Is The Service Schedule For Your Vehicle Just a Way For Mechanics/Garages to Make Money?

So is the service schedule for your vehicle just a way for mechanics or your service provider to make money? The answer is no. Automotive engineers, not service technicians, for that matter designed a service schedule your Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Mini or VW or whatever type vehicle that you may have.

Sustaining your car according to the schedules given in your owner’s manual helps to keep your driving trouble-free as well as safeguarding your investment.

The Service Schedule was intended to maintain your vehicle’s high level of dependability and safety, to protect the environment, and to improve and preserve your vehicle’s value.

A properly maintained vehicle improves and preserves vehicle value and saves money in the long run. Taking care of the minor upkeep and services can save your from bigger problems down the road!

If you have questions about the high-tech fluids in your vehicle, please call Metric WrenchBillings today and talk to a Certified ServiceTechnician.

Time To Improve Your Vehicle’s Health

The break down of your car’s performance and mileage can go undetected at times, causing costly repairs. With the economy the way it is, there has never been a better time to check your car's health. Here are a few vehicle checks that you shouldn’t overlook…

•                Important enginemaintenance - Check the service schedule for your car. If you’re run the kids all over town, work, errands, etc. it’s probably time for the “hazardous duty” schedule.

•                Belts and Hoses - Belts and hoses need to be replaced at the appropriate service times or when they become cracked or worn. These signs are usually visible, so check them yourself or have a certified technician at Metric Wrench do it for you.

•                Thermostat – Vehicle’s today with low-emissions engines tend to be more sensitive to changes when it comes to operating temperature. Have your car's thermostat checked, be sure that it still opens and closes at the right temperature.

•                Replace air and fuelfilters - they clean out impurities from the fuel or air before they get into the engine. A clogged, neglected fuel filter can lead to expensive repairs such as premature fuel-pump failure or clogged fuel injectors. Replacing an air filter is simple and will improve your fuel economy and performance.

To avoid costly repairs, have your vehicle inspected by a certified technician at Metric Wrench today!

Potholes Can Cause Severe Damage to Vehicles

Even though we didn’t get much snow here in Billings this year, we are still experiencing an abundance of potholes and uneven pavement that can cause significant damage to your vehicle, especially in the following areas:

• Strut and Shock Absorbers: Uneven road condition caused by potholes, can crack, bend or damage your vehicle suspension. If you experience excessive vibration or change in vehicle handing, this can be due to your vehicle suspension system.

• Wheel Alignment: Wheel alignment is making sure the wheels are running parallel to one another, and that the tires meet the road at the proper angle. It is done by adjusting the angles between the suspension and steering parts, the wheels, and the vehicle frame. Pot holes can cause the tire angles to get knocked out of line. When this happens, it can cause the vehicle to handle badly or the tires to wear unevenly.

• Wheel Balancing: A hard pothole impact can dislodge wheel weights on the tires. An out of balance tire can affect ride quality as well as shorten the life of tires, bearings, shocks and other suspension components. If your vehicle has a vibration that is dependent on speed, and usually becomes noticeable around 40-45 mph and increases as your speed increases, it's probably balance related.

• Tires: Tires provide the best protection between a car and a pothole. Check the tires for uneven wear and or damage. We also strongly recommend to maintain tire pressure as stated in the owner’s manual to ensure optimized cushion between your car and the road.

To avoid costly repairs, if you experience any of the above symptoms have your vehicle inspected at Metric Wrench Billings today!

EPA Estimated Fuel Mileage vs. Actual Mileage

EPA Estimated Fuel Mileage vs. Actual Mileage what is the real story or actual numbers that we all should be looking at? For most of us, we tend to think that the large black numbers on a car's window sticker, which list the EPA estimated fuel economy rating, are what they will actually get while driving that car.

But before you believe this, you should in essence, “Read the fine print!” What the fine print really means is that the actual mileage may vary depending on a whole lot of things. And the truth is, that the gas mileage you get could be less, in fact, a lot less.

How do they come up with these gas mileage estimates? Well, the government puts a great deal of time and care into testing for fuel economy. And these estimates provide important information when it comes to comparing two vehicles. What critics say is that, as part of the test program, a number of assumptions were made about driving habits. Those assumptions are now outdated; and that is why we have inconsistencies when comes to EPA estimated fuel mileage vs. actual mileage.

New vehicles are tested by the manufacturer according to guidelines outlined by the EPA. The EPA in turn reviews the results and confirms 10 percent of the test results with additional testing in the National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory (NVFEL), in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

The cars are tested by putting the drive wheels on a "dynamometer," a machine that allows it to simulate driving conditions while remaining stationary. The car is tested according to two different "schedules" to produce the city and highway ratings posted on a car's window sticker.

The two schedules are meant to simulate different styles of driving that would be encountered in the two types of driving:

City: The test is started with the car's engine cold. The car then is operated in such a way as to replicate 11 miles of stop-and-go rush-hour traffic. Periods of idling are included in the test; average speed is 20 mph and top speed is 56 mph.

Highway: This test represents 10 miles of a mixture of rural and interstate highway driving. The engine is warmed up before the test begins and the average test speed of about 48 mph is maintained. The top speed reached is 60 mph. No intermediate stops or idling are included in the test.

The EPA fully admits that test results MAY differ from real-world fuel economy ratings. It attributes the difference to the fact that the test cars are in optimal mechanical condition, along with a few other attributes and thus perform better. But by looking at the EPA's testing procedure, it is clear that real world drivers are not duplicated. On most highways, speeds of well over 60 mph are common resulting in much lower fuel economy ratings. Furthermore, although the EPA tried to duplicate city driving by introducing periods of idling, today's congested roads produce far more prolonged stops.

So be sure to read the fine print when it comes EPA Estimated Fuel Mileage vs. Actual Mileage.