Professional Auto Maintenance: Radiator Fans

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Delavan drivers who are old enough have probably heard the term “fan belt”. Back in the day the radiator fan in your vehicle was turned by a belt driven by the engine. There are still belt driven fans – although most are now driven by the serpentine belt. But most Delavan drivers now have electric fans that deliver fresh air across the radiator to cool it.

As coolant/antifreeze circulates in the cooling system it captures heat from the engine and flows into the radiator. Air cools the radiator and the coolant in it before it delivers it back into the engine to pick up some more heat. Now your engine has an ideal temperature range in which it is most efficient: it shouldn’t be too hot or too cool. The electric radiator fans help maintain the ideal temperature.

A switch mounted in a cooling system passage checks the temperature of the coolant. If the coolant is at the low end of the range, the switch turns off the fan motor. When the coolant rises to a certain temperature, the switch turns on the fan. When you are running the air conditioning, the radiator fan will likely be turned on as well to help reduce the extra engine heat created by the load placed on it by the air conditioner.

A lot of Delavan drivers’ vehicles will actually have two radiator fans. One or both or neither may be running at any given time depending on the conditions. When you are cruising at Darien highway speeds, the air rushing over the radiator and around the engine will help control the heat. By contrast, stop and go driving around Delavan doesn’t generate much natural air flow so the radiator fans will be working hard.

Some Delavan auto owners may experience the sound of the radiator fan running after turning the vehicle off. This keeps the engine from heating excessively after it has been run and shut off.

Now the radiator fan motors and the switch are critical wear items that will eventually fail. If your temperature light comes on while driving, you have a cooling system issue. Your knowledgeable Advanced Auto Clinic technician can check your entire cooling system, including the radiator fans, to determine what is causing the indicator light. Of course, servicing the cooling system as recommended will help extend the life of all the components. Ask your Advanced Auto Clinic service advisor if you are due for acooling system service.

Give us a call

Advanced Auto Clinic
1101 Ann Streeet
Delavan, WI 53115
262.728.2944

At Advanced Auto Clinic in Delavan WI (53115) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 262.728.2944. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

Auto Guide for Delavan Drivers: Disc Brakes

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The Advanced Auto Clinic Guide for

Delavan Drivers: Disc Brakes

What are the signs that I need a brake job?

Signs of brake problems often fall into one of two categories for car owners: making noise or a pulsation in the brake pedal.

Let’s start with the noise:

Most brake pads have an audible brake wear indicator. This is a small  piece of metal that rubs on your brake rotor when the brake pads are worn to the point they should be replaced. The noise is a chirp or soft squeal. This noise gives drivers enough vital warning to get their brakes serviced while there is still enough brake pad left to enable you to stop safely.

Auto owners who ignore the chirp typically find that the sound changes to a grinding noise. That is more serious. It means that the friction material on your brake pad is worn away and metal parts of the brake are grinding against the rotor when you press on the brakes. Obviously, this dangerous metal-on-metal means that your brakes aren’t stopping very well. It also means that your rotor is being damaged. It may need to be resurfaced or even replaced.

Pedal pulsation is another noticeable trouble. When your rotor is not in perfect alignment, it pushes against the brake pads unevenly as you apply the brakes. There could be a number of reasons for this. The rotor and wheel hub may not be mating well, causing the rotor to be spinning out of vertical alignment. This dangerous misalignment can be caused by either the rotor or the hub, or a combination of the two. If this problem persists, the rotor may even start to wear unevenly to the point that its thickness varies, causing an even more noticeable pulsation. This uneven mating of the brake pad and the rotor when braking means less contact and it will diminish braking power.

 

Advanced Auto Clinic in Delavan, WI can determine the cause of the harmful misalignment and remedy the issue.

Either unusual brake noise or pedal pulsation are signs for you Delavan motorists that there are brake problems. Auto owners should have a tech at Advanced Auto Clinic inspect their brakes thoroughly and recommend any essential steps necessary to correct the trouble.

A regular brake inspection is on every family car’s recommended list.

Ask your knowledgeable Advanced Auto Clinic service specialist if it’s time for a critical brake inspection.

Give us a call 262 – 728 – 2944

Advanced Auto Clinic
1101 Ann Streeet
Delavan, WI 53115

 

Automotive Solutions from Advanced Auto Clinic: Diesel Engines

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When someone mentions diesels around Delavan – images of smoky, rattly trucks may spring to mind. The fact is that the modern clean diesel engine is much more refined than in the old days. Sure, diesel engines remain a very popular choice with heavy duty pick-up truck drivers in Delavan, but they are finding their way into nearly every segment of the WI automotive market. Why is that? Well, its science.

