Please Flush!

With the holidays fast approaching, you’re probably on your hundredth trip to the mall looking for the right gift for Aunt Martha. After schlepping packages all day, shoulders aching, you return to your car looking forward to a comfy ride home only to find that you’re low on power steering fluid. How can you tell? You need all the upper body strength you can muster to turn the steering wheel!

Now that you think of it, you’ve never flushed the old fluid since you bought the car! With every hard turn of the wheel a sharp pain radiates up your shoulder and you hear a whining sound. You’re not sure if that’s you or the car. If only you had spent your extra money on a power steering flush instead of buying a frying pan for Aunt Martha. The whole family knows she’s no Paula Deen!

You’re not alone in neglecting your power steering system though. They’re generally only noticed when something goes wrong such as a sudden change in the steering or a squealing or squawking noise.

Most steering system failures are caused by contaminated power steering fluid which is a form of lubrication used to help your car’s power steering system run smoothly and efficiently. Over time, if not maintained by performing a power steering system flush, this fluid will start to wear out much like parts of our bodies do. However your car has different names for their parts such as power steering pump, gearbox and rack & pinion. These valuable parts need to be cleaned and protected with new fluids and conditioners to prolong their life and your steering comfort.

A Power Steering Flush Service will:

v    Remove sludge and contaminated fluid

v    Add the correct, manufacturer-recommended power steering fluid

v    Properly lubricate power steering components

v    Condition ‘o’–rings & seals

v    Eliminate power steering noise

v    Help you avoid costly repairs

Let EcoLube steer you in the right direction with a Power Steering Flush!

http://goecolube.com/services/power-steering-flush/

Basic Car Maintenance Tips for Teens

For many parents, fixing the national debt crises is easier than trying to get their teenager to focus on the importance of basic car maintenance.

Most teenagers live in a world that focuses on the short-term where anything after next weekend is a million years away. So how do you get your teenager to learn the long term value of basic car maintenance? Hit them where it hurts. Now I don’t mean literally hit them, I’m talking about dinero, scratch, cold hard cash! The conversation might go like this: "By the way Johnny, you know that iPad that you’ve been saving for? Well, since you decided not to take the time to check your oil level and the car’s in the repair shop, you can kiss that iPad goodbye!"

Teenagers need to understand that costly repairs can occur if they don’t properly maintain their car and it all starts with basic car maintenance. It’s not about keeping the outside of the car clean and polished, you have to take a look under the hood.

1. Check the oil:

Show your teen where they can find the "oil dipstick." It usually has a bright handle that reads "engine oil." Have your teenager pull out the dip stick and wipe it off and remind your teenage girl to wear gloves before they say "EWW that’s gross!" and never want to check the oil again! Insert the dipstick fully back in. Pull it out again and check the oil level. It should be between the "Low" and "Full" marks.
Let your teen know the importance of keeping all the fluids -transmission fluid, coolant, etc. - clean and topped off. Point out where the oil filter and the coolant reservoir are located. Describe the dangers of opening the radiator cap when the engine is hot and be sure to tell them not to put their face directly over the radiator! Some auto repair shops, such as Echo Lube  will give you free top-offs on motor oil between service visits for up to 3,000 miles.
2. Battery:

Have your teen remove any metal jewelry before they come in contact with the battery … and that includes any bellybutton piercings that you might not know about. The metal could cause a spark and give them a nasty burn. Have your teen wear old, stained clothing while checking the battery for any leaks, cracks or other potential trouble. Battery fluid can make this a messy job and put holes in your clothes if battery acid is leaking. Look for any dirty, greasy terminals or corrosion which appears as a white, ashy deposit around the posts or cables. Tell your teen that if they let the corrosion build up and don’t clean it off, it’ll interfere will the electrical connection and can eat away at the wires and battery terminals. Before you start to clean the posts and terminals, remove the terminal connectors from their posts. Pour a can of soda or a mixture of baking soda and water over the battery.
Since baking soda neutralizes acids it will bubble so wait about 5 minutes before taking a wire brush and scraping all the corrosion and dirt off. Once you’re done, rinse thoroughly with water.

3. Windshield/ Wipers:

If the sun is shining brightly but your teenager thinks it’s a cloudy every day, it’s probably because their windshield needs to be cleaned. Explain that cleaning doesn’t mean wiping a small, circular spot on the windshield either. The whole windshield should be cleaned so show them how to fill the window washer fluid container so they can keep the windshield crystal clear. If you notice that the windshield isn’t getting clear, it might be time to check or change the wipers.

