August 2022

It’s Hot out there! A common topic during the summer when it comes to cars is antifreeze.

It may surprise you to know that not all antifreeze is created equal. You may have noticed that antifreeze (also known as coolant) comes in different colors. There are pink, orange, blue, and green engine coolants out there, and they all differ.

All these colors make it complicated for car owners — which coolant works best for my vehicle?

Green antifreeze may be the most common option, but it does not mean it is the best option for your vehicle. Green antifreeze is commonly used in cars produced domestically between 1920 and 1990. For example, if you own a GM, Ford, or Dodge produced between the 20s and the 90s, you will most likely find a green coolant in your engine. This type of coolant contains silicates and phosphate corrosion inhibitors to protect several metal parts in your engine, including your radiator and engine.

Newer vehicles have OAT antifreeze, which ranges from orange, red, blue, and dark green. This type of coolant does not have silicates or phosphates, but it does contain corrosion inhibitors, which are designed to ensure the coolant lasts longer than usual. Special ingredients are used to prevent rust and corrosion. OAT antifreeze is typically used in GM, Volkswagen, Honda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, and Toyota newer models.

HOAT antifreeze is a mix between IAT and OAT coolants and specifically designed for newer cars. This coolant contains added silicates for increased aluminum protection and corrosion. HOAT coolant is usually yellow or orange. Typically, your vehicle is born with a specific coolant color, and it is recommended you don’t change it. There are different colors and blends for makes, models, and years of vehicles.

The team at Son Rays can help you figure out which antifreeze is best for your vehicle, per your manufacturer recommendations. Your coolant is especially important during summer, as a coolant leak can result in an overheating vehicle. We don’t want you to be stuck in an overheating car, which is why we encourage you to bring your vehicle to our shop for an inspection.

 

July 2022

When you own a car, maintenance and insurance are requirements. Filling up with gas is also the nature of the beast. If you’re on the road a lot, and you cringe every time you have to fill up, we have some great money saving gas tips to help you out.
Here are a few things you can do today to get better gas mileage right away. To sum it up,  maintenance, maintenance, maintenance!

Change Your Filters
A well maintained car will operate with greater efficiency. You will have better performance, be safer on the road, and get the best fuel consumption. Something as small as a clogged fuel filter can restrict the flow of gas, which makes your car work harder, which wastes gas,and money! The same is true for your air filter. If your car cannot breathe fresh air, it struggles. Struggling uses more energy from the engine. More energy = wasted gas.

Use the Right Octane
If your car requires 87 octane, there is no benefit to using a higher octane. It’s not like any of us are dying to put 89 or 91 in with these prices, but remember you get the best performance from your engine when you use what the manufacturer recommends.

Check Your Tire Pressure
Finally something FREE! Having your tires filled to the correct tire pressure will yield you about 4 percent on fuel economy. Under inflated tires are like a person not picking up his feet when he is walking in the mud. You need more energy to move and more energy = more gas.

Junk in the Trunk
Take the junk out of your trunk! The heavier your car is, the more you have to lug around. Lose the weight and the car will have less to lug around. An extra 100 pounds can reduce your fuel economy by 1 to 2 percent.

Constantly Passing People
When you are  in traffic are you  a driver that  speeds up to weave in and out of the cars? Chances are, you will end up right next to the people you are trying to pass when traffic comes to a stop! You are wasting your energy, gas and your money!

Aggressive, Hard Driving
Hitting the accelerator pedal from a stoplight, braking hard, and speeding up to get to the next stop light? These are prime examples of wasted gas. Give yourself extra time to get to your destination and think “smooth and steady” as you drive. The DOT says that every 5mph you drive over 65 mph is equal to a 7 percent decrease in fuel economy.

Don’t Idle
Sitting in an idling car is a huge money waster. When a car is idling, it’s using fuel, and if you are just sitting there, you are getting 0 MPG. Try to limit your idling time with the gas prices the way they are.

