Raleigh Auto Repair

A tire rotation is an auto service that involves repositioning a car's tires in different patterns. Tire rotations are vital to both your vehicle and your safety. Often, your car manufacturer may require you to get this done to keep your warranty valid. Your vehicle's manufacturer sets the time to which you should rotate your tires. However, the industry rule of thumb is every 5,000 miles or every oil change. Getting both of these services done at once will make it easier to remember.    Why Is It Important? There are many advantages to tire rotations. They include: Evens Out Tire Wear Promotes Even Treadwear Improves Vehicle Handling Improves Fuel efficiency Prevents Tread Cupping Minimizes Tire Noise and Vibrations Keeps Auto Costs Down By regularly rotating your tires, wear is evenly distributed across all of your tires. As a result of more even tread, you can extend the life of your tires.     Routine tire rotations can significantly dec ... read more

Regularly inspecting your vehicle's fluids is the best way to keep it running at optimal performance. Your vehicle's owner manual most likely states where fluid levels should be and at what intervals they should be topped off, refilled, or flushed. Staying aware of your fluid levels and when they are approaching empty can help prevent significant damage to your car's various systems. Below is a quick guide on your vehicle's five essential fluids and how they improve your car's efficiency.  Engine Oil Engine oil is the most frequent service, and it gets used up quickly for a reason. Motor oil is essentially a lubricant for the engine's parts. It also reduces friction and prevents corrosion. By minimizing the friction, the heat gets dispersed evenly throughout the engine. It's vital to inspect the oil because it can pick up dirt, dust, and debris over time, which will reduce its effectiveness. Coolant/Antifreeze Since your engine can get to scorching ... read more

If you notice that you keep veering right or left when driving, you may need a vehicle alignment. By getting this type of service done, you're ensuring a smoother and safer ride, all while extending the life of your wheels. Your car has four wheels, and all of them should be adjusted for alignment, right? Not exactly. Your vehicle may simply only need a front-end alignment.   Front End Alignment versus Wheel Alignment Alignment is the arrangement of the suspension system that assists in supporting and turning the vehicle properly. Wheels must be in perfect alignment for all tires to work simultaneously by rotating in unison and traveling in the same direction. A slight divergence in the angle of your wheels can negatively affect the suspension system causing irreversible damage and premature tire wear.   A front wheel alignment, also referred to as a 2-wheel alignment, means the alignment only takes place in the front wheels so that they run parallel to the center of ... read more

Engine oil is essentially the bloodline of your vehicle. It's the key substance to keep your engine happy and running for hundreds and thousands of miles. Oil changes are an essential and routine part of car care that should be your number one priority! But why do automobiles need oil changes, to begin with?    What Does Oil Do for a Car? The primary role of motor oil is to grease up the moving parts of your engine. Since an engine has so many complex and fast-moving features, engine oil is required to keep running smoothly by reducing friction and wear. Otherwise, they would grind against each other and cause damage. Furthermore, a well-lubricated engine produces an intense amount of heat. That's why another significant function of engine oil is to extract the excess heat away. Without engine oil, your car would constantly overheat and not run at all. Skipping routine oil changes can have threatening consequences for the health of your car and can even lead to c ... read more

It seems that gas prices in Raleigh, NC continue to spike, especially with the national gas crisis that recently struck the east coast. Your vehicle's miles per gallon (MPG) is a key indicator of fuel efficiency and the distance a car can run before it needs to be refilled. Therefore if your vehicle isn't reaching its average MPG during the rise of gas prices, it can be a pain on your wallet.   Here are some tips to follow to increase your car's MPG: 1. Limit the use of air conditioning or heating. The HVAC system is a huge factor in affecting your MPG. It can significantly decrease your fuel efficiency if it is constantly being blasted. Try to limit the use of AC or heat whenever necessary.    2. Minimize what you carry in your car. Items that weigh a lot are not suitable for long-time storage in your vehicle if you want to maximize your MPG. Make an effort to remove any unnecessary articles in your trunk.   3. Give your tires at ... read more