BRAKES

It is recommended that you have your vehicle's entire brake system checked every year, including brake pads, shoes, rotors, drums, calipers and brake fluid.  Brake fluid should be changed every two to three years or 24,000 miles to 36,000 miles.

Brakes are a normal wear item for any car.  Eventually, they're going to need to be replaced for both performance and safety reasons.  Don't let our brakes get to the "metal-to-metal" point, which usually means more expensive rotor or drum replacement.  Contaminated brake fluid may lead to corrosion and other problems in the hydraulic system, especially on cars with anti-lock brakes (ABS).

Call (530) 621-4591 today to schedule a brake inspection.

CABIN AIR FILTERS

The cabin air filter takes contaminants out of the air you breathe and helps prevent allergens, dust, fumes, and odors from circulating inside your vehicle.

Cabin air filters should be replaced annually, or more often in areas with heavy airborne contaminants or whenever heating or cooling efficiency is reduced.

When was the last time the cabin air filter was changed in your vehicle???  Give us a call (530) 621-4591 and schedule an appointment to have the cabin air filter changed.

SUMMER DRIVING SAFETY TIPS

Summer is the most popular season for road trips.

Destinations like amusement parks are best enjoyed when the weather is warm, and there is nothing like sitting next to an open car window letting a mild breeze slip through your hair.  But you can't have a memorable summer car ride without taking care of your vehicle and keeping safety top of mind.  Here are some summer driving safety tips recommended by AAA.

Get your car ready - Dead batteries, lockouts and flat tires are some of the most common reasons for breakdowns.

• Batteries have a typical lifespan of about 3-5 years.
• Tires should be inflated to manufacturer specifications and be in good shape with plenty of tread and no cracking, bulging, or breaks.
• Make sure the cooling system is ready by having it flushed on a regular basis.  And make sure that all hoses and belts are in good condition.
• The transmission, power steering and windshield wiper fluids should all be checked for levels and conditions of fluid.
• Make sure all lights are working
• Getting locked out of your car is never fun make sure you always take care of your smart keys and keyless entry fobs.  Always take these with you when exiting the car, avoid exposing them to water and replace the batteries as recommended.
• Have the air conditioning system checked BEFORE it gets hot outside.

If you have any questions regarding your vehicle or need to get it ready for a summer trip please give us a call at (530) 621-4591 or visit our website www.theautoanalyst.com.

Six Great Ways to Save Fuel...and Money

Get more miles out of every gallon of fuel by maintaining your vehicle with a few simple service from The Auto Analyst, your local NAPA AutoCare Center.

1. AIR FILTERS - An air filter clogged with dirt, dust or bugs chokes off the air and creates a "rich" mixture - too much gas being burned for the amount of air - which wastes gas and causes the engine to lose power.
2. SPARK PLUGS -  A vehicle normally has four, six or eight spark plugs, which fire as many as 3 million times every 1,000 miles, resulting in a lot of heat and electrical and chemical erosion.  A dirty spark plug causes misfiring, which wastes fuel.
3. OXYGEN SENSORS - When is comes to improving your vehicle's fuel economy, this is one of the top ways to make a noticeable difference.  Properly functioning oxygen sensors are good for the environment and can save hundreds of dollars in fuel costs over their life.
4. PROPERLY INFLATED TIRES - When tires aren't inflated properly, it's like driving with the parking brake on.  Under-inflated tires can cut fuel economy by 2 percent per pound, which means if your tire pressure is 27 pounds per square inch (psi) when it should be 32 psi, you've reduced your gas mileage by 10 percent!
5. OIL AND FILTER CHANGE - Clean oil reduces friction between moving parts in your engine, increasing fuel economy and reliability.  It also removes harmful deposits, extending the life of your engine.
6. FUEL INJECTORS - Clean fuel injectors make sure that the fuel is sprayed evenly from the injectors so no fuel is wasted.  Fuel injectors should be cleaned every 15,000 miles.

