Diesel Engines: 3 Tips for A Smooth Running Winter

by Brad, Cars for Keeps Mechanic

Brad is a new employee here in the shop, and with a degree from UTI Automotive School in Chicago, he's been a wonderful resource for the shop. We're happy to welcome him to the team!

From new Volkswagens to older Mercedes to many of you truck owners out there, diesel is becoming more and more popular. With that in mind, I thought you should know some tips for keeping your diesel engines running smooth through the winter.

First: Park your diesel inside if you can. Even if you do park them outside, most diesels have a block heater that will help if you plug them in. If you don’t have a block heater and can't park inside, it may be worth your time to invest in an electric blanket for those cold nights. The reason for keeping them warm is that unlike gasoline, they run off of heat. The fuel is compressed until it ignites off of the heat. So keeping the motor warm will allow for quicker cold starts. This is not only a convenience, but it will also help the engine last longer.

Second: Once you get the engine started, you will want to let it run for a few minutes before driving. The motor needs time to warm up before it can run efficiently. If you start and drive away immediately, you will get worse fuel mileage because some of the fuel will not burn. You will also see a loss in power.

Third: Have your battery tested. A weak or low battery will give you problems. Battery power changes with the temperature, so the colder it is the weaker the battery is in any situation. With lowered temperatures, the oil in any engine thickens, so it takes more power from the battery to start. If you consider these factors and add in the fact that cranking on a diesel is already strenuous on the battery, you find that diesel engines are more prone to battery failure in winter - so be sure to start the winter out on a full battery.

I hope these tips help you have a worry free winter with your diesel!

Snow Tire FAQs: Michigan Winter Driving Essentials

by Marjorie, Cars for Keeps Social Media Manager

If you've lived in Michigan your entire life, like me, you understand how easy it is to become helpless to the winter elements. If you're new to the area, then you're in for a treat; Michigan's legendary lake effect snow is beautiful, unpredictable and an absolute horror for unprepared winter travelers. While there's not much we can do about keeping our cars from being buried in snow drifts or coated in ice every morning, we can do something about making sure our cars remain on the road - once we've managed to get there.

Here are a few basic facts you should know about snow tires. Check out the YouTube video at the end of this post if you don't believe tread really makes a difference. Which car will you be?

Aren't all-weather tires good enough for winter?

No. Again, I refer you to the video in this post for proof. All-weather tires are designed for dry and wet conditions in warm weather, but they're in no way prepared to give tread on black ice, packed snow and sandy slush. Snow tires are specially made with softer rubber and carefully placed grooves which quickly wear down on dry pavement - which is why you should never leave your snow tires on past spring...unless you like buying new snow tires every year.

When should I put on my snow tires?

Well, how brave are you? If you're a daredevil like me, you may intentionally wait until after the first snowfall just to test your ice-racing skills. For the rest of you, who value your and your family's safety above thrill, it's best to have snow tires put on before the first snowfall, which, in Michigan, could be anytime between October 15th and December 30th. Typically, having snow tires put on a few weeks before Thanksgiving is plenty early enough, and it ensures safe holiday travel.

Should I get studded tires?

This question is best directed to your tire dealer or auto repair shop (I'm sure Dennis has a strong opinion), but there aren't very many situations where studded tires help you more than regular snow tires - in some environments, studded tires can actually give you less traction. Studs are only good for packed snow and ice, and they will hinder traction in thick snow, slush and dry pavement. So unless you're commuting across the tundra in Alaska, sticking to unstudded snow tires is a safe bet.

Should I get two snow tires or four?

Tire dealers and some mechanics have a strong opinion on this question, too. But for those of us who would prefer not to spend an extra $250 on two superfluous snow tires, here are the bare facts: front wheel drive cars should at least have both front wheels equipped with snow tires, and likewise, rear wheel drive cars should at least have snow tires on both rear wheels. All wheel drive automobiles, of course, should have four snow tires. It's true that having snow tires on all four wheels, even on front and rear wheel drive cars, provides ideal traction, but having only powered wheels fitted with snow tires will still provide far more traction than regular summer or all-weather tires.

For rear wheel drive owners, remember to throw some weight in the back. Keeping your summer tires or some bricks in the trunk - or bed - will give you an extra boost in traction.

Safe driving!

