AUTONET TV

Kingwood Service Center Guide to Using the Correct Fluids in Your Vehicle

Today's Kingwood Service Center post focuses on using coolant. If you pour in the wrong kind, it won't protect the cooling system and may even void the warranty. Check your vehicle owner's manual. Of course, your Kingwood Service Center service advisor will know the proper coolant for your vehicle.

Brake fluid is confusing for some Kingwood drivers. Back when we opened Kingwood Service Center, most vehicles used Dot 3 brake fluid. Now we have Dot 4 and Dot 5. Some Kingwood residents mistakenly think the higher numbers are an upgrade. You know, if 3 is good then 4 must be better. That's not how it works. They are different formulations to meet the demands of differences in brake systems. Only one of them is designed for your vehicle.

Ditto for transmission fluid. For decades there were two basic types of tranny fluid used at Kingwood Service Center: friction modified or not. With the tremendous engineering advances in vehicle automatic transmissions, there have been several new types of fluids developed to protect and lubricate them.

Nowhere are the advances in automotive fluids more evident to Kingwood Service Center professionals than in motor oil. Many new weights and formulations have been created to meet the demands of today's high-tech vehicle engine design. Modern engines have more parts and much tighter tolerances.

That's where the new grades of engine oil come in. They have to be formulated to lubricate, protect and clean all of those vehicle engine parts, big and little. The oil has to be thin enough to get into little passages, yet resistant to vaporization.

At Kingwood Service Center in Kingwood, we believe that in some ways modern automotive fluids are just as impressive as the new engines. Because weights of oil and types of coolant and transmission fluid are so carefully matched to the vehicle, make sure you always use the proper fluid if you are topping off at home.

Kingwood Service Center
3318 Northpark Dr
Kingwood, TX 77339
(281) 360-7323
www.kingwoodservicecenter.net

Fuel Saving Tip: Fuel System Cleaning Near Kingwood, TX

A lot of fuel is wasted in the Kingwood area by dirty fuel delivery systems in vehicles.

Let's start at the tank. The gas tank gathers dirt, rust and sediment over the years. That's why there's a fuel filter to clean the fuel after it leaves the tank. A dirty filter will rob the engine of the clean gas it needs to run efficiently.

The fuel intake components get coated with gum and varnish over time. This results in fuel being delivered inefficiently and some of that gunk getting into the engine. A fuel system service at Kingwood Service Center will leave your intake components as clean as a whistle.

The big fuel thief is dirty fuel injectors. They deliver fuel to the engine at a specified pressure and in a particular spray pattern. When they're clogged, the fuel doesn't get atomized the way it's supposed to and doesn't get burned as efficiently.

See your owner's manual or ask your Kingwood service advisor at Kingwood Service Center when a fuel system cleaning is recommended.

Kingwood Service Center
3318 Northpark Dr
Kingwood, TX 77339
(281) 360-7323
www.kingwoodservicecenter.net

To Save Gas Around Kingwood: Keep up with Your Scheduled Service

One topic that hits the news in TX on a regular basis is the price of gas. The answer for some TX drivers is to buy a vehicle that gets better fuel economy. For those of us in Kingwood who don't want to add a car payment to our monthly expenses, we need to improve our fuel economy any way we can.

Following recommended service intervals by coming into Kingwood Service Center is one of the best ways people in Kingwood can keep their vehicle running efficiently. That means better fuel economy. When you give it some thought, it only makes sense. Dirty oil or transmission fluid can't lubricate or clean. That means more drag which reduces fuel economy.

Keeping up with scheduled oil changes and transmission services will save gas for TX drivers.

Dirty engine air filters are another efficiency pirate. They rob your engine of enough air to effectively burn the fuel, so you need more gas to get the job done. Replacing a dirty air filter can pay for itself in fuel savings before the next oil change.

You can imagine what dirty fuel injectors can do to your vehicle as you drive around Kingwood. If your owner's manual recommends a fuel system cleaning, come into Kingwood Service Center and ask us to get it done for you.

A simple, but very effective way for drivers to save gas is to keep their tires properly inflated. Low tires can cost you up to a mile per gallon/.425 kilometers per liter. Check your tire pressure when you gas up – or at least once a month.

Kingwood Service Center
3318 Northpark Dr
Kingwood, TX 77339
(281) 360-7323
www.kingwoodservicecenter.net

Kingwood, TX Winter Prep Service for Your Auto

When winter approaches in TX, Kingwood residents break out the sweaters, coats, boots and mittens. We want to be ready for TX winter conditions. Your vehicle needs to be ready for winter as well. The last thing Kingwood residents want is to get stranded out in the cold. You need your vehicle to be safe and reliable. It's a good idea to get caught up on any neglected maintenance items anytime - but the stakes are higher in cold TX winters.

There are some specific things Kingwood drivers need to do to have their vehicle ready for winter. The most obvious is having the antifreeze checked. If the antifreeze level is too low, it can't properly protect your engine, radiator and hoses from freezing. If your car does not seem to be making enough heat to keep you warm, your antifreeze level may be low or you could have a thermostat problem. Get it checked out at Kingwood Service Center in Kingwood. If you are due for a cooling system service, now is a perfect time to have it done.

In the cold months around Kingwood we always worry about being able to stop in time when it's slick out. The first thing to remember is to slow down and allow yourself plenty of room to stop. Of course, you want your brakes to be working properly. A thorough brake inspection will reveal if the pads or any other parts need replacing. Check with your friendly and knowledgeable Kingwood Service Center service advisor to see if it is time to replace your brake fluid. It accumulates water over time which really messes with your stopping power.

It is also a really good idea for Kingwood residents to have their battery tested. A battery's cranking power really drops with the temperature. If your battery is weak in the fall, it may not be up to a TX winter. There is nothing like a dead battery in a snow storm.

Which leads us to an emergency kit. You should always have a blanket or something to keep you and your passengers warm if you get stranded on a remote TX road. If you will be venturing away from civilization, pack more items such as food and water to help you survive. Keeping at least half a tank of gas is a good idea in case you get stuck and need to run the car to keep warm, which will also help keep your gas lines from freezing up.

Kingwood Service Center
3318 Northpark Dr
Kingwood, TX 77339
(281) 360-7323
www.kingwoodservicecenter.net