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As time goes by, your vehicle may not work like it used to. It may lose power, not get as good of gas mileage, or begin to ride a little rougher than it once did. While some aging is normal in your vehicle, much of it can be avoided by these four simple maintenance steps.Check Your Fluids

Check Your Fluids

We all know to regularly check our oil, but how often do you check the rest of your fluids? Your vehicle relies on multiple fluids for correct operation including coolant, power steering fluid, and transmission fluid. Like your oil, these fluids need to be check and changed according to the schedule in your maintenance guide located in the owner’s manual.

Inspect Your Tires

Your tires affect almost every aspect of how your vehicle drives. They can influence your car’s balance, gas mileage, traction, and stopping power. To ensure your tires are safe, check for visible cables that show extreme wear on your tire. Also, check the tread of each tire by inserting a penny between the tread lines. If Lincoln’s head disappears, your tire tread is too worn and may not perform correctly. Inspect your tires for bulges on either side. Bulges in your tire are very worn and stretched areas that can easily cause a blowout while traveling down the road and should be taken care of immediately.

Evaluate Your Innerworkings

Your vehicle will experience some wear as it ages which is why it’s important to regularly check your hoses, seals, and belts to make sure they are not cracked or dry. A torn belt or disconnected hose can cause huge problems with the functionality of your vehicle but can be replaced easily and with no other work needed if caught in time.

Replace Your Filters

Most people tend to disregard their vehicle’s filters until there is a problem. However, regularly replacing your oil, fuel, and air filter can improve the gas mileage and general life of your car by improving its “breathing system”. When your car has a healthy flow of air and fluids, it can utilize its many systems to continue to run properly for years.

No matter how old your vehicle is, taking these four steps can drastically improve its lifespan, performance, and can even help to prevent some accidents. For maintenance and repair services you can trust, call the professionals at J1 Auto Repair (630) 932-4427 and improve your vehicle’s quality of life.

Improve Your Gas Mileage This Summer With Our Helpful Tips!

While gas prices have seemed to stabilize in most parts of the country, gas is not cheap by any means! The miles per gallon you can get can be very stressful for some drivers, and even influence the kinds of vehicles consumers are buying today. Today we will discuss a few pro tips that can help you save gas, and save money in these hot summer months.

Drive Better

Everyone likes to think that they are the perfect driver, but how well do you actually drive? It is fairly common knowledge at this point, but speeding actually decreases your fuel efficiency, and can lead to a significant amount of waste, in comparison to the time you think you’re saving by driving faster. Vehicles achieve maximum fuel efficiency between 45 and 60 miles per hour.

Clear Off Your Car

If you’re driving with a roof rack, but you aren’t carrying anything on your roof, you’re wasting gas. Attachments like roof racks can interfere with the aerodynamics of your car, which causes drag. Drag makes your car work harder to keep up to speed, which causes you to use more gas than you should.

Fill Up The Tank

If your tank is below half full, you should fill it up ASAP. In the hot summer months, gas can actually evaporate if your tank isn’t full.

Fill Up Your Tires

If you want your car to perform at its best, you need to give it the right tools. Among those are properly inflated tires. If your tires are under inflated, they can wear faster than they need to, as well as cause drag. If they are over-inflated, they can cause you to lose traction, which is very unsafe.

If you need help maintaining or repairing your vehicle, give us a call at (630) 932-4427 and schedule an appointment with our friendly professionals!

For as long as most of us can remember, the rule for oil change has always been every 3,000 miles or 3 months. Many people are unaware that the rule has slightly changed. With the emergence of synthetic oil, the general rule for oil change is now 4 months or 5,000 miles.

New Cars

5,000 miles is now the standard for new car oil changes

Much like gas mileage, oil life has improved drastically over time. Changes in the composition of oil have made its lifespan longer. Engines in newer vehicles have also made significant strides. The combination of advancements make 5,000 miles the new barometer for an oil change. Many auto shops have not updated their policy at the risk of losing money. It is important to keep yourself up to date on these practices so that you can choose the best auto shop for you.

Used Cars

If your car is more than 15 years old, it may still need more frequent oil changes. Because used cars typically have higher mileage, more maintenance is required to keep it running at an optimal level. Older cars need consistent monitoring to prevent damage that could lead to monumental expenses, some of which wouldn’t even be worth pursuing. So in cases like this, changing your oil frequently is a good idea.

Keep Up With Inspections

The most important part of maintaining your car’s health is having regular inspections from a trusted auto body shop. At J1 Auto Repair, we pride ourselves in providing honest service so that you can get what you need at an affordable price. If you have questions about your vehicle call us at (630) 932-4427.

Tire Maintenance Improves Gas Mileage and Keeps You Safe on the Road

When was the last time you checked the tires on your vehicle? Keeping up with tire maintenance is an easy way to keep your vehicle in good shape. It’ll even help you improve your gas mileage. Here are some ways to keep your tires in good condition:

Checking the Treadwear

Tire treads are built to keep your vehicle on the road and give you better control when driving in wet weather. The tread on your tires is important to keeping your car on the road, especially in wet driving conditions. Tires have built in indicators on the tire so you can quickly see whether the treads have worn down too low. Keeping an eye on the treadwear will keep you safe on the road!

