Vehicle Maintenance
5 Reasons To Keep Your Car Well Maintained
Thanks for visiting the Douglas Automotive Repair, Inc. blog. Today’s post lists 5 important reasons car owners should follow recommended maintenance schedules. Be Safe A well-maintained car doesn’t put you and your passengers at unnecessary risk. Think brakes, headlamps, tires. Get Better Fuel Economy Regular maintenance is an investment in optimum fuel economy. Inadequate tire pressure, a…
Read MoreSpark Plugs
The days of changing your spark plugs every couple of years are over. Back in the day, spark plugs truly did wear out that often! A couple of factors have changed that for the better. First, spark plugs are made of better materials that are designed to last longer. Second, modern engine controls have reduced…
Read MorePower Steering Maintenance
Did you know that the first cars were steered with a tiller? They also took a lot of muscle to turn – especially at low speeds. Francis W. Davis developed hydraulic power steering which has been enjoyed by generations of drivers who can steer with one finger while sipping coffee or even with a knee…
Read MoreWhat are the Signs That I Need A Brake Job?
Signs of brake problems often fall into one of two categories for car owners: making noise or a pulsation in the brake pedal. Let’s start with the noise. Most brake pads have an audible brake wear indicator. This is a small piece of metal that rubs on your brake rotor when the brake pads are…
Read MoreBattery Upgrade?
When that car battery finally gives up the ghost and it’s time to replace it – smart drivers have options. First, let’s be clear that you should always get a replacement battery that meets or exceeds your auto manufacturer’s specifications. But, you may have some critical special needs. When they first put the battery into your vehicle…
Read MoreAnti-lock Brake System
Drivers trust in their brakes to safely slow and stop their vehicles. You’ve probably had the experience where you’ve slammed on your brakes and started to skid. When your wheels are locked up, you are just sliding over the road. And if the road is wet or slick or covered with gravel – you really…
Read MorePCV Valve Service
The Illinois push for fuel economy has the benefit of using less gas as well as fewer emissions in our local environment. Cars and trucks run cleaner than ever. Many people in the area may not realize that the first federally mandated pollution control device was in 1960: the PCV valve. ‘PCV’ stands for Positive Crankcase…
Read MoreFuel System Cleaning
What benefit will I get out of a fuel system cleaning? Well, the dirtier your fuel system is, the bigger the improvement you’ll see in performance and fuel efficiency. But it’s vital not to wait until your engine is running poorly, you’ve wasted hundreds of dollars in gas or maybe even damaged your fuel injectors and…
Read MoreMaintenance Service Intervals…
I’m really confused about auto maintenance service intervals for various items on my car. Help! The simple answer is to follow the auto maker’s recommended service intervals listed in your owner’s manual or in your service center’s database. But the team at Douglas Automotive Repair sympathizes with motorists because of the confusing intervals for modern vehicles. The…
Read MoreWhat is Synthetic Oil and Should I 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 the same length. Think a bunch of…
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