4. Tire Pressure:

Have your teen get in the habit of checking the tires on a weekly basis. This is bound to be a challenge because you probably can’t even get them to clean their rooms once a week! Inflating and maintaining proper tire pressure ensures safer, more comfortable driving and better fuel efficiency which means they can drive farther on less money! That might make an impression.

Teach your teenager to use a standard pressure gauge that measures pounds per square inch (PSI) and fits easily in the glove compartment. There’s no guarantee that the gauge won’t end up in the backseat in between the seat. To get the most accurate PSI check the vehicle's tire pressure when the tires are cold.

Also demonstrate how to change a flat tire so they can do it on their own. This will save you from having to leave the comfort of your home to change a tire on a cold and wintery night.

5. The Dashboard:

Be sure to show your teen how to navigate around the gauges and idiot lights on the dashboard. Most of the idiot lights come on as a visual alert. These are warnings that your teen might want to check out before there’s a major problem.

Turning up the radio and ignoring the flashing or dinging of these alerts will only make matters worse and costly.

Showing your teen the basics of car maintenance should only take a couple of hours. Your teenager will feel he spent an eternity with you but as they back out of the driveway, you can feel a bit more secure knowing that you just might have gotten through to them on the long term value of basic car maintenance … or not.

 

5 Easy Tips to Add Life to Your Ride and Keep It Rolling

Spending the last 3 hours getting towed to the repair shop and sitting in the waiting room gave me plenty of time to think about how I can avoid spending time here in the future.

I won’t give you the gory details of my day but if you’ve ever spent hours in a repair shop waiting room (no matter how great the coffee, how comfy the seats or how big the TV) you know exactly what I’m talking about.

As I sat in the repair shop my thoughts focused on how to avoid this experience again. If I routinely maintain my car it’ll add years to its life, saving me money and it’ll be years before I have to go back to that place! So as I sat there I came up with these 5 easy tips to keep your ride rolling:

1.    Automobile Manufacturers provide a service schedule customized for your car. It’s highly recommended that you follow this schedule for optimal performance, longevity and reliability. Based on manufacturer’s recommendations, the oil and air filter should be changed every 3,000 miles using Quality Oil. Echo Lube recommends using Pennzoil and offers a Pennzoil Lifetime Warranty.

2.    Check the pressure in your tires. The last thing you want is to be stranded in the dead of winter with a flat tire because you didn’t bother to check the air pressure. Under-inflated tires can reduce tire life by up to 15% and reduce gas efficiency up to 10% so make sure to check the air pressure in your tires at least once a month. While you’re checking the pressure, inspect the tires for tread wear. Do you see nails, stones or other debris embedded in the treads? Rotate your tires every 6,000 miles and have your wheels aligned every 6 months.

3.    Test your battery on a regular basis by checking the battery fluid levels. If the level is low, add distilled water. Distilled water not available? Use a good drinking water like that bottle of Evian that’s been sitting on the floor in the back seat of your car.  Clean the terminals if you notice they’re dirty or you see corrosion.

4.    The way you drive has an effect on how long your car will last. Follow proper driving and braking techniques. Don’t ride the brake with your left foot; keep your foot on the floorboard where it belongs. When you’re coming up on a yellow light don’t hit the gas trying to make it through the intersection before it turns red. You’re going to end up slamming on your brakes anyway because the cop that sits at the intersection everyday is going to catch you! So not only is this bad for your brakes but you end up with a costly traffic ticket! Slow down and drive gently – it’ll be easier on your engine and your brakes.

5. Prolong the life of the paint on your car by faithfully washing it especially during the winter when there is salt on the roads. This will avoid rusting under the carriage and in the wheel wells. Never use dishwashing soap on your car as it’ll strip the wax and dull the finish – remember they call it dishwashing soap for a reason. After washing with car soap (don’t forget the tires and rims), dry it off thoroughly with a soft chamois cloth to avoid water spots. On occasion use a high quality wax and buff to give your car a nice sparkling shine.

These 5 easy tips will give you a safer and more dependable ride for years to come and keep you from going back to the repair shop anytime soon!


You will Love Our Service. I Guarantee It !!!
 

Nitrogen In Your Tires Is It Just A Bunch Of Hot Air?

Does nitrogen really make a difference or is it like some people you know … full of hot air and empty promises?

