Portland Auto Repair

The Importance of Using the Correct Motor Oil Motor oil is often referred to as the lifeblood of our vehicles. It performs many important functions. • It acts as a lubricant for the engine parts. • It helps protect the emission system. • It provides enhanced fuel economy. If you’ve ever taken the time to peruse the array of oils available today at an auto supply store, it can be overwhelming, and if you choose the wrong oil, it can have consequences. It can even damage your car’s engine over time. If you are a person who changes their own oil, always check your owner’s manual before you proceed and make sure you have purchased the correct oil for your particular type of vehicle. There are three types of motor oil: • Conventional (75 – 80% of refined crude oil) • Full Synthetic (Standard base plus additives) • Synthetic Blend (Conventional and Synthetic) Then there are additives, such as detergents to keep the h ... read more

The Real Cost of Ownership Taking a look at a 2013 study provides some eye-opening data that may make you think twice about the kind of car you own, your driving habits, and whether you should shop around for auto insurance or the lowest gas prices. Different car types equal different costs AAA calculated the average costs for six different car types based on the cost of ownership in the study. It found that the average cost of all sedans — the majority of cars on the road — is 60.8 cents per mile or $9,122 annually, based on 15,000 miles of driving. Small sedans cost the least — $6,967 annually. Four-wheel drive sport utility vehicles cost the most — $11,599 annually — largely due to the fuel costs of those cars. Perhaps surprisingly, large sedans cost almost as much — $11,248 — as four-wheel drive SUVs, while minivans, which often have about the same amount of passenger and cargo-carrying capability as many SUVs, averaged just $9,795. Depr ... read more

In the world of “you get what you pay for,” the cheapest price for an oil change is not always the best value. I would like to break down a $19.95 oil change advertisement that I recently heard on the radio. It said: “Our premium oil change and complete inspection for only $19.95.” This seems like a very good price… until you listen to the disclaimer. The disclaimer states that the price is good for conventional grade oil only, and most cars from 2000 and newer require an oil better than the conventional grade. They also said that the “complete inspection” included a visual brake inspection only, which means the wheels would not be removed to do a thorough brake inspection, either. Another disclaimer states, “Valid for up to 5 quarts of 10/30 or 5/30 conventional oil. Extra fees for synthetic or semi-synthetic blend oil. Cartridge oil filters extra. Valid for most cars.” Okay, let’s break that down. Many cars these days h ... read more

The Heat is On: Caring for Your Transmission Does this sound like your driving habits? • Frequent stop-and-go • Driving in heavy traffic • Driving in dusty conditions • Driving on steep terrain This kind of driving takes its toll on transmissions. Yep… it’s trying to tell you something in transmission–speak, so listen up! Here are some audio clues that your transmission may be headed toward a breakdown. • Clicks • Buzzes • Whistles • Moans and Groans • Squeals and Screeches • Hums and Whines • Clanks • Grates and Rumbles • Chatters and Clunks Do you see a drip under your car? If it is reddish-brown in color, it may mean one of three things: leaking transmission, over-tightened pan gasket, or a leaking front seal. Do you smell something burning? It could possibly be your transmission fluid. Those of us in the automotive service and repair business recommend you exchange the fluid every 30,000 miles ... read more

Question: My headlight lenses are all cloudy. I checked with my local dealership about replacing them and it is very costly. What else can I do? Portland Automotive Answer: You are right - replacing a headlight assembly can cost hundreds of dollars. Luckily there is something Hartford car owners can do about cloudy headlamps. First let’s talk about why the headlamps are so cloudy. Back in the day, Hartford motorists' headlights were glass. These were heavy, could crack, and had practical limits as to their shape so automakers started using plastic headlight lenses. CT road grime and UV light take a toll on the plastic surface. Over time the lenses get cloudy and discolored. Just look at the trucks in any Hartford parking lot and you'll see a lot of that. Because a disproportionate amount of traffic accidents happen at night, smart Hartford drivers make sure they have maximum visibility. Cloudy lenses impair the amount of light that gets out on the road, which in turn ... read more