Wondering “how to check transmission fl
Wondering “how to check transmission fluid”? Follow this link for helpful information. Remember your car must be running when you check it.
Check out our July special ~ we’ll pay
Check out our July special ~ we’ll pay the sales tax! http://ow.ly/d/2hLE
Smog check needed for DMV renewal/sale o
Smog check needed for DMV renewal/sale of vehicle? We are STAR certified! Call or click today for appt! #smogcheck # http://ow.ly/xT3oJ
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HootSuite (@hootsuite) is now following you on Twitter! – importrepaircenter@gmail.com – Gmail http://ow.ly/wCZB1
Free Gas & 5 Ways to Save Fuel
Remember when $20 would just about fill your gas tank? Now with the price of gas, it’s almost triple that! It’s more important than ever to conserve gas and make sure your car is running at it’s peak performance so your dollars will go farther. Here are a few fuel saving tips to help you get more miles per gallon and a maintenance special that will give your car’s fuel system a good cleaning and your pocket $25 of free gas. Be sure to visit our website at http://www.importrepaircenter.com to make your Fuel Saver Service appointment today!
Fuel Saving Tip:
#1: Keep tires properly inflated.
You can improve your gas mileage by up to 3.3 percent by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure. Under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.3 percent for every 1 psi drop in pressure of all four tires. Properly inflated tires are safer and last longer. Check the tire pressures at every other fill up.
The proper tire pressure for your vehicle is usually found on a sticker in the driver’s side door jamb or the glove box and in your owner’s manual. Do not use the maximum pressure printed on the tire’s sidewall.
#2: Get the junk out of your trunk.
Ok, it may not all be junk, but the excess weight will lower your gas mileage. Are you carrying a stroller, a set of golf clubs, tools or cases of water or soda that you really don’t need right now? Take them out of the trunk until you need them. An extra 100 pounds in your vehicle could reduce your MPG by up to 2 percent. The reduction is based on the percentage of extra weight relative to the vehicle’s weight and affects smaller vehicles more than larger ones.
#3: Watch your driving speed.
While each vehicle reaches its optimal fuel economy at a different speed (or range of speeds), gas mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds above 50 mph. My 2007 Nissan Maxima is equipped with a gauge that tells me my average mpg. I play a game to see how high I can get my mpgs. Using cruise control or keeping it around 65 mph usually gives me the best mpg.
You can assume that each 5 mph you drive over 50 mph is like paying an additional $0.25 per gallon for gas.
Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gas. It can lower your gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds and by 5 percent around town. Sensible driving is also safer for you and others, so you may save more than gas money.
#4: Don’t idle:
Idling can use a quarter to a half gallon of fuel per hour, depending on engine size and air conditioner (AC) use. Turn off your engine when your vehicle is parked. It only takes a few seconds worth of fuel to restart your vehicle. Turning your engine on and off excessively, however, may increase starter wear. Also, most cars today do not need to be warmed up. Avoid leaving your car running while you are loading up your vehicle in the mornings.
#5: Keep up on your engine’s maintenance.
Fixing a car that is noticeably out of tune or has failed an emissions test can improve its gas mileage by an average of 4 percent, though results vary based on the kind of repair and how well it is done.
Fixing a serious maintenance problem, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, can improve your mileage by as much as 40 percent.
Take advantage of our Fuel Saver Service that we are offering at a special rate of $269.95 until 8/30/13. (Regular price $374.75) We will even throw in a $25 gas card with the service! Go to our website: www.ImportRepairCenter.com to request your appointment today! The service includes cleaning your fuel injectors, valve and combustion chambers; performing a throttle body service and complete induction service using BG products.
What is Ethanol and how to protect your car’s fuel system
Ethanol is a renewable fuel made by fermenting and distilling cellulosic biomass and starch crops. Ethanol is an alcohol that itself contains no gasoline. However, over 95 percent of gasoline in the U.S. is mixed with small amounts of ethanol to oxygenate the fuel in an effort to cut air pollution.
