Des Moines Auto Repair

Kick the Tires It’s not a bad idea to give the ol’ tires a kick now and then. Did you know that over- or under-inflated tires cost you money, pollutes our environment and manipulates your vehicle’s designed handling capabilities? Save Money Under inflated tires by only four or five psi can reduce gas mileage as much as 10%. Reduce Emissions Burning extra gasoline unnecessarily adds carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. Maintain Handling When tuning chassis systems for safe and consistent handling behaviors, specific tire sizes and inflation pressures are key to the engineered specifications. How to Read a Tire You can find all the information you need to know about your tires right on the tires themselves. Each tire has its width, sidewall height, construction, wheel diameter, weight load code, speed rating and maximum tire inflation rating written on the side of the tire. For example: 195/60R15 87H ... read more

We all remember the days when gas was less than $2.00 a gallon. Well those days are long behind us now and we now know the term “what goes up must come down” is a farce. Gas prices are reaching all time highs and as busy as we all are today we need our vehicles more than ever. Here are some tips that can help increase mileage and reduce your overall fuel bill as much as 30%. On the Road: Drive More Efficiently Slowing Down – According to the Department of Energy, slowing down from 65 mph to 55 mph can increase your miles per gallon as much as 15%. Remove Excess Weight and Accessories – An extra 100 pounds can reduce fuel mileage by 2%. Bicycle and ski racks add drag and this can cost you another 3% on the freeway. Cruise Control and Overdrive – Maintaining constant speeds and lowering RPMs will help conserve fuel. Air Conditioning and Other Accessories – Using your air conditionin ... read more

Washing your car is like taking a good hot shower, it just makes you feel better. But there are some important things to remember. First, household detergent is a real no-no; it’s likely to take off the wax and damage the paint. There are numerous products designed especially for your purpose available in auto supply stores, use one of them. Work in the shade and use a sponge, towel or wash mitt. These should be kept completely free of abrasive grit. Pay attention to those crevices underneath the vehicle that accumulate mud and road dirt. The high pressure hose in a do-it-yourself car wash is great for this, as is a home style pressure washer. Automotive chemical manufacturers have developed new products that make the finished job more impressive. Tires and black plastic trim, for example, can be made to look like new with protective dressings. There are cleaners for chrome, aluminum and stainless steel; even products designed for hard-to-remove ... read more