In the previous post about towing and extending the life of your automatic transmission, we covered some very important items.  Here are 4 more tips to be aware of when preparing for the trip to the mountains or the desert.

I know you probably get tired of hearing about how important maintenance is, and believe me I understand.  It’s not easy, especially in these times, to put money into your vehicle when it isn’t broken.  But I also know that you don’t want to breakdown on the road going to or coming from your destination.  So here are the tips in no special order.

If you notice anything unusual, check it out right away

Train yourself to listen for any unusual noises while driving.  If you feel or hear what seems like an irregular shifting pattern or notice a leak, don’t wait.  Get it checked immediately for a potential problem.  This may save you money in the long run.  If the Check Engine or Transmission lights are coming on, even if the don’t stay on, be sure to have it checked out right away.

Service it sooner rather than later

A general mileage rule for getting your vehicle’s transmission serviced varies depending on who you talk to.  Of course always consult your owner’s manual first.  If you are not towing or driving in severe conditions (i.e. temperatures in the high 80’s or above or very dusty conditions) a 30,000 mile service or flush interval is normally what is recommended.  If you are driving in severe conditions a 15,000 mile interval would be the best recommendation.  Be aware that on some newer vehicles, the fluids used may allow for extending these mileage recommendations.  Just FYI, the cost of servicing a transmission normally runs between $120.00 and $180.00.

To flush or Not to Flush

Should you flush the fluid rather than having the transmission fluid drained and the filter replaced?  Again consult your owner’s manual.  What you’ll probably find is that many manuals will not mention flushing at all.  Flushing is primarily an aftermarket repair shop recommendation rather than an OEM recommended procedure.  I suggest you contact your shop and ask their opinion, but be sure to ask them if they have researched your particular vehicle to determine if the manufacture has a bulletin out on this procedure.  Honda, for instance, says NOT to flush transmissions on their vehicles.  Their bulletin number HSN 0206-07 gives the reasons why they don’t recommend it.

Be sure the engine and fuel systems maintenance is done

Make sure your engine and fuel system are in good condition and are properly tuned.  The transmission can’t function correctly if these systems are not working the way they are designed to work.  Often times a repair shop will diagnose a transmission complaint only to find out the problem was with the fuel system rather than the transmission.  Don’t waste money by paying for unnecessary diagnosis.

Copyright 2010 Dave Eastman, ADSi.  All rights reserved

Call Dale’s Auto Care at (208) 345-5620 if you have any questions or stop by today in Boise at 2602 Vista Ave.

Be sure to reply to this post to let us know if the information was valuable to you.

Summer is almost here and your’re probably already planning a trip our of town with the camper, trailer, boat, or motor home. Nobody wants to be thinking about how hard towing can be on our automatic transmissions. No one plans to be the guy broken down on the side of the road that everyone else is driving past on their way to the best camp sites. But with Memorial Day fast approaching, here are some tips to help you save money by preparing your tow vehicle or motor home for that first weekend away from it all.
Transmission service intervals and procedures vary from one Original Equipment Manufacture (OEM) to another. With the aftermarket repair industry and many new car dealerships going beyond the OEM servicing guidelines to recommend more frequent transmission flushing and service intervals, always consult your vehicle owner’s manual. The price of most transmission overhauls range from $1500.00 to $2500.00. The much smaller price you will pay for servicing is more than worth the investment.
A day or two before you leave town be sure to check your transmissions fluid level. Warm you vehicle’s transmission to its normal operating temperature. This can be done by simply driving it the recommended mileage distance or time and then check the fluid level following the procedure in your owner’s manual. 

Here are 5 tips that could help you avoid a potential breakdown.  You can also find some additional information about your transmission at the Car Car Aware website.

Avoid excess heat in your transmission

Research suggests that 90% of transmission failures are caused by heat.  A 20 degree increase in transmission fluid temperature above normal can cut the life of the fluid in half.  When driving conditions increase the normal operating temperature of the fluid it accelerates oxidation breaking down of the protective characteristics of the fluid.  This oxidation causes the fluid to turn brown and smell burnt.  It also causes the rubber parts in the transmission to harden which interfers with their ability to function correctly.  Metal parts car warp or expand so much that they damage gaskets and seals.  Heat is a serious enemy of transmission health.