 

June 2022

Determining Who Has the Right of Way

The concept of “right of way” is especially important for young drivers with only a little experience on the road. Many traffic laws only state that the right of way must be yielded, but provide few instructions beyond this. In the most general sense, right of way means who has the legal right to go first on the road. If you or another driver fails to yield the right of way, you risk colliding with each other, cyclists, or  pedestrians. Here are some tips for understanding who has the right of way in several common driving circumstances.

Controlled Intersections

A controlled intersection is an intersection that has either stop signs or a traffic light. These are the simplest situations to determine right of way because you can use the signs and lights as your guide. If you and another vehicle arrive at a stop sign at the same time, yield to the car to your right side.

Uncontrolled Intersections

Uncontrolled intersections are trickier because there are no yield signs, stop signs, or traffic lights to guide you. As a general rule, you should yield to cars that are already at the intersection. Whoever arrives at the intersection first gets to go first. And similar to stop sign etiquette, you should yield to the car on your right when in doubt.

T Intersections

A T Intersection is an intersection that occurs when a road dead ends into a through street. If you are driving on the dead end road, you must yield to traffic that is going past from the left and right.

Multiple Lane Intersections

Sometimes a one or two-lane road intersects a much larger road or highway. In this circumstance, drivers on the smaller road should yield to vehicles on the larger road. Larger roads often have greater speed limits than smaller roads, so all drivers should be aware of this common fact as well.

Highway on off ramps

Getting onto and off of highway exit ramps can be tricky, especially if there are many lanes or a lot of traffic. Drivers on an access ramp must yield to vehicles traveling on the exit ramp. Sometimes traffic leaving an interstate merges into its own separate lane. Drivers on the access ramp should still yield in this case. However, vehicles that are getting onto a highway must yield to all traffic coming up behind them.

 

Yield to other drivers in these circumstances

• At a yield sign
• To pedestrians in a crosswalk
• To persons using a seeing eye guide dog
• To persons using a white cane with or without a red tip
• At uncontrolled intersections where vehicles are already in the intersection
• At “T” intersections where you must yield to vehicles on the through road
• When turning left in which case you must yield to oncoming pedestrians, cars, etc.
• When driving on an unpaved road that intersections with a paved road
• When returning to the roadway after the car is parked

 

May 2022

Summer is almost here so we want to provide you with a few important tips on doing some “spring cleaning” for your car!

1. Change your oil and filters
Oil is important for picking up impurities as it lubricates and cools your engine, but as that oil ages it becomes less effective. When you don’t replace engine oil, it can result in higher fuel consumption, poor engine performance and, possibly, cause severe engine damage or decrease the life of your engine.
2. Check your fluids
Check your power steering, brake, transmission, windshield washer fluids and coolant. Top off any fluids that are low and flush/replace them as recommended in your car’s owner’s manual.
3. Tire maintenance
it’s also important to check and maintain proper tire pressure, rotate your tires every 10,000 kms and monitor for tread wear. Tires provide the only point of contact between your car and the road, so it’s critically important to make sure your tires are well maintained.

4. Replace your wiper blades
Wiper blades can take a beating during the winter. It’s a good idea to replace them in the spring when the onset of spring showers can lead to reduced visibility.

5. Check your battery
Your battery takes a beating in cold temperatures. Spring is a great time to have it tested and ensure it is mounted securely and its connections are strong and free of corrosion. Batteries more than five years old may need to be replaced.
6. Inspect your belts and hoses
Sub-zero temperatures can harden and damage rubber. In the Spring, it is important to check all your hoses and belts for any damage. Replacing any belts may also require replacing the tensioner and pulleys to ensure the new belt does not slip.
7. Check your lighting
A thorough check of all exterior and interior lighting is important to stay safe on the road. It is particularly important to give your exterior lights a thorough cleaning. Defective or dirty lighting may fail to notify fellow motorists of your intentions to stop or turn.

Spring maintenance, just like Spring cleaning, is an important part of keeping your vehicle operating safely and at peak performance for the longest time possible.

