Chesapeake Auto Repair

The Harm In Skipping An Oil Change For Chesapeake Drivers   People in Chesapeake have been hearing a lot about higher oil change intervals these days. Maybe you’re wondering: What are the key issues? Some new vehicle manufacturers in Chesapeake are now recommending much higher oil change intervals than they have in the past. As much as 5,000 to 8,000 miles or more. This practice came under scrutiny when four of the largest new car manufacturers announced that owners like those in Chesapeake were experiencing engine damage resulting from these higher oil change intervals. The manufacturers’ standard oil drain service for particular vehicles was scheduled at around 7,500 miles. People following these recommendations were experiencing engine damage. It turns out that oil sludge was building up. This caused small oil passages to clog and engine parts to fail. What causes oil sludge? It’s a factor of time and mileage. There ar ... read more

A New Battery In Chesapeake   Hello Chesapeake drivers, let’s talk about batteries. Car batteries are just like any rechargeable battery. They will eventually wear out and die. If you are shopping for a new battery in Chesapeake, here’s some auto advice to help you. There are two measurements to consider when purchasing a new battery: cold cranking amps and reserve capacity. The power required to start a cold engine is measured in cold cranking amps. The number you need is determined by what kind of vehicle you drive and where you live. In general, higher-cylinder engines require more cold cranking amps than lower-cylinder engines. In other words, an eight-cylinder engine needs more cold cranking amps than a six-cylinder one. Also, diesel engines require more cold cranking amps than gasoline engines. The Chesapeake weather also determines the number of cold cranking amps you need. The ... read more

The Right Fluids for Your Vehicle Chesapeake auto owners’ current vehicles have over a century of engineering behind them. They have evolved into complex and powerful machines. Developments in their engines, however, have coincided with advances in many other vehicle components, including the fluids. It’s important for Chesapeake drivers to always use the right type of fluid for their van. Your service advisor and your owner’s manual are resources for auto advice on exactly what types of fluid your vehicle needs. Improper fluids can damage your vehicle and void your warranty. Some of the fluids that have changed significantly in recent years are cooling system fluid, brake fluid, transmission fluid and motor oil. Each of these comes in many varieties now, and it’s vital to know exactly which one your van needs. Cooling systems were once made of iron, steel and rubber. One coolant could be used to prot ... read more

Your Vehicle is NOT Maintenance Free, Chesapeake Car Owners   A generation ago, Chesapeake car owners seemed to be more inclined to keep their vehicle’s preventive maintenance on schedule. One reason for this may be that vehicles back then were a lot less reliable than they are today. Having your van in to your Chesapeake shop every year or two for repairs seemed to be a good reminder to keep the oil changed. For example, almost everyone in Chesapeake used to take their vehicles in for regular tune-ups. Vehicles had mechanical ignition systems, which meant ignition points, spark plugs and coils had to be replaced and the timing adjusted every few years. As long as the van was in for a tune-up at West Service Center, Inc., the vehicle was inspected and you took care of any needed repairs at the same time. Today’s engines have electronic ignition systems and engine control computers. Spark plugs can last for up to 100,000 miles. Vehicle rel ... read more

It’s About Time: Following Service Intervals at West Service Center, Inc. There are a lot of things in life that Chesapeake residents have to do on a regular basis. We wash dishes every day, do our laundry and mow our lawns every week, and pay the bills every month. We should go to our Chesapeake dentist twice a year and see our doctor for a check-up once a year. When we don’t stay on schedule with these routines, it can lead to embarrassing, painful or expensive consequences. Scheduled maintenance is also part of good car care. Chesapeake drivers should take their vans in regularly for a good check-up. But many Chesapeake folks struggle to remember, or actually even ignore, this auto advice. When it comes to our cars, we’re more likely to listen to “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” than “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Yet it is the second adage that is the more applicable one. Regular brushing treatments preven ... read more