Install an auxiliary cooler

The OEM built-in coolers that come on your tow vehicle may not cool enough to give you the protection you need.  An auxiliary cooler can save your transmission from the damage done by excess heat.  When properly installed the auxiliary coolers may help your transmission to run 30% to 50% cooler when towing.  Running in the neighborhood of a few hundred dollars, this investment is definitely worth looking into.

Don’t tow in overdrive

Most OEMs recommend you not tow while in overdrive, but always consult your manual.  Look for a button on the dash or steering column that turns overdrive off.  If your vehicle doesn’t have this button, if probably has the overdrive position on the shift indicator.  Pull the shift lever from overdrive to the drive position before towing.

Use the correct fluid

Types of fluid vary from vehicle to vehicle.  General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, Dodge, Toyota, Honda, Nissan and other OEMs have their own Automatic Transmission Fluid(ATF).  Many OEMs over the years have improved their fluids and specify that the new fluid will work in their older cars and trucks.  They usually produce a technical bulletin to that effect if such is the case.  The newer fluids may be more expensive but will likely improve the protection of the transmission which makes it worth the expense.

Don’t overfill your transmission

Follow your manual very carefully when checking and adding fluid.  Overfilling can cause the fluid to foam, which can lead to erratic shifting, loss of internal lubrication and potential transmission damage.

Call Dale’s Auto Care at (208) 345-5620 to make an appointment to have your transmission checked or serviced.  They are located in Boise, Idaho at 2602 Vista Ave.

We appreciate knowing if you found this information helpful and would welcome comments.  Watch for another post soon about  automatic transmission care.  Drive safely!

Copyright 2010 Dave Eastman, ADSi.  All rights reserved.

Today’s Idaho Statesman newspaper has an article written by Mark Williams of  The Associated Press.  It gives some encouragement about the fuel prices we’re likely to see this summer.  It says “gas prices are poised to go down as Memorial Day approaches”.  That’s welcome news and I’m sure we all hope that will be the case as we start to think about traveling to our favorite recreation sites.

The article also points out that the cost of gas in Idaho and 9 other states  averages more than $3.00 per gallon.  Why are Idaho’s fuel prices so high?  We could probably spend a lot of time trying to figure that out and never get to the real answer.  The bottom line is this – driving this summer will NOT be cheap, no matter what gas prices do, so you need to do everything within your power to keep your fuel expenses as low as possible. 

Maintenance on your car or pickup is a key factor in gettting maximum fuel economy.   There is nothing else you can do to squeak out better miles per gallon than to maintain your car.  So what should you look for to insure you’re getting all you can out of every hard earned $3.00 + that you spend on a gallon of gas?  Read on for helpful articles, a short video and some shopping tips to help answer that question.

On the “Posts and Comments” page of our website, you’ll find 2 articles that may be helpful:  The first is ”5 Mechanical Problems that Decrease your car’s Fuel Economy” and the second, “7 Inexpensive Maintenance Items that Save Fuel“.  Both are loaded with fuel saving tips and important maintenance items that are inexpensive and easy to implement.

Check out this short video with some additional information about what can be done to improve fuel economy.

Last but not least important is the ongoing process of determining where to buy fuel at the best price.  The following link www.boisegasprices.com will prove vital to Boise residents and commuters.  If you’re traveling out of Treasure Valley but still recreating in Idaho, you may want to check out www.idahogasprices.com .

Spring is here.  Trees are blossoming and leafing out, flowers are blooming and lawns are greening up.  After the long winter, most of us are itching to get outdoors, have some fun, and get some exercise.  With Memorial Day weekend just around the corner, make sure you’re ready before it’s time to go.

Call Dale’s Auto Care at 345-5620 and make an appointment to have them look at your car, pickup, or SUV over for you.  With the cost of gas these days, a little maintenance can go a long way.  Have fun and drive safely!