First you’ll need to know “what is nitrogen?”

Nitrogen (for those who forgot their periodic table from high school, the element symbol for nitrogen is N) is a colorless, odorless, inert (this means without life) dry gas which is used as a replacement for air where oxidation is undesirable.

Nitrogen makes up about 78% of the air we breathe. Because of their large size, nitrogen molecules are the least permeable and stay in your tire longer. Common for many industries, nitrogen is used by NASA, the U.S. Military, in heavy construction and in commercial aircrafts (FAA required).

Nascar drivers (like hottie Jeff Gordon) know that tires filled with nitrogen instead of  compressed air exhibit less pressure change with temperature fluctuations, providing consistent tire inflation pressures during a race as the tires heat up. It improves the car’s performance without incident, bringing the driver closer to that chequered flag!

Other Great Benefits of Nitrogen:

ü      Increases Tread Life - Nitrogen is not as affected by temperature as air and holds little if any moisture. If you’re constantly adding air, your tires aren't lasting as long. Using nitrogen will maintain a more even tire pressure over the life of a tire, keeping you rolling further on down the road.

ü      Slower Inflation Loss – No, not our economy inflation … we’re talking tires here! A tire inflated with regular compressed air will lose about one and a half to two psi of pressure per month. Most of the pressure loss is due to oxygen molecules permeating through the tire rubber. Tires inflated with Nitrogen can take up to six months (unlike our economic inflation that will take up to 100 years to level out)  to lose one and half psi pressure per month making inflation levels last longer.

ü      Reduced Wheel Corrosion - Rim rust caused by condensation from water vapor and other gases can get caught in valves and create slow leaks in tires. Nitrogen is completely dry, just like an "extra-dry martini" with little to no dry vermouth. Nitrogen eliminates the potential for condensation versus using a compressed air hose that collected water and never purged properly.

ü      Improved Fuel Efficiency –Nitrogen eliminates moisture and replaces small oxygen molecules with larger nitrogen molecules. This reduces the rate at which compressed gas sneaks through porous tire walls and maintains optimal pressure for a longer period of time. Proper inflation reduces rolling resistance giving you optimum fuel economy and improved MPG meaning those trips to the beach to work on your tan will cost you less money!

ü      Improved TPMS Performance – Unlike a wacky hormone PMS alert, the Tire Pressure Management System (TPMS) is an electronic device in your car that alerts you when the tire pressure changes to low, unsafe levels.  Nitrogen in your tires means they’ll need to be filled less often (hence fewer visits to the gas station for air) and the tires maintain higher pressure making the alerts less frequent. Nitrogen will not corrode or negatively affect a TPMS in any way.

Are you among the 85% of Americans who doesn’t regularly check their tire pressure? Since tires filled with regular compressed air lose between 1-2 pounds of pressure per month, you may want to consider getting off the couch and taking a minute or two to check the pressure. At the risk of sounding like your mother, ‘it could save your life.’

The best time to check the tire pressure is when the tires are cold because air expands as it gets warmer so the pressure will be higher. Wait at least an hour to get an accurate reading. Consult your owner's manual or the sticker on the door of the driver's side for the Pounds per Square Inch (PSI) recommended. A properly inflated tire along with filling it with nitrogen means longer tread life, better gas mileage and decreases the risk of overheating the tires and causing dangerous blowouts.

BTW - do you have a spare tire?

Visit Echo Lube because their service delivers every time just like using Nitrogen to fill your tires!

A Simple Light Check ... Illuminate Your World!

How many times have you thought the road ahead was clear and then, all of a sudden, you’re slamming on the brakes to avoid a rear-end collision with a car you never saw? And why didn’t you see the car? Because its tail lights weren’t working and the car’s owner didn’t take time to do a simple check of their vehicle’s lights. 



The lights on your vehicle are one of its most important safety features. That’s right! Your car’s lights do more than show you the way on a dark night.
To avoid becoming a hazard on the road, check your car’s lights. That means all of them including the brake lights, headlight beams, taillights, turn signals and the license plate light! A burned out light can get you pulled over by a cop and while he’s got you stopped he’ll might look for other violations and give you a big fat ticket!