A Woman's Point of View: Cars for Keeps Turns 20

by Colette Cooley, Cars For Keeps Office Manager

Remembering birthdates, wedding anniversary’s, other important anniversary dates such as: first kiss, first date, first time driving by yourself, first day you met “Him”. It is mostly a woman thing. On the other hand, men tend to remember important dates in the future. The date of the Super Bowl, the opening day of hunting season, and the date when his tax refund should arrive. In typical male fashion, Cars for Keeps' 20th anniversary whizzed right over Rob's head this year. Still, it's not too late to pause for a moment and think about what 20 years of quality repair service has meant.

On November 7, 1989, Rob Hopp took a giant step of faith and courage when he opened the doors of his new business, which was then called Automotive Advantage. There have been some changes since then; a new location and a new name, but the foundation the company was built upon remains the same. To serve the customer with integrity. To give every car a life of at least 250,000 miles, one car at a time. To always use sound business ethics. To give the customer all the information they need so they can make the decisions that are appropriate for them at the time. And my personal favorite: interacting with female customers by educating and informing them respectfully about automotive matters, so they feel comfortable dealing with Cars For Keeps.

We have the best customers in the world. Thank you for your continuous support over the years. Thank you Rob, for giving back to the community that means so much to you. Good Job!

Happy Birthday to Cars for Keeps: 20 Years of Quality Service

by Dennis Sweet, Service Manager at Cars for Keeps.

Happy Birthday sounds nice at any age. Some people would like to quit having birthdays once they've reached a certain age. Well, I say bring on the birthdays. In case any you are wondering what I am rambling about, I am not talking about myself; I am talking about Cars for Keeps.

As of November 1, 2009 we are 20 years old - hurray! For us, that means 20 years of helping people like yourselves keep your vehicles as long as you wanted to. Here’s to another 20 years of great clients and the satisfaction of being able to help people by keeping their cars healthy.

Thank you to all who have made these last years so rewarding. You have made saying happy birthday worth it.

Until next time,

Dennis

Top 4 Car Myths - True or Untrue?

by Marjorie, Cars for Keeps Social Media Manager

You hear the craziest things about how to maintain your car. And let's admit it: most of us DO crazy things - or worse, we do things to our cars based on rumors and myths rather than concrete mechanical knowledge. In an age when most of us get 90% of our car knowledge from movies like "Gone in Sixty Seconds", we could probably all use a little maintenance myth-busting that helps us know which mythical advice to follow and which to throw out the window.

1) Always keep your gas tank full. This is a major point of contention between my husband and me. Seeing how far I can get the needle to go below the big red E is like a sport for me - if worst comes to worst, I can always swerve to get the last remaining dregs into the combustion chamber. My husband is far more practical and points out the safety of having a full gas tank.

As it turns out, keeping a full gas tank not only means that you can jump in the car for trips to the emergency room without stopping for gas, but it also prevents water from getting in the tank. Particularly during cold winter months, condensed water forms on the inside of an empty tank, causing improper flow and, at times, stalling. I've had this happen numerous times; my poor little Focus even conked out on the freeway once when I'd been running it on fumes. Turns out, it just wanted a full tank to push the water out.

2) Premium gas will mean better mileage and fewer repairs. My penny-pinching side is happy to report that this is relatively bogus. With today's fuel standards, even low and mid grades of gasoline have detergents and other additives that keep everything running smooth. Additionally, the mileage you'll gain with premium isn't nearly big enough to justify the cost. Unless you have a supercharged engine or a Hemi, premium doesn't make much of a difference.

3) Always warm up your car. As unpleasant as it is to slosh through powder in your pajamas, this one is actually an excellent idea, as it benefits both driver and the car. Particularly on those nostril-freezing winter mornings Michigan is so famous for, giving your car a few minutes to warm allows it to move oil and other fluids to where they need to go. The difference in car function can be tantamount to the safety difference between a driver stepping into a warm interior and gazing out of a clear windshield and a driver gripping an icy steering wheel and asthmatically jerking from the cold.

4) Wait a while before going through a car wash after repairs. I was shocked to see in our analytics report that someone had searched the term "how long after repairs can I go through the carwash", but hey - I've believed crazier myths. Let's let Rob tackle this question: "I am surprised how frequently this question comes up and have found that most of the questioners have had body repairs done to their vehicles where the body man recommended waiting a certain period before washing the car. In the mechanical repair field, there are very few situations where the vehicle cannot be washed or driven right away. If such an occasion arises, typically, the vehicle is kept for follow-up and road testing to ensure a complete repair."

Safe driving!