NAPA Know How: 11 Strut Replacement Tips For The DIY Auto MechanicNAPA Know How Blog

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Shocks and struts, shock absorbers and MacPherson struts to be exact, typically last 20,000 to 60,000 miles before requiring replacement. Insufficient shock absorption is a typical concern, but shock or strut replacement may be necessary for several reasons.

Poor handling, excessive corner roll, brake dive, or acceleration squat might require new shocks or struts. Wandering or brake pull might indicate front strut problems. Shock or strut replacement can prevent abnormal tire wear or excessive bounciness. Abnormal steering feel or noise can indicate worn strut bearings. Lifting, dropping, or retrofitting the suspension usually requires replacing strut components.

Almost a Dozen Strut Replacement Tips

Replacing struts isn’t complicated. You’ll need basic tools to lift and support the vehicle and remove the wheel, shock absorber, and strut assembly. If you plan on replacing only the strut cartridge, buy or rent a spring compressor.

  • Clean and Dry – Before loading the strut into the spring compressor, be sure it is clean and dry. Oil and grease can lead to slippage or damage.
  • Proper Lubrication – Lubricated threads, engine oil being a good choice, makes the spring compressor easier to use. Use only hand tools for even spring compression and best tool life.
  • On Your Marks – Before disassembly, use a paint marker to add alignment marks to the strut cartridge, spring insulators, spring, plate, and upper mount. This makes it easier to put everything back together straight.
  • Extra Hand – Locking pliers are a good extra hand and can prevent the tool from slipping. Clamp the pliers to the spring adjacent to the spring compressor jaws.
  • Torque Specifications – Because struts are important to your vehicle stability and safety, proper torque, not just good-n-tight, keeps everything from coming undone down the road. A repair manual and torque wrench are your best friends.
  • Replace ’em All – Chances are good that if one strut has failed, the others aren’t far behind. It’s typically recommended to replace the opposite strut at the same time. Similarly, you might consider doing the opposite axle, too. You’ll save time doing everything at once, especially once you add the alignment procedure.
  • Test Drive – Before heading for the alignment shop, take a small test drive. Wiggle the steering wheel, bounce the vehicle, hit a speed bump, accelerate and brake, all the while listening and feeling for loose parts.
  • Wheel Alignment – After strut replacement, it’s a good idea to have the vehicle aligned. Slight variations in strut alignment can skew suspension and steering angles, leading to abnormal tire wear or steering problems.
  • Don’t Stretch – When removing the shock or strut from the vehicle, support the lower suspension with a jack stand. The suspension may hang lower than normal, which can damage the brake line or wheel speed sensor cable.
  • Replace Everything – It’s usually not a good idea to replace just the obviously-failed parts of the strut assembly. It’ll be double the work to go back in later to replace a bearing, mount, or insulator. Better yet, a whole strut assembly can save even more time.
  • Break-In Time – Immediately after strut replacement, you’ll likely notice the vehicle to be stiffer or higher than before, especially if installing new springs. It takes time, at least a few hundred miles, for the struts to break in under the weight of the vehicle.

Changing suspension components on your car may seem like a challenging task, but it’s something the average DIYer can tackle over a weekend. Take your time, use these 11 tips, and you’ll fix your car’s ride in no time.

Check out all the steering and suspension products available on NAPA Online or trust one of our 17,000 NAPA AutoCare locations for routine maintenance and repairs. For more information on DIY strut replacement, chat with a knowledgeable expert at your local NAPA AUTO PARTS store.

Photo courtesy of Pixabay.

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NAPA Know How: Where To Teach Your Child To DriveNAPA Know How Blog

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You started out watching the calendar — now, you’re watching the clock. Time has flown and it’s suddenly your child’s turn to get behind the wheel. You’ve got one question: Where to teach your child to drive?

The Safest Option

An empty parking lot is the absolute best, safest place to begin. You want a place with no other moving or parked vehicles, with no pedestrians, with no unpredictable hazards. It’s flat, it’s open and you can see it all from any point. It’s perfect. Best of all, there are likely plenty of them a short distance from you — a large school parking lot on the weekend, an office park on the weekend, a big mall before it opens (or — as is the case in so many places, where some or all of the stores have closed for good). A parking lot is also a good place to teach young drivers about the safety features on the car like a back-up camera or parking sensors.