Testing the Air Pressure

Tires will have a recommended psi level that you can find either in the owner’s manual or on a sticker inside the driver side door. It’s important to keep your tires at the recommended level. Low tire pressure can result in reduced gas mileage and can decrease the handling and control of the vehicle.

Getting the Tires Rotated

Rotating your tires will ensure that the treads wear evenly. Uneven treads can off-balance the vehicle and cause improper alignment. Check the treadwear of each tire when you are testing the air pressure. Manufacturers recommend having the tires rotated every 6,000 miles.

If you need a tune-up or automotive maintenance in the Lombard, IL area, contact J1 Auto Repair today at (630) 932-4427 or come by our location on South Main Street! We have skilled mechanics who can get your vehicle working at top speed again in no time.

Look for the common signs of engine trouble

Having engine trouble? There are certain signs of a struggling engine and it’s important to keep an eye out to have it checked at the first sign of trouble. Dealing with engine repairs may be time consuming and costly, but a simple repair could turn into something much worse if ignored for too long.

Visible issues would include a check engine light warning. You should have these checked as soon as they come up to ensure there are no serious issues with the vehicle. Another noticeable issue is steam or smoke coming from the engine. You’ll know that an oil leak has occurred the smoke is dark. When oil leaks into the engine, it gets burned up with the gasoline creating the smoke.

If you’ve driven your vehicle for a while you are probably pretty familiar with the sounds that it makes while running. If it starts sounding out of the ordinary and you hear odd noises coming from the engine, you’ll want to take it in immediately. Engine can make a grinding or knocking noise if the internal parts are not functioning properly.

Engine troubles can result in some pretty terrible smells too. If you notice any odd smells, make sure it isn’t something coming in from the outside. Engine problems can come with the smell of burning rubber, rotten eggs, and gasoline to name a few. Have your vehicle inspected if you think any strong and unusual odors are emanating from the engine.

If you require engine repairs in the Lombard, IL area, contact J1 Auto Repair today. We can assist you with auto repairs, tune ups and more!

Because winter is still amongst us, it is important to have a car heater that works. If your heater isn’t working like it used to it might need to get fixed right away. However, there are less obvious signs that something is wrong with your heater. If you are unsure it is always a good idea to bring your car into an auto shop. Below are signs something is wrong with your car heater.

Coolant Leaks

Sometimes when your heater control valve is worn down or cracked, it can cause coolant to leak. When this happens, you will need your heater control valve replaced or repaired.

Your Car Has Overheated

While the heater of your car is not always the reason your car has overheated, it is one place to start. Get your car serviced to make sure your heater and other parts of you car are in good condition.

The Inside of You Car Is Foggy

If when you turn on the defrost the condensation keeps building up on your windows. If this is the case, there is something wrong with the heater core and you will need to have it looked at.

Damaged Thermostat

If the thermostat is stuck, it can cause your heater not to work. There are several ways to check the thermostat, but ensure it is done correctly by bringing it into an auto shop.

If you need auto repair services in Lombard, IL, give the experts at J1 Auto Repair a call at (630) 932-4427 for services ranging from auto transmission service to oil change service.

Oil changes are a necessary task when it comes to keeping the engine in your vehicle running at top performance. Here are a few benefits of keeping an eye on your oil levels and maintaining it regularly.

Engine oil acts as a lubricant to make sure the various parts of the engine all work effectively and minimizes the risk of failure. It also absorbs heat that could otherwise damage the engine. Without a sufficient amount of oil or clean oil, the engine could become damaged.

Oil will become contaminated over time which is why it is recommended to have the oil changed on a regular schedule. You will find that changing the oil every 3,000 miles is the typical recommendation, however, check your owner’s manual for manufacturer guidelines in case it differs from this. Every time the oil is changed, the oil filter is swapped out for a clean one. This will ensure that your clean oil stays clean and doesn’t pick up contaminants left behind.

Looking for automotive services in the Marietta, IL area? Talk to the auto experts at J1 Auto Repair to find out what services we provide that can get your vehicle running at top speed again. Whether you need an oil change, tire services, or a tune up, our team of automotive mechanics can get your car running smoothly again in no time. Call (630) 932-4427 for more information.

Today’s vehicles are controlled largely by a computer that is equipped with sensors that help your car stay road ready by maintaining high levels of efficiency. When the onboard computer detects a substantial dip in efficiency or an outright failure of one of your driving systems, it will send message causing your dashboard warning lights to illuminate.

One of the lights on your dashboard display is a check engine light that may be depicted as a small outline of an engine or the words “Service Engine Soon.” Once you recognize that your check engine light is on, you can take the next step towards making any repairs.

It is important to note that once a dashboard warning light is illuminated, there is already an issue with your vehicle. This means that you should get your car, truck or SUV serviced immediately to avoid further complications.

If you happen to have an engine diagnostic computer handy, connect it to your car’s central computer and run a quick test. The diagnostic computer will scan your car’s computer for any error codes, and if it finds an error code it will display the error code. You will need to match the error code on the display to its related system failure.

If you don’t happen to have an engine diagnostic computer handy, you can purchase one at your local auto parts store. If you don’t feel comfortable performing your own tests and repairs, trust the professionals at J1 Auto Repair to help you get back on the road!