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Portland Auto Repair

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Do I Still Need Oil Changes If I Don't Drive Often?

Do I Still Need Oil Changes If I Don't Drive Often?

Oil changes are an essential part of vehicle maintenance, and they help to ensure the longevity of your engine. However, if you don't drive your car often, you may be wondering whether or not you still need to get oil changes. The answer is yes, and in this blog post, we'll explain why. The Purpose of Oil Changes Firstly, it's important to understand the purpose of oil changes. Engine oil is the lifeblood of your vehicle's engine, and it serves several critical functions, including: Lubrication: Oil lubricates the engine's moving parts, reducing friction and wear. Cooling: Oil helps to dissipate heat generated by the engine. Cleaning: Oil helps to clean the engine by removing dirt, debris, and other contaminants. Over time, engine oil breaks down and loses its ability to perform these functions effectively. When this happens, it's time for an oil change. Why Is It Important to Get Regular Oil Changes? R ... read more

Empty Gas Tank? Why It's Bad for Your Car and Your Wallet

Empty Gas Tank? Why It's Bad for Your Car and Your Wallet

Do you ever run your gas tank close to empty before refilling? While it may seem like a harmless habit, running on an empty tank can cause some serious problems for both your car and your wallet. Here's why: Damages Your Fuel Pump Your fuel pump is accountable for pumping gas from the tank to the engine. When your gas tank is low, the fuel pump has to work harder to deliver the gas to the engine. Over time, this added strain can cause your fuel pump to wear out and eventually fail, resulting in pricey repairs. Increases the Risk of Fuel Line Damage When you're running low on gas, air can get trapped in the fuel lines. This can cause the fuel pump to overheat and create a dangerous situation. Additionally, low fuel levels can cause debris to build up in the fuel filter, leading to problems. Reduces Fuel Efficiency Running on an empty tank can actually reduce your car's fuel efficiency. This is because the fuel pump has to work harder to deliver gas to the engine, whic ... read more

How To Jump-Start A Car

How To Jump-Start A Car

If your car battery is dead, you might think of just jump-starting it. Everyone knows how to do it, right? Well, not really, because it isn't as simple as it looks. There are several steps that we will share down below. Be sure to read and follow them carefully. What Does Jump-Starting Mean? Let's start with what it means. When you jump-start your car, you give it power from another vehicle's battery by using wires. Most of the time, this is done when your vehicle doesn't start or needs extra electricity. Steps For The Process We advise you to call a repair shop and have them do it instead-but if you are stranded or in a hurry, these are the steps you should follow: Park both cars next to each other and turn them off. Provide access to the batteries. Find the negative and positive terminals. Take out the set of wires - one is red and the other black. Connect the red clamp to the positive on the faulty battery Then connect the other red clamp on the positi ... read more

Pros and Cons of Electric vs. Gas-Powered Vehicles

Pros and Cons of Electric vs. Gas-Powered Vehicles

Are you thinking of buying a car? Don't know whether to buy a gas(-)powered or electric car? There are some aspects that you should consider before making your decision. These are the environment, speed, driving range, and cost. Next, I will explain the pros and cons of gasoline and electric cars. Gasoline Cars Pros and Cons of Speed (+) They have a higher maximum speed than electric cars. (-) Some power is lost to the power train, and when that occurs, less torque is given. Pros and Cons of Cost (+) They come with a lower price tag than electric (-) More is spent on maintenance like oil and transmission fluid changes. Pros and Cons of Miles (+) With a full tank, they can go 250 to 300 miles. In addition, filling the tank does not take long. and you can find gas stations in many places. (-) You have to drive to the gas station to refill, and you cannot recharge it at home. Pros and Cons of the Environment ( ... read more

Most Common Fuel System Repairs

Most Common Fuel System Repairs

The fuel system comprises many parts including fuel injectors, fuel pump, fuel filter, and more. These parts work together to deliver clean fuel to the engine at the right time and in the right amounts. If your vehicle is experiencing issues with this process, you will need to rely on a trustworthy auto repair shop to perform your fuel system repairs.  At Portland Automotive Inc, we perform top-of-the-line fuel system services. Here are some of the most common repairs done at our auto service shop: Fuel Injection Service Fuel injectors are devices that spray fuel or gas in the combustion chamber. They can become leaky or clogged over time. When your engine gets too much or too little fuel, it can cause significant performance issues. Therefore, you need to have these cleaned or replaced to restore engine performance. Fuel Pump Repair If you catch random noises from your vehicle’s rear end, close to the fill-up area, you may be looking at a fuel pump repair. The pump is ... read more