Performance

Back in the good ol’ days, automotive air filters were simple to find; they sat right on top of the engine in a round metal container. All you had to do was unscrew a wing nut, lift off the lid, and lift out the round air filter element. A quick wipe of the debris out of the bottom of the housing, and you could drop in the new filter, replace the lid and wing nut, and be on your way.

Dust, dirt and grime are all enemies to the longevity and efficient performance of your vehicle's engine. To prevent engine damage, your vehicle is equipped with various filters – air and oil among them.  

Statistics gathered at a recent National Car Care Month inspection campaign conducted by the Car Care Council show that 30 percent of the vehicles failed because they had low, overfull, or dirty engine oil. ‘Clean’ oil is the life-blood of any engine and changing it and the oil filter frequently is what keeps the vehicle’s engine running smoothly, mile after mile.

There has been a lot of talk, news and claims surrounding Ceramic brake pads in recent years. We would like to shed some light on the term and its proper meaning.

You wouldn’t wear sandals in the snow. And sneakers at a wedding would be quite out of place. Just as proper footwear is critical to your comfort and correct body alignment, appropriate tires are vital to affecting the overall performance and handling of your vehicle.

If you’ve shod your SUV with this weekend’s “four for $99” special, you can expect an underwhelming experience on the roadways. The wrong tire does little to benefit the vehicle wearing it. The good news – optimizing your vehicle’s performance is as simple as shopping for the right shoe.

While drivers are becoming more environmentally conscious by purchasing hybrid vehicles, many may not be aware that washing those automobiles at professional car washes also positively impacts the environment.

Environmental Partners, Inc., Issaquah, Seattle, conducted two tests in 2006 to measure the potential impact of untreated car wash discharges into the storm water system (and thereby to streams and lakes) using fish mortality as a measure.

Pressing down on the brakes and not knowing how well they’ll perform can be an unnerving situation. Given that Americans spend 4.2 billion hours a year constantly using their brakes in traffic, its obvious proactive brake maintenance is important. However, since brake replacement timeframes vary anywhere between 30,000 and 60,000 miles, recognizing brake warning signs is imperative to avoid a complete brake failure.  

As the weather begins to warm up for most of the country, drivers begin thinking of spring and the services needed to maintain their vehicles now that winter has passed. Unfortunately, it’s during this time of year, that automotive myths are often unintentionally perpetuated.  

Knowing which stories are myths and which ones are fact can be difficult. Because of that, NAPA’s 2009 Technician of the Year, Jack Gregory, is dispelling some common myths to keep everyone’s vehicle running smoothly in 2009.  

With gas prices remaining high, some owners of larger vehicles are trading in their gas-guzzlers for smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles.  According to the National Automobile Dealers Association, the average price of a new car sold in the United States is $28,400. With new cars costing a pretty penny, more and more consumers are considering used vehicles to save even more money. While many prospective buyers aim to find a car at the right price, it’s important to not forget safety and reliability.     

When it comes to your car's safety, brakes top the list of systems that need monitoring. However, many people are unaware of the signs that indicate a car's brakes may need maintenance or repair.

For routine maintenance, it's important to check the vehicle's braking system at least once a year. A thorough inspection should include brake lining wear, brake fluid level, rotor thickness, condition of hoses and brake lines, brake and dash warning lights, as well as taking the car for a test drive to detect other potential brake system problems.