Please leave a comment on our site if you have any thoughts or found this information helpful.

A great way to save money on maintaining your car is to have one shop that does all the work on your vehicle (s).  Sometimes, though, even that fails to save you the money it could.  That’s why shops like Dale’s Auto Care offer you a great tool that can protect you from the expense of a service that’s not due yet.  That tool is a website called OwnerAutoSite.  This site gives you the ability to track your car’s service history 24/7 from any location where you have internet access.  Unnecessary expense is avoided because your vehicle’s history is recorded on computer and both you and the repair shop can see what work has or hasn’t been done on your car.  Tracking repair and maintenance means “selling you work that’s already been done or isn’t due yet” can be avoided.

Imagine yourself talking your car to a “new” shop.  They want to do a good job for you, so they look your car over, check the mileage, and determine you are due for a 90,000 mile service, one component of which is a transmission service.  This is normally recommended every 30,000 miles or so, depending on your car.  The problem is you had your transmission serviced 20,000 miles ago, but this “new” shop doesn’t have access to that information, and even though you think it might have been done, you can’t remember for sure.  Approving this service means you would spend $100 to $150.00 more than you’d need to at this time.

What about expenses that are the result of a simple error?  You take your car to your usual shop for a routine inspection, and they determine it’s time for a transmission service.  They didn’t notice the transmission was serviced 20,000 miles ago and end up recommending work that isn’t yet due.

With the Owner Auto Site you have the ability to look up the repair and service history for each of your cars individually.  Listed on the site is a brief description of what was done along with the mileage, cost, and invoice number.

You’ll also find listed the mileage or recommended date for the next service due.  A button on the page even lets you email Dale’s Auto Care to request an appointment.  The site also lists current coupons that might give you additional savings.  Finally, there is an Advisor button that allows you to list the symptoms you’re experiencing with your car, forward that information to Dale’s via email, and keep a copy for yourself.  You don’t have to rely on being able to remember all of the problems you need help with next time you take your car in.

Maybe you haven’t used this tool yet because you didn’t know it was available.  Why not check it our for yourself.  The next time you get an email from Dale’s just click on the link for OwnerAutoSite, create your user name and password and you’ll have instant access to the information on your car.

Copyright 2009 Dave Eastman, ADSi.  All rights reserved.

Please reply to this post after you visit the site to let us know what you think.

In an effort to move forward with communication through the use of our  website we are asking you to select the Surveys link in the tool bar and complete the Customer Satisfaction survey.

We appreciate your willingness to do this.  We are anxious to hear what you have to say and learn how we can better serve you.

Also it would be of great help to us if you would view the various pages and posts on our site and give us feedback by replying to one or more of the posts.  To reply,  just click on the headline of the post and scroll down to the bottom.  Type your response in the box and press Submit.

Nobody wants to spend money to fix a car that’s not broken, but nobody wants to spend more than they have to at the gas pump either.  We all know there is that direct link between the fuel economy our car gets and its mechanical condition.  Here’s a few things you might not realize can affect fuel economy.