E10 is the most common blend of ethanol gasoline in the country ~ it’s 10 percent ethanol and 90 percent gasoline. Automobile manufacturers approve the use of blends of 10 percent ethanol or less in their gasoline vehicles. When compared to gasoline, vehicles using E10 get 3-4 percent less gas mileage due to a 33 percent drop in energy compared to spark ignited engine fuel.
E15: the EPA recently approved an increase of the ethanol content of gasoline in the U.S. to a maximum of E15 ~ 15 percent ethanol and 85 percent gasoline. According to the EPA, E15 can be used in vehicles that are model year 2001 and newer. Vehicles model year 2000 and older may have catalyst durability problems and are not built to resist high temperatures caused by higher oxygen content of ethanol.
Eight auto manufacturers have gone on record saying that E15 is not compatible with their fuel system requirements and may void warranty coverage. (GM / Ford / Honda / Hyundai / Kia / Mazda / Mercedes-Benz / Volvo)
Five manufacturers have officially announced that their warranties will not cover claims for damage caused by E15. (BMW / Chrysler / Nissan / Toyota / Volkswagen)
E85: Automobile manufacturers have begun to produce vehicles able to run on ethanol blends up to E85 ~ an 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline mixture. Flexible fuel vehicles are designed to run on gasoline, E85, or any mixture of the two. E85 produces lower emissions than regular gasoline but is more resistant to engine knock. E85 flex fuel vehicles also experience a whopping 25 – 30 percent drop in gas mileage.
At IRC, we use BG products that help protect your fuel system. BG Ethanol Fuel System Defender, when added to the fuel tank at every oil change, will protect the fuel system against ethanol and gasoline-related deposits. Regular use will restore engine performance and gas mileage, lower exhaust emissions and substantially reduce drivability problems caused by deposit buildup. It fights rust and corrosion, protecting against the harmful effects of ethanol with an amine-based dispersant and corrosion inhibitors.
Due to ethanol’s moisture absorbing nature, condensation in the gas tank has become a major issue. As the weather gets colder, freezing and icing can also be a problem. BG ethanol fuel system drier is specially designed to form a stable solution with water and gasoline, allowing it to pass through the fuel system harmlessly before phase separation begins.
Some frequently asked questions about ethanol:
Q: What is Ethanol?
A: Ethanol is the same alcohol used in alcoholic beverages but near 200 proof. Don’t drink it though; a small amount of denaturant is added so it cannot be consumed. Water is also removed from it so it is suitable for blending with gasoline.
Q: Why is ethanol blended with gasoline?
A: Federal regulations require refiners to use ethanol to help reduce energy imports, with the thought of reducing the U.S. dependence on foreign oil. The EPA has approved the use of up to E15 in cars 2001 and newer because ethanol increases octane while emitting fewer harmful fumes than spark ignited engine fuel.
Q: Is ethanol actually good for the environment?
A: The oxygen in ethanol burns cleaner than the carbon in spark ignited engine fuel. Ideally, a cleaner burn improves combustion thereby lowering carbon dioxide emissions.
Q: Has the EPA approved the use of ethanol in vehicles older than 2001?
A: The EPA has approved the use of E10 in vehicles older than 2001. However, E15 is only approved for vehicles 2001 and newer.
Q: What do OEMs say about ethanol?
A: All OEMs approve the use of ethanol up to 10 percent (E10). However, NO OEMs approve the use of E15 in their vehicles (with the exception of Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFV). In fact, some – BMW, Chrysler, Nissan, Toyota and Volkswagen – say their warranties will not cover fuel-related claims caused by E15. Moreover, GM, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo, discourage the use of E15 stating, “E15 does not comply with the fuel requirements and may void warranty.” E85 is approved for use in Flex Fuel Vehicles only.
Q: Why is ethanol not transported in existing pipelines like gasoline?
A: The current pipeline system has large amounts of water that gasoline fuels can “skate” on top of; ethanol, however, would absorb the water rendering it unusable. Consequently, ethanol must be transported by railroad tank car from plant to distribution point where it supplies the separate ethanol storage tanks.
Bring your car to IRC today to help protect your car’s fuel system and performance. We are a complete car care center and we offer a wide variety of services using BG products. Visit our website at: www.importrepaircenter.com for more information on BG products.
IRC - Complete Auto Care 