for that could be a sign of problems. If your car is exhibiting any of the following symptoms, you should get to the garage immediately:

• Knocking or squealing sound coming from the engine compartment
• Loss of power
• Overheating
• Failure to start
• Smoke or unusual odor
• Stalling

Preventing Problems

There are several things you can do to keep your car running at peak performance. Check the fluids regularly to make sure you aren’t running low on oil, transmission fluid,coolant or brake fluid. Change your oil every 5,000 miles or as often as your vehicle’s manufacturer recommends. Drain your radiator and replace the coolant approximately every other year.

Read your owner’s manual, paying close attention to the recommended maintenance schedule for your car. It is important to perform routine maintenance as recommended by the manufacturer to prevent problems before they arise.

Engine Repair

Sometimes, even you’ve kept up with the maintenance and done everything right, engine problems pop up that require professional attention. When you bring your car to us at Tune Tech Automotive, a highly-trained and skilled mechanic will begin by performing a thorough checkup to accurately diagnose your engine repair problem. In many cases, engine problems are related to minor issues that can be repaired quickly and easily. In other situations, though, more major repairs may be needed.

Whether your car is in need of a simple fix, requires a total engine overhaul or anything in between, the professionals at Tune Tech Automotive strive to get your back on the road as quickly and affordably as possible. Give us a call at 303-364-3391 to schedule your appointment today.

Tune Up Your Car For Summer

Spring Tune Ups Keep Your Car Running Smoothly 

The snow has finally melted, and the salt has been cleared from the roadway. A long winter has probably taken its toll on your car inside and out. With warmer weather and longer days on the horizon, now is a good time to get your car ready for spring adventures and summer road trips.

Springtime vehicle maintenance is largely about undoing winter’s damage. It’s good to start with a thorough cleaning of both your car’s interior and exterior. After several months of not washing your car or vacuuming the interior because of cold weather, there is likely a lot of debris that needs dealt with. It’s important to get rid of road salt as it wreaks havoc on cars. On the outside, it breaks down paint and metal, leading to rust. Inside your car, salt trapped in the carpet causes the fibers to deteriorate.

Once your ride is sparkling clean, it’s time for some spring cleaning under the hood. Replace your air filter, and check all your fluids. If you haven’t had an oil change in a while, spring is a good time, especially if you are planning any upcoming road trips. You may also want to consider a general tune up just to make sure your car is in perfect running order.

During the winter and early spring months, the roads are full of potholes that do more damage to your car than you may realize. Rough roads commonly throw cars out of alignment. If your car is pulling to one side or the other, a professional alignment is in order. Along with cold temperatures, potholes take a toll on the components that make up your suspension system, so it’s a good idea to get your suspension checked out professionally to make sure there are no issues. If you’re hearing a clunking sound, or your car seems to be riding rougher than it was before winter, get it checked out immediately. Potholes are also rough on tires, so you may need to invest in a new set for spring and summer. If you’re using winter tires, you also need to get them changed out to all-season tires.

Getting your car ready for spring and summer doesn’t have to be difficult, and performing a bit of basic maintenance every year is a good way to avoid major expenses down the road. Take good care of your car, and it will keep running for years to come!

Aurora Oil Change Tips You Should Know

Get Your Car's Oil Changed For Best Performance

One thing that always seems to be on someone's to do list is changing the oil in their car. Changing your oil on a regular basis is one of the best things you can do to keep your at peak performance, as well as maximize the life of your car.

It is recommended that you change your car's oil every 3000-5000 miles or as recommended in your vehicle’s owner’s manual. Each vehicle is different, it is very important that you check your vehicle’s manual to see what the requirement for your make and model. If intervals are extended, you need to ensure the oil used is capable of extended mileage changes.

Waiting too long between oil changes can cause serious, costly damage to your engine. The oil lubricates all moving parts and not changing your oil can have serious consequences on your engine. Without regular oil changes internal engine damage can occur. It is very important to never exceed the mileage intervals that are recommended or your specific vehicle.

There are many different specific oil types available on the market today. Conventional oil is typically the oil that is used in bulk at dealerships and is the cheapest at auto stores. This type of oil is great for owners who adhere to their recommended oil change schedule and vehicle with low-mile engines.

Premium Conventional oil is another oil option for your vehicle. Premium is the standard new-car oil.

Full-synthetic oil is made for high-tech engines. Check your owner's manual- if it doesn't call for synthetic oil, using it will only be an additional expense that may not add anything to the performance or life of the engine. 

Synthetic-blend oil is premium conventional oil that has a dose of synthetic oil as well. These oils are popular with pick-up and SUV drivers because they offer better protection. It usually costs only a fraction more than premium conventional oils. 

Finally, if your vehicle has more than 75,000 miles, it would be best to use high-mileage oil. Seal conditioners are added to the oil to expand and increase the flexibility of internal engine seals.

