Vehicle Maintenance
Synthetic Oil
What is synthetic oil and should you use it? Regular oil, also called conventional oil, comes from dead dinosaurs. Conventional oil molecules are long hydrocarbon chains of various lengths. Imagine a bunch of pencils – some used and some brand new. Synthetic oil is often more highly refined petroleum-based oil. The molecules are shorter and closer to…
Read MoreSynthetic Oil
What is synthetic oil and should you use it? Regular oil, also called conventional oil, comes from dead dinosaurs. Conventional oil molecules are long hydrocarbon chains of various lengths. Imagine a bunch of pencils – some used and some brand new. Synthetic oil is often more highly refined petroleum-based oil. The molecules are shorter and closer to…
Read MoreWhy Do They Call it a Dashboard? (Instrument Panel Warning Lights)
Ever wonder where they came up with the term “dashboard” for that part of your vehicle that sits behind the steering wheel? That name began back before cars were even invented. People used to travel by horse and buggy, and streets weren’t as well built as they are today. On a muddy road (which was…
Read MoreBack to School/Road Trip Special!
It’s that time again, yet so very different since Covid-19! Going on a family road trip, or students back to school may still be up in the air based on ongoing restrictions in each state or county. Having a reliable vehicle is important in any case. We’re here to help! This month, Douglas Automotive Repair…
Read MoreCare About Your Spare (Spare Tire Care)
Most of us don’t worry about getting a flat tire. After all, it rarely happens, and if it does, we might think we can just call someone and have them put on the spare. That’s all fine and dandy if your spare is in good shape. But how many of us even think twice about…
Read MoreService Intervals
Confused about recommended service intervals? Douglas Automotive Repair can help! The simple answer is to follow the vehicle’s recommended service intervals listed in your owner’s manual (we also have these intervals in our database). We can sympathize with drivers because of the confusing intervals for modern vehicles. The days of simple rules of thumb that applied to…
Read MoreGuide to Proper Fluids
If you’ve walked through the automotive fluids section of an auto parts store, you’ll know how overwhelming the sheer number of products available can be. How do you know what’s right for your vehicle? First let’s talk about why there are so many varieties. Starting with motor oil, we see that manufacturers match the properties of a…
Read MoreEngine Air Filter
You may be thinking…What’s the harm in putting off replacing my engine air filter a little longer? That’s a fair question because the harm takes a while to manifest. Let’s take a small step back and talk about what an engine air filter does. The air all around us contains dust, dirt, pollen, spores, etc. Some…
Read MoreSevere Driving
Owner’s manuals have schedules for preventive maintenance. Owners can check on things like oil changes, transmission service and so on. They say you should change your oil after driving a certain distance or after so many months. Most drivers understand this very well. What they may not know is that there are actually two service schedules:…
Read MoreWater Pump
The cooling system in an engine has five components: the radiator, the radiator cap, the hoses, the thermostat and the water pump. The water pump is literally the heart of the system. Just as your own heart keeps your blood circulating through your body, the water pump keeps coolant circulating through your engine. The water pump is…
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