 

April 2022

6 Simple Spring Car Care Tips
In the spring, the weather has turned nicer and we want to get out of hibernation, here are a few spring car care tips to get your vehicle ready to enjoy the warmer weather.
Wash and wax.
If you haven’t done so yet, give your car a good scrub! Winter can be hard on your car’s body and paint. All the salt and grime from the winter builds up and let’s be real, who really stays on top of car care when it’s cold outside! Now is the perfect time to clean all that winter gunk off. Don’t forget to wash the wheel wells out (use a tire brush to clean the gunk out ) and hose off the undercarriage as best as you can. Once you’re done, a good coat of wax will help extend the life of your paint as the brutal hot summer sun approaches.
Clean the inside, Too.
Cleaning the inside won’t make your car run better, but it will make for a nicer environment! Just like the car’s body, our car’s interiors get neglected in the winter. Clean it out, put some good vinyl/leather treatment on the dash to keep it from cracking. Get rid of all the crud that accumulated in the car over the cold winter months. You’ll feel better driving to work tomorrow!!
Inspect your wiper blades.
The winter ice degrades the wipers rapidly and we all know that spring will bring plenty of rain showers. Don’t wait until you can’t see to replace your wipers. They are cheap and easy to install. If you are having trouble installing them, most of the parts houses that sell them will install them for you at no charge if you ask.
Check alignment and suspension.
Mother Nature can really do some damage to our roads in the winter months. If you’ve encountered many potholes, chances are your car could use an alignment. Remember that alignment issues will wear your tires faster, so keeping it aligned will save you money in the long run. If you feel your vehicle drifting to the left or the right, or if your steering wheel is not centered when you are driving down a flat, straight road then you differentially need an alignment! Suspension checks are something that you can ask a trusted, experienced mechanic to check for you.
Set your tire pressures.
Temperature changes make your tire pressures fluctuate. Now that the cold has finally left us and temperatures are rising, check your tires and set them to the appropriate pressure (set it to the pressure in the door jamb, not what the sidewall of the tire says) This will improve your fuel mileage and give you longer tire life.
Check under the hood.
If you’re not comfortable, have a mechanic do a basic check, but don’t feel intimidated. Look under the hood for basic problems. If you see belts and hoses that are cracked or frayed, have them replaced immediately before it becomes a problem. Also look for leaks, if you see wet spots on the engine, that’s a sign that something is wrong. A visual inspection can help prevent issues before they become a big problem.
We hope these spring car care tips help!

 

March 2022

 

 

February 2022

 

We’ve always known oil change intervals to be the old 3-months, 3,000 miles rule – I’m betting that you probably have heard the same. Most modern cars nowadays recommend a 7,500 mile oil change interval, and some, like BMW, go by a 15,000 mile interval. While a lot of research has been done and a lot of engineers have put a lot of time into extending the service life of our engines, it’s a concept I have incredibly hard time reconciling with the old “Change the oil every 3,000 miles or else” mindset, especially considering who is on the hook when the problems from a lifetime of 15,000 mile intervals manifest at 110 or 120,000 miles. Unfortunately this isn’t just a case of automotive hypochondria. Service shops are seeing engines that happily ran for 300,000 miles a few years ago on shorter intervals are now barely making it to 150k. What’s more, manufacturers are starting to admit they’re wrong about such prolonged oil change intervals as time has passed and cars running these lengthy intervals are having problems breaking, meaning manufacturers are having to send out recall after recall to shorten the intervals after a huge increase in warranty claims.

 

So the question is, do you trust your oil change interval and monitor to keep your motor running for 100k, or change it more frequently and keep the car running to 250k and beyond? Can you afford to trust the manufacturers? We are here to treat your car with the care it deserves! Contact us today!

 

January 2022

 

 

 

December 2021

 

The simplest way to avoid engine problems, is to make sure you take care of regular vehicle maintenance. Following these 7 tips will make sure your vehicle is running its best for winter driving:

 