Diesel fuel contains more energy than the same amount of gasoline. So it takes less diesel fuel to do the same amount of work as gas – so Delavan diesel drivers get more miles per gallon and lower emissions. In Europe, where fuel is very expensive and high mileage is very essential, around half of passenger vehicles are powered by diesel engines. This goes for small economy cars all the way up to the world’s most costly luxury vehicles.

The driving experience is also very good with diesel engines – in fact Delavan auto owners may not even be able to tell the difference between riding in or driving a diesel powered vehicle. So what are the factors to think about when deciding whether or not to choose a diesel engine?

One consideration is price. Diesel engines cost more to build and are an extra cost option for most vehicles. So Delavan car owners need to do the math to see how long it will take the increased fuel efficiency to pay for the extra up-front cost of a diesel engine. The cost of diesel fuel in Darien is also a factor. There is no clear correlation between gas prices and diesel prices because the refining and distribution systems are so different. This means that the difference in price per gallon for diesel and gasoline can vary a great deal depending on where you live in WI. Just watch diesel and gas prices for a while (or talk with a diesel owner in Delavan) so you can get a feel for how much price per gallon figures into your purchase decision.

Also important to examine is your expected use of the vehicle. For example, if you tow heavy trailers or haul heavy loads around Delavan, the extra power many diesel engines offer (while getting better fuel efficiency than a gas engine) may affect your decision. Your highway/city driving mix may play into the decision as well. Diesels shine in the highway mileage department. And the more you drive in a year, the more attractive diesel engines become.

If you elect a diesel engine, remember that it still requires vital maintenance like your gas powered vehicles always have. Oil changes, cooling system service, power steering, brakes, tires, etc. – all need to be maintained. Some of the schedules may be different because of the unique design of diesel engines. Your knowledgeable Advanced Auto Clinic technician will be able to help you properly maintain your diesel vehicle, helping it last longer and continue to deliver great performance and fuel efficiency.

Give us a call

Advanced Auto Clinic
1101 Ann Streeet
Delavan, WI 53115
262.728.2944

At Advanced Auto Clinic in Delavan WI (53115) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 262.728.2944. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

Advanced Auto Clinic Car Care Advice: Battery Upgrade

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Advanced Auto Clinic Car Care Advice:

Battery Upgrade

 

When that car battery finally gives up the ghost and it’s time to replace it astute Delavan drivers have options. First, let’s be clear that you should always get a replacement battery that meets or exceeds your auto manufacturer’s specifications. But, you may have some vital special needs.

advancedauto-battery

 

When they first put the battery into your vehicle at the factory, the auto manufacturer had no idea where it would end up over its life or how YOU would use it where you drive in WI. That battery was chosen to meet the needs of a wide range of motorists. Replacement time is a good opportunity to talk to your service specialist about how you use your vehicle so you can get just the right battery.

An obvious criterion is where you live – whether in Delavan or somewhere else. Cold starts require a lot of power from your battery. The colder the climate, the more power needed. This comes from a combination of cold sluggish oil and the slower chemical reaction within the battery itself when it is cold. If this sounds like you, speak with your Advanced Auto Clinic service professional about a battery with more Cold Cranking Amps.

The next consideration for Delavan car owners is reserve capacity.

This is the number of minutes of reserve power the battery has under a particular load. If your driving is mostly short stop-and-go trips around Delavan, your battery may not have time to fully recharge while driving. You may need to tap into those reserves to get started again. Also, modern vehicles have a lot of always-on systems that draw on the battery things like the security system, remote sensors, and vehicle computers. These combine with the electronic entertainment system, sensors, heated seats, and even chargers for phones, tablets, and computers to put a fairly high load on the battery. Your Advanced Auto Clinic service specialist can give you his thoughts on the reserve capacity you might need.

advancedauto-batterytoolsMost standard batteries are wet-cell meaning they are filled with liquid battery acid. New Absorbed Gas Mat (AGM) batteries are non- spillable which makes them safer for Delavan motorists. They also have a longer life span and greater cycle life than wet-cell batteries. Darien off-roader like these batteries because their performance is not affected by steep inclines and odd angles. They are also well suited for Delavan RV and boat owners.

Lastly, an essential consideration for Delavan drivers is warranty.

Premium batteries generally come with a longer warranty. Warranties are typically either full-replacement (the battery is replaced if it fails within the warranty period) or pro-rated (a partial credit is given for the failed battery depending on how far into the warranty period you are when it fails).

When the battery is replaced, your knowledgeable Advanced Auto Clinic service professional may often need to recalibrate some accessories such as power windows and sunroofs. Also, some vehicles may need to have the battery registered into the engine computer.

Your Advanced Auto Clinic tech can help you know how to decide which battery is right for you and your vehicle. Just give us a call 262-728-2944

Advanced Auto Clinic
1101 Ann Streeet
Delavan, WI 53115