Testing The Lights on Your Vehicle:

• Headlights: Headlights are located in the front of the vehicle for the purpose of illuminating the road ahead. You don’t need a college degree to figure out if your headlights are working. Turn your low beams on, get out of the car and look to see if they’re on. For the best results, check bulb operation at night or in a dark garage. Repeat this process with your high beams, flashing them a few times to make sure they’re functioning properly as well. Both should shine with equal brightness. If they fail to do so it might mean a bad electrical supply or that your bulb needs to be replaced. Your headlights should be properly aimed – not too high or too low. You’re not searching for night crawlers or trying to find the “Big Dipper” in the night sky.

• Brake lights: Brake lights are usually an indication that a car is slowing down. Every so often you’ll find a driver who’s ‘riding the brake’ (definitely not a good practice). We’ve all been behind one of them at one time or another.

If you’re alone and can’t find anyone to help you check the brake lights, back your car into a garage or up close to a building. Turn your ignition switch to the ” on” position and look in the rear view mirror to see if they light up when the brake is depressed. Now try lightly depressing the brake. The light should come on immediately but if it doesn’t you might need to adjust your brake light switch. To test the backup lights, turn the ignition key to the "ON" position and put the transmission in reverse. Before you get out of the car to check the lights, make sure your parking brake is on. You don’t want to run yourself over!

• Turn Signals: Turn signals, also called "directionals” or "blinkers," are signals that flash to tell other drivers you intend to turn your car in a particular direction such as changing lanes, merging or turning.

To test your turn signals, turn them on and see if they’re flashing at a steady rate of between 60 - 120 blinks per minute. Listen for the "tick-tock" noise the turn signal makes.

Car manufacturers have conveniently placed the turn signals close to the steering wheel so they’re easy to use. If your movement is going to affect another car, please take advantage of their convenient location & use them! Be patient with those drivers who take it the extreme and forget to turn off their turn signals leaving you to follow for the next 10 miles with their left signal flashing!

At Eco Lube your entire lighting system will be checked so you’ll know that all your lights are in proper working order and providing the best illumination for your safe driving.

Transmission issues and how to avoid them, saving you big dollars $$

Knowing how to prevent transmission repairs will help you avoid problems and save you money on repairs." Ka-ching!

We all could use a little extra cash and wouldn’t you rather enjoy a day at the spa than pay for a costly transmission repair?

So, let’s start with the basics

What is a transmission?

Plain and simple, a transmission allows mechanical power to be sent from a power source such as an engine or motor, to a drive mechanism or drive wheels. There are two types of automobile transmissions, manual and automatic. Automatic transmission, shifts gears automatically I know boring right? Or ho hum With an automatic transmission you select the gear you want to be in and the transmission will shift into higher and lower gears by itself. The key to the automatic transmission is the torque converter, which takes the place of a clutch in a manual transmission.Automatic transmissions use hydraulic oil pressure to apply its own clutch packs or bands inside the transmission to develop the various gear ranges. By applying a clutch pack or bands, the clutches grab onto one of the gear train components, which either holds or turns that component. The combination of holding and turning enables the gear set to create different gear ratios within the transmission. Manual transmission requires a little more of the drivers participation or concentration in that it requires the driver to shift the gears up and down when necessary, more POWER or sounds like fun! Or zoom, zoom. Shift gears on a manual transmission are based on the vehicle's speed and this requires the use of the clutch pedal and the gear shift stick. Learning to control the clutch pedal can be a challenge but once you got it down it’s like riding a bike, you never forget how.


Noticing Minor Problems Before They Become a Major Problem / Preventive Maintenance:

• If you notice reddish oil leak on the transmission or underneath your car, have your service technician check to see if it is actually coming from your transmission and not your power steering system.

• An automatic transmission will shift smoothly and quietly under light acceleration, purrs like a kitten. Heavier acceleration will give a firmer shift at higher speeds. You are not that Nascar driver that you think you are, so be gentle on your acceleration. Pay attention to any unusual noises or new sounds that you may hear while shifting the car. Or while driving at different shifting speeds.

• Transmission problems can occur when the car gets over heated, so don’t overheat. Treat your car like you would a lover, gently and with respect. Or Treat your car like you do your family with love, gentleness and respect .Towing heavy load trailers, rocking the vehicle back and forth from the mud or snow, continuous stop and go traffic in severely hot weather, drag racing with teenagers causes overheating. In normal driving condition the overdrive should be always on.
  You may need to switch it off when driving in mountainous area or towing a trailer.At extreme higher operating temperatures the transmission fluid oxidizes turning brown and smells like burnt toast! The heat destroys lubricating qualities and becomes oxidized leaving deposits all over inside the transmission. The rubber seals and gaskets become hardened and begin to leak. Doesn’t sound pretty and neither are you when you get overheated, keep your cool.