1. Misalignment of tires.  One of the highest fuel consumption threats your vehicle can have relates to the alignment of the front tires.  Improper alignment decreases fuel economy by increasing the rolling resistance of your vehicle.  Picture walking with your feet pointed out, like a duck, at a 15 degree angle.  Then, rather than picking them up as you walk, just drag them along the ground.  How efficient would that be?  This can cost you a mile or two per gallon.  On a car that gets 20 miles per gallon (MPG) that is a 5 to 10 percent reduction in fuel economy.
2. Driving with the park brake partially on.  This OOPS can cost you a mile or two per gallon and decrease your fuel economy by 3 to 8 percent.  The expense of lost fuel, however, may be small compared to the price tag you’ll see for damage done to your brake pads, shoes, drums or rotors.  Failing to notice your park brake is on when the car is in motion can wear out your brake linings incredibly fast, which results in a metal to metal friction that can destroy expensive brake drums and rotors.
3. Transmission or clutch that slips.  Fuel economy is reduced by 5 to 10 percent when slippage reduces the normal amount of power going directly to the tires as they move the car forward and the driver has to push the accelerator down farther to get to the desired speed.  What can cause an automatic transmission to slip?  Too many things than could be covered in this article, but one easy prevention measure is to be sure the automatic transmission fluid is neither dirty nor at too low a level.
4. A thermostat that has failed.  Engines are designed to run most efficiently at a specific temperature.  A cold engine needs more fuel than a warm engine.  It is the engine thermostat that gets the engine to the correct temperature as quickly as possible so it will require less fuel.  Because almost all cars and trucks today have a computer that controls the fuel system, any mechanical problem with the thermostat that causes the engine to run colder than it should may cause the computer to adjust and send more fuel than is required.  The additional fuel could reduce your fuel economy by 2 miles per gallon or more.
5. A bad battery.  Bet that’s one you may not have thought of as a cause for poor fuel economy!  Remember, what charges the battery is the alternator, and what turns the alternator is a drive belt powered by the engine.  This means the alternator consumes energy from the engine, and if it has to work harder to try to keep a bad battery charged, then it stands to reason more energy will be consumed as it is forced to work more.  The result is reduced fuel economy.

Who likes to spend money on their car?  Nobody I know, but when spending money can end up saving you money its helpful to know how to spend wisely.  Hopefully you’ll find these tips helpful as you try to make better decisions about how to spend your car repair dollars.

Copyright 2009 Dave Eastman, ADSi.  All rights reserved.

Very little money required but lots of savings!

Fuel economy and cost of gasoline become much more significant when money is tight and the price of this precious liquid keeps going up.

If your kitchen faucet drips you may not worry that much about how much water is lost.  But put a bowl under that drip and I bet you’ll be surprised how fast those drops accumulate in short order.  At $2.50 to $3.00 a gallon, gasoline “drops” can add up to significant amounts of money.   Here are some tips to “stop the drips” . . .

1. Keep your car, truck or SUV tire pressure at the correct level.  According to a Car Care Council survey, incorrect tire pressure was found in more than 50 percent of the cars they inspected.  Fuel consumption can increase by 1-2 percent when tires are underinflated by as little as 2 pounds.
2. Keep air filters clean.  Clogged filters were found on 16 percent of the cars they inspected by the Car Care Council.  Replacing a dirty air filter can increase your gas mileage by as much as 10 percent.
3. Use the correct weight motor oil.  The higher the weight, the thicker the oil.  Many features put in place by manufacturers to improve fuel economy will not work as designed when oil is thicker than specified.  An inprovement of 1-2 percent in fuel economy can be realized by using correct oil weight.
4. Replace spark plugs at the recommended interval or repair restricted fuel injectors as needed.  It is easy to consider these an inexpensive maintenance item if you consider that worn plugs or restricted injectors could be reducing your fuel economy by as much as 30 percent.  For a car rated to get 20 miles per gallon that could mean as much as 6 more miles per gallon.
5. Keep your transmission fluid clean and at the proper level.  Transmissions that slip can grreatly affect fuel economy, and fluid that is dirty or at a low level can quickly lead to improper shifting or slippage.
6. Have a regular vehicle inspection.  Even if your trusted mechanic charges for the inspection, you may be money ahead if they find damage or wear that could result in breakage and create a much more expensive repair later.
7. Get brake system inspections at least twice a year.  Brake systems on today’s cars are designed to allow for low rolling resistance to improve fuel economy.  Brake parts that are not properly maintained or lubricated interfere with this design, and lead to higher rolling resistance.  That translates to lower fuel economy.

Maintenance costs but it also pays.  Nobody likes to spend money on maintenance work but remind yourself there is a return on that investment in dollars saved over time.  Here’s an ADSi tip . . . If your trusted mechanic charges for their inspection, ask if you can negotiate a FREE inspection in return for your loyalty as their customer and for referring friends in need of quality car care.

 Copyright 2009 Dave Eastman, ADSi.  All rights reserved.