Another important aspect of changing the oil in a car is the oil filter. Oil filters filter out all the solid contaminants that are in the oil that you don’t want circulating through the engine, which can cause engine damage. Over time the oil filter will build up all of the contaminants, so it’s important to be sure to change the filter every time the oil is changed.

Figuring out what the best oil for your car is, as well as trying to change and dispose of your own oil can be a hassle for car owners. Due to today’s rules and restrictions regarding the disposal of oil, it’s recommended to have a mechanic change your oil. After the mechanics at Tune Tech Automotive change your oil, they actually store it, and use it to heat their shop. The mechanics at Tune Tech Automotive in Aurora take all of the work out of auto repair and oil changes for you. Give us a call at 303-364-3391 to schedule your oil change in Aurora today!

Get Your Vehicle Ready For Winter!

Welcome back fellow commuters! It's that time of year again, winter is on the horizon. It's time to break out the sweaters, hats, gloves, heavy coats and get ready for that biting wind that comes down from the mountains. But that also means it's time for you to get your car ready too!

I know what you're thinking, “what more is there to do beyond the routine scheduled maintenance?” Well it just so happens there is a lot you need to do. If you think your car is good enough without bringing it in where myself or one of my fellow Tune Tech Automotive mechanics can take a look at it, you might find yourself with more trouble than you can afford this winter season!

Right out of the gate I need to tell you to double check your oil! I know you've probably been pretty good about getting your oil changed when it needs to be, but you need to consider the incredible temperature swings we endure here in Colorado. One minute it feels like it's in the 50's and full sun, the next it's below zero and we're getting socked by a blizzard! That has a real effect on your engine oil and its viscosity. If you're running your car or truck on your standard 10W-30, you may want to consider moving to a 5W-30 for the season. Of course you're going to want to consult your vehicle's owner manual to make sure you're using the correct weight of oil or you can bring it in to see us and we'll be able to tell you.

Believe it or not, your coolant will need to be prepped as well. I know with that winter chill in the air it may not seem like the coolant needs any help, but it does. Coolant doesn't just help regulate the temperature of the engine, it also works to prevent corrosion. If the coolant to water ratio is off just by a little bit, you could be causing your vehicle's engine a lot of damage down the road. A good ratio to remember is 60-40, 60% coolant, 40% water. That is also something we'll take a look at for you as well.

The next thing you're going to need to be aware of is your vehicle's battery. Nothing can kill a battery faster than extreme cold, so you're going to want to make sure that your battery is fully charged and is maintaining a charge. A quick and simple way to do this is by checking the terminals and cables and making sure they're connected correctly. You're also going to want to double check the battery's fluid levels. If they're low, you can fill them with some distilled water that you can pick up from the supermarket. Next you're going to want to check the age of your battery. Every battery has a manufacture date stamped into it, if it's getting old, we can recommend a quality, reliable replacement.

As you well know, living in this mountain climate, the roads can get a bit slippery and treacherous out there. One way to weather these conditions is by having a good set of snow tires. That extra amount of tread can be invaluable when the snow starts to pack into the roads. If you live into the higher elevations, you already should own a set of snow chains, if you don't, make sure that you get some. They're an inexpensive solution when compared to the damage that could happen to your vehicle on slippery roads.

You're also going to want to make sure you have a good windshield wiper fluid with an anti-freeze solution fully topped off. As the snow comes down, it can melt and buildup ice on your windshield quickly. A good washer solution will keep that buildup from forming. It will also help effectively remove the dirt and mud that gets kicked up by other vehicles driving ahead of you. Since we're still in the fall season, now is the perfect time to replace those wiper blades. Making sure your blades are in good shape is a great safety measure for this time of year.

The last thing I have to recommend for you is perhaps one of the most important. Bad weather can happen almost at any time around these parts. Things can get so bad that you have to pull over or your vehicle might get forced off the road. If you're in an area that doesn't see a lot of traffic, you run a pretty serious risk of not being seen for a good long while. The DMV recommends, and I also highly recommend that you have a well stocked emergency kit in the trunk of your vehicle. A good kit should have road flares, blankets, a battery powered radio, a good set of warm boots, as well as extra engine oil, coolant, washer fluid and a reliable flashlight with extra batteries. Some people like to add in there a bag of cat litter to help your wheels get some extra traction. And in the event that the storm is a bad one, having some extra water and snacks on hand is a really good idea.

The precautions I just listed are pretty basic and simple, but they're essential. By taking those precautions to heart and making sure your oil and fluids are topped off, your battery is in proper order, making sure you have good wiper blades, and by having an emergency kit ready, you're going to be all set for winter. If you're not comfortable doing a lot of this on your own, that's okay. After just one quick visit at Tune Tech Automotive and you should be all set for the snow! Give us a call at 303-364-3391 to schedule an appointment for your vehicle!