The Basics

That empty parking lot is a great place to get the basics of driving, stopping and turning down solid. There may even be crosswalks in the parking lot where you can practice coming to a stop before the lines and allowing pedestrians to cross. Once you’ve done that, you’re ready for the next step in where to teach your child to drive — some real-world training.

The best move at this point is a place you both know, where your child doesn’t have to process unfamiliar surroundings. The street where you live is probably a very good choice. Your child will know which house has a pet or child that might dart out into the street, where the curves and crosswalks are — which corner has the tree that blocks the view of the stop sign until the last minute — and you can reinforce that as part of the training. And that training should probably spread out over a few days before you move up the ladder of difficulty to busy secondary and primary surface streets, open highway and urban freeway driving.

Consider a Course

It’s important to take your time and do this right. The National Safety Council says half of all teen drivers will be involved in a car crash before graduating from high school. If you’re not sure you’re the best person to teach your child, there’s no shame in that. In fact, there are some excellent teen driver courses that you and your child could take part in. Check online to find the one closest to you and most appropriate for your family’s lifestyle. And if the car your child is learning in and will be driving needs maintenance or some safety equipment added, now’s the perfect time.

Check out all the safety parts available on NAPA Online or trust one of our 17,000 NAPA AutoCare locations for routine maintenance and repairs. For more information on where to teach a young driver how to drive, chat with a knowledgeable expert at your local NAPA AUTO PARTS store.

Photos courtesy of Mike Hagerty and Wikimedia Commons.

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HOW MANY CAR FILTERS DO I HAVE?

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Modern car filters can be confusing, especially since they’re each on their own unique maintenance and replacement schedules. These schedules can change depending on how, where and for how long a vehicle is driven.

While the replacement interval recommendations for most of your vehicle’s filters can often be found in the owner’s manual, it may be helpful to have a brief rundown of what each one does, along with some general advice on their maintenance.

  1. Oil Filter
    Of all the car filters, the oil filter is the one you’ll likely hear about the most. This is because oil changes are a fact of life for all vehicle owners. The oil filter’s job is to remove any particles of dirt and fine metal shavings that accumulate during normal operation. Change intervals vary according to engine design, but a change should be done between 5,000 and 10,000 miles when swapping in fresh oil, or sooner if you drive frequently in dusty or dirty environments like gravel roads or work sites.
  2.  Air Filter
    The air filter and the oil filter work together to keep your engine clean. In fact, the air filter’s placement at the front of your vehicle’s air intake tube makes it the first line of defense for keeping grime out of your motor. It’s typically made of paper or a thin fabric, and its replacement schedule is based on a visual inspection — if you can see dirt, leaves, or other gunk caught up inside, then it’s time for a new filter or a cleaning.
  3. Transmission Filter
    Not all cars have transmission filters, but these devices catch any dirt that may be floating through the fluid passages inside your vehicle’s transmission gearbox. Given that most transmissions that use filters are automatics — and transmission filter designs are known for having particularly long service intervals — you’ll have to check your vehicle’s manual to get the exact mileage for a change.
  4. Cabin Filter
    Cabin filters before and after being cleaned. Your cabin filter, also known as a cabin air filter, helps prevent pollen, dust and other outside contaminants from making their way into your vehicle’s passenger compartment through the heating and cooling system. These are typically found under the dash. Like the air filter, they’re changed based on a visual inspection. A dirty filter should be replaced, and while there’s no specific mileage where the swap must happen, it’s a good idea to take a hard look at this filter with the changing of the seasons.
  5. Fuel Filter
    Fuel filters are placed with your vehicle’s fuel lines, and there’s usually more than one. Your car or truck may have a fuel filter under the hood, under the car with the fuel line itself, or sometimes even in the gas tank. These filters make sure traces of corrosion and dirt that might be lurking in your tank don’t make it to the motor, where they could cause damage or interfere with the combustion process. Most of the time, fuel filters are only changed when a problem is suspected (based on issues like hesitation while accelerating or trouble idling) because pulling them for inspection is a messy process.