1. Oil and Filter Change – Changing the engine oil and filter when required will extend engine life by making sure vital parts are well-lubricated. Use a high-quality oil and filter – it’s worth the extra cost. If the oil and filter has been changed recently, at the very least, check the level and condition of the oil once a month. This is especially important if your vehicle is older. If you find you have to frequently add more oil, there is most likely a problem that needs to be addressed.
2. Other Vital Engine Fluids – This can lead to problems down the road as fluids begin to get old and break down. For example, coolant that is old won’t be able to prevent overheating and parts in the cooling system will start to corrode leading to premature failure of cooling system parts. When checking the level and condition of fluids, follow the instructions in the owner’s manual. If you’re not sure how to check the fluids, no need to worry. We will check them for you when you bring your vehicle in for an oil service.
3. Tires – Always be checking the tread and air pressure to keep them in safe condition- always have this checked during your routine maintenance as well.
4. Wiper Blades – Make sure to check these prior to rain, you don’t want to be stuck without working blades during a rainstorm. It’s as simple as checking them every couple of trips by using your washer fluid.
5. Brakes – Most vehicles allow for easy viewing of the brake pads. If the brake pads are thinning, you will want to have them replaced. If you have any concerns about the brakes or you don’t feel comfortable checking the pads yourself, stop by the shop and we can check them for you.
6. Vehicle Exterior – Give your vehicle a good wash and wax. When washing, make sure to include the underbody and wheel wells.
7. Vehicle Interior – Show the inside of your vehicle some love, too, by vacuuming floor mats and seats, and applying a protectant to leather and vinyl. The best way to avoid unexpected car repair costs is to make sure your vehicle is maintained regularly. The car repair professionals at Son Ray’s are equipped to assist you in this area. Give us a call or stop by the shop to schedule your vehicle maintenance.

 

 

November 2021

 

Getting your car ready for winter…
Before you hit any harsh winter conditions, have your vehicle serviced to prepare it for the challenges winter can pose. Here are a few things to take into consideration before the cold weather really hits.
Battery
Battery power decreases as the temperature drops, meaning that it takes more power to start your car in the winter. If your battery is already having problems, your risk of breaking down increases. It is recommended that your auto care provider installs a battery at or above 600 CCA for optimal winter performance.

Tires
It’s possible to use all-season tires in winter conditions however, this won’t offer you the maximum performance you may need in your environment. If you live in a place that experiences extremely cold winter temperatures, like we do, it is recommended that you install winter tires when winterizing your car. When the temperature consistently hovers around or below freezing, the rubber compounds in non-winter tires harden, decreasing the tire’s ability to grip the road. Winter tires use special compounds engineered to resist hardening in cold temperatures, providing better traction in ice, snow, slush, and even dry pavement.
Tire Pressure
Every 10° change in ambient temperature could mean a gain or loss of 1 PSI. This means you should check pressure more regularly during winter and refill your tires as needed. Appropriate pressure for your tires can be found on the tire placard in the driver’s side door jamb or in your vehicle owner’s manual.
Install Winter Wipers
These come equipped with rubber that keeps ice from collecting on the blades. Just be sure to remove them when spring rolls around. As winter wipers are heavier than regular ones, keeping them on all the time increases the load on the wiper motor.

 

 

October 2021

 

 

 

September 2021

 

Have you ever been driving and heard a squealing sound that stops when you apply the brakes? This is one of several signs you need new brakes. The brakes undergo wear and tear every time you apply them. How quickly the brake pads need to be replaced depends on a number of factors. Hitting the brakes all the time, driving in stop-and-go traffic and a larger/heavier vehicle can all cause brakes to wear out quicker. Here are a few signs you need your brakes looked at:

 

1. If the brake warning light comes on and stays on, there’s a serious problem with the braking system. How can you tell that it’s a serious problem? Warning lights that are “red” in color are alerting you to a critical problem. It’s important to note that, in some vehicles, the brake warning light is the same one used to alert you when the emergency brake is engaged.
2. There’s a high-pitched squealing sound when you drive that goes away when the brakes are applied. This is often a symptom of the wear indicators on the pads that are made to alert you it’s time for new brake pads.
3. You hear scraping or grinding noises from metal-to-metal contact when you brake. Quite often, this sound is coming from brake pads that no longer have any pad left on them so the metal is scraping on and grinding into the rotor.

 

If you suspect there is a problem with your braking system, don’t wait to act. During the brake inspection, we will look at the brake pads to see how much life is left on them. We will also check for evidence of rough spots or damage and will inspect the brake lines to make sure they are in good condition. Have questions? Call or stop by today.

 

 

August 2021