Give us a call (530) 621-4591 today to schedule a fuel saving appointment or visit our website www.theautoanalyst.com to request an appointment online.

SPRING DRIVING TIPS

Springtime brings rain and the aftereffects of winter weather - potholes and uneven pavement.  Keep these spring driving tips in mind before you travel:

• Spring showers bring May flowers - and wet driving conditions: Slow down on slick roads and increase your following distance even when mist begins to fall.
• Share the road: Warm weather brings out motorcyclists, bicyclists and pedestrians.
• Try to avoid potholes: Deep potholes can throw your car out of alignment or worse, damaging the wheel and tire.
• Avoid driving through large puddles: Driving through water can impair your brakes, cloud your vision, cause you to hydroplane, plus you never know exactly how deep the water actually is.
• Keep your tires properly inflated: Full tires can reduce the damage caused by potholes and other road hazards.

If you have hit any large pothole please give us a call to have your vehicles steering components checked to make sure all is good.

Call us today (530) 621-4591.

5 TIPS FOR DRIVING SAFELY IN THE RAIN

Singing in the rain is fun. But driving in it? Not so much. Driving in light or heavy floods, or even just rainy, stormy conditions can be anxiety inducing. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, there are on average more than 950,000 automobile accidents each year due to wet pavement, resulting in approximately 4,700 deaths and 384,000 injuries.

Being behind the wheel with a rain-splattered windshield doesn't have to be a white-knuckled, nerve-racking experience. Here are some tips and techniques for driving in a downpour:

1. Think.  When conditions are less than ideal, drivers need to stay alert and focused on what's going on around them.
2. Turn on those headlights. It's the law to turn on headlights when visibility is low and  require having the headlights on when the windshield wipers are in use. 
3. Beware of hydroplaning. Hydroplaning is the technical term for what occurs when your tires lose traction with the road due to excess water on top of the road. The result is that your vehicle begins to slide uncontrollably. It's easy to hydroplane: all you need is one-twelfth of an inch of rain on the road and a speed of more than 35 miles per hours. If your tires have extensive wear and tear, you are more highly likely to hydroplane. You can hydroplane even if you are driving a four-wheel drive car, SUV, or truck. 
   
   If you start to hydroplane, let off the accelerator (gas pedal) slowly, and steer straight until you regain control. If your car starts to spin, turn your wheel in the direction that the vehicle is spinning, slowly. Do not turn your wheel against the direction it has begun to spin. Do not jerk the wheel sharply in one direction or the other, as you could flip your car due to over correction. 
   
   Consider taking a driving course through your local DMV to learn how to drive safer on wet roads and better avoid hydroplaning.  
4. Turn off cruise control. Ironically, on rain- or snow- slick surfaces, cruise control may cause you to lose control. You might think it'll help you stay at one steady speed, but if you hydroplane while you're in cruise control, your car will actually go faster.
5. Slow down.  Let up on the accelerator and allow more time to get to your destination.
6. Be extra cautious with merging lanes. Motorists should drive defensively and take precautions when passing vehicles to prevent merging collisions.

Extra precautions might help ease the anxiety associated with driving in the rain, making it safer for everyone. 

Need to schedule an appointment?  Please call us at (530) 621-4591 or visit our website www.theautoanalyst.com.

The "W" in Motor Oil Means Winter

DID YOU KNOW??

A common misconception about multi-viscosity motor oil such as 5W30 or 0W20 is the "W" means weight.  Even in the oil industry we refer to 5W as a 5 weight.  The "W" stands for Winter.  The first number is the viscosity needed at startup or when the engine is cold.  The next number is the viscosity needed at operating temperature.  So, a 5W20 needs to act like a 5 viscosity at startup and a 20 viscosity at operating temperature.  5W starts out great but thins out too much as the engine heats up.  A 20W is too thick at startup but is right where we want it at operating temperature.  Thus, we use a 5W20.  We achieve this by using an additive called Viscosity Index Improver which makes the oil thin out less.

Visit our website at www.theautoanalyst.com