Do It Yourself (DIY)

Drivers expect to experience a few bumps in the road as their vehicles age. While certain issues, such as worn shocks or engine troubles, are best left to the professionals, drivers can address many other issues that commonly affect aging vehicles on their own.

Fluid leaks are one of the more routine problems that plague older vehicles. While leaks are not necessarily a sign of doom and gloom, they tend to distress vehicle owners and can affect drivability. In addition, automotive fluids that seep out of vehicles can prove harmful to the environment.

The automatic transmission is a pretty incredible device when you get a chance to look inside of it.  The technology that is needed to eliminate manual shift transmission needs to have electronics and hydraulics to work in unity.  The transmission fluid flows throughout the whole transmission like oil in an engine.  It cleans, lubricates, cools and actuates the different assemblies that cause the automatic shifting to occur for thousands of miles. Rubber seals, gaskets, shift valves and clutches all must perform their jobs flawlessly or the automatic transmission is useless.

The throttle body in the air intake system controls the air that flows into the engine.  The amount of air depends on the position of the gas pedal.  If you press the pedal harder then the throttle plate opens wider to give the engine more air, resulting in more power and increased speed. 

Most fuel-injected vehicles are equipped with a mass air flow sensor, or “MAF” sensor to measure the amount and density of air entering the engine.  This is information the computer uses to determine how much fuel to inject into the engine for combustion as air enters the cylinders. Ignition timing is also affected.  The MAF sensor wire gets dirty with accumulated debris, oil, air filter fibers, dust and pollen.  This can cause inaccurate readings and negatively affect the air to fuel ratio.

Battery Cleaner with Acid Indicator from CRC Industries, helps quickly identify acid leaks, and cleans and removes corrosion on car batteries.  Clean battery terminals improve the connection and maximize a vehicle’s electrical system performance.  You may or may not see visible corrosion as whitish or bluish deposits on the battery posts, and you can experiences rough starts, or the vehicle won’t start at all.

Suspension parts on the underside of your vehicle are exposed to all the harsh elements of weather.  This is where salt and road grime accumulate.  Over time, corrosion can eat away at components and hardware in the underbody, causing them to rust, corrode or seize.

Use CRC DUSTER Moisture-Free Dust & Lint Remover (#05185) on computer components and keyboards, electronics, stereo equipment, for car detailing and hard-to reach areas that normal hand dusting cannot reach.

CRC Motor Treatment

Things just work better when they’re clean and your car’s engine is no exception.  You can’t stop carbon in the fuel system because it’s a byproduct of combustion.  But you can limit and reduce the number of carbon deposits on your intake valves, piston heads, cylinder walls and injectors.  Adding CRC Motor Treatment to your fuel cleans these engine components and lubricates upper cylinders, helping cure hesitation and pings and also restores power. 

CRC Silaramic® Brake System Grease – now available in a new 9 oz. tub (#05363)

This new inforgraphic from the Car Care Council outlines six car smells that could mean trouble for your vehicle. The infographic is based off a recent press release titled “Six Vehicle Warning Signs Your Nose Can Recognize” and a non-technical approach to understanding when something may be wrong with your car.

Remember, once you know what a smell may be, don’t delay in fixing it to ensure you are safe on the road