• Transmission fluid is a detergent based fluid that acts as a lubricant to reduce friction and wear on the internal transmission part. After time and putting a lot of mileage on your car, this detergent loses its lubrication capacity therefore regularly checking the correct fluid levels ( don’t over fill ) and changing the fluids is key to keeping the transmission in good working order. Clean transmission fluid looks just like cherry Vicks 44 cough syrup and when it get dirty and needs to be changed it becomes a real pukey brown color. If you don't change the transmission fluid on a regular basis you can lubricate your transmission with metal shavings from internal and normal wear, from the clutches and bands that are being cycled old contaminated fluid, this will shorten the transmission's life. Your vehicle manufacturer has specific recommendations as to when to change the transmission fluid, as a general rule and based on these recommendations a transmission fluid replacement should be done every 30,000 miles.

• A simple transmission service is incomplete, a waste of your time and hard earned money ( remember day spa? ) this service only removes the transmission pan and generally only drains 75% of the old transmission fluid, leaving 25% contamination to mix with the clean fluid. Make sure you get a complete transmission fluid service this will ensure that all the old fluid is drained out of the transmission lines and replaced with only fresh fluids. Keep your fluids running clean and fresh!

Eco- Lube complete transmission fluid service will assure the customer that the transmission lines are replaced with only fresh fluids until the next scheduled service date! Putting off preventive maintenance may just lead to greater damage and bigger expenses so why not call Eco- Lube and make a date!

You'll Love Our Service, I'll Guarantee It!

 

Hot Hot Hot …. Or Not

Hot Hot Hot …. Or Not

The temperature may have been right for Marilyn Monroe in “Some Like It Hot” but these days when you’re out and about, you want to keep your cool.

So here’s the quick and easy way to be sure you stay cool even when the heat is on.

Signs that your A/C is not running purrfectly……….

If all you’re getting is a blast of hot air and it’s not coming from the passenger in the seat next to you, then there’s an issue with your A/C system.

This kind of problem is often caused by a loss of refrigerant. It could be leaking out of the hose or seal or a clogged condenser could be preventing the refrigerant from re-circulating through the refrigeration circuit.

Since the air compressor is not designed to run full time, we recommend shutting it off before it goes kaput.

If you turn on the air conditioner and it smells like the inside of a high school gym locker, it means there’s water condensation inside the A/C evaporator.

If the drain tube from the inside of the car is clogged, mold and stale water collects in the box and when this happens you’ll see water on the floor of the car.

Make sure to set the system to the OUTSIDE air mode (not REC) frequently to help prevent or lessen this smelly problem. And no, those hanging green tree air fresheners will not get rid of that nasty smell! You’ll need to unclog the drain tube and try turning off the A/C a couple of miles from your destination, then turn the fan on high to dry out the system.

Freon Recharge is important for the performance of your A/C system to keep it running purrfectly………..

Every air conditioning system needs a refrigerant (also called a coolant) that creates the cool air known as Freon. AC Freon is the cooling agent used in most air conditioning systems.

Cooling is a process where the Freon (refrigerant) gas is compressed into a liquid state & this liquid cools the car. Think of the way you feel after drinking a tall, icy lemonade …. Freon liquid does the same for your car.

Throughout the life of the A/C condensation can build up in the system causing internal pressure to increase. This in turn can lead to leaks through the seals, making it an environmental hazard.

Moisture restricts the ability of Freon from converting to a liquid state, depleting your level of Freon. Time for a Freon recharge!

• It’s against the law to release Freon into the atmosphere because it causes ozone depletion. Don’t put so much pressure on yourself to do it right. There’s a good chance you’ll mess it up … not just the car but your hair, your nails, your makeup …. so take it to the professionals at Eco Lube to be sure you’re not causing damage to the environment. Eco Lube recycles the Freon...where would you put it?

Eco Lube also adds fresh Freon to the proper level and adds synthetic lubricant to the compressor so the system will operate in top form. You like to be in tip-top shape and so does your car!

• The recommended Freon refrigerant recharge is every 2 years even in newer cars. However you may need to physically recharge yourself sooner than that!

Get a routine A/C recharge from Eco Lube and be a happy camper when you crank up the A/C and lets you keep your cool.