Knowing what these different filters do should give you some idea of how important they are in keeping your car running. Make sure you check and change them as required.

NAPA Know How: 4 Symptoms Of A Bad RadiatorNAPA Know How Blog

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The symptoms of a bad radiator aren’t always obvious. Although the radiator is the largest, and most visible component in your vehicle’s cooling system, it is but one of several areas under your hood where coolant can get out of control and start to cause problems.

Suspicious that your radiator might be the culprit in your latest round of cooling woes? Check out these four tips that can help you spot a radiator that is on its way out.

1. Visible Coolant On the Radiator Itself

Your radiator should be bone dry at all times — as in, the coolant is completely encapsulated by the unit, with no leakage or spilling. Visible coolant is one of the symptoms of a bad radiator in almost every case. If you see coolant visible on the fins, that indicates that they have been perforated and that antifreeze is starting to ooze out. If you see it running down the sides, that could indicate a leak at the seams, or where the plastic cap meets the metal cooling body.

Leaks that are near the hoses, however, could be a sign that the connection isn’t tight enough, or that the hose has worn through. If you see coolant around the filler, then that may also be showing a cap that can no longer hold tight when the radiator is pressurized.

2. Bent or Mashed Fins

Your radiator’s fins are what allows for the heat exchange that cools down your engine’s antifreeze as it moves through it. If they become bent, or mashed together, then they can start to lose the efficiency necessary to completely cool your motor. If you discover a lot of damaged fins, it could be time for a new radiator.

3. Corrosion

Steel radiators are exposed to the same elements that can cause other parts of your vehicle to rust. A rusty radiator is vulnerable to perforation, poor sealing with its hoses, and general weakness while it is pressurized. If your radiator looks rusty, it’s worth having it inspected by a mechanic you trust before it fails.

4. Overheating

It might seem obvious, but one of the major symptoms of a bad radiator is your engine overheating. Although the heat gauge rising in your vehicle can have many causes, it’s not a bad idea to look to the radiator first and verify that none of the above issues are present, and that it is in good condition. Then you can move on to more difficult-to-diagnose issues like hoses, pinprick pressure leaks, connectors, water pumps and heater cores.

Check out all the heating and cooling products available on NAPA Online or trust one of our 17,000 NAPA AutoCare locations for routine maintenance and repairs. For more information on the symptoms of a bad radiator, chat with a knowledgeable expert at your local NAPA AUTO PARTS store.

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons.

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NAPA Know How: Rossi Experiences Tough Night in St. Louis

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In a race that may be better explained by watching the replay a few times, Saturday night’s Bommarito Automotive Group 500 was certainly a head-scratcher for Alexander Rossi and the No. 27 NAPA AutoCare crew.

While a mediocre qualifying effort had the team starting 11th on the grid, Rossi’s car steadily improved throughout the race and he was moving through the field. In front of a packed house at World Wide Technology Raceway just outside St. Louis, the crowds cheered as he made bold moves on re-starts and was running in podium contention.

 

 

But pit strategies and yellow flags stirred up the field on the 1.25-mile oval, and Rossi found himself stuck in a must-pit situation with 20 laps remaining. Shuffled to mid-pack, he was running hard to make up position, eventually crossing the finish line 13th.

“I think we had the car and we drove it up to P3 on pace,” said Rossi. “It’s just the way the Series works and the way the yellows fall sometimes. I think the whole 27 NAPA Andretti Honda team did a really good job overnight, putting together a fast race car. We were able to get from 11th to 3rd and were content running up there and could run the same pace, if not quicker, than Josef.”

 

|Photographer: Kenneth Midgett|Event: Bommarito Automotive Group 500|Circuit: World Wide Technology Raceway|Location: Madison, Illinois|Series: NTT IndyCar Series|Season: 2019|Country: US|Car: Dallara DW12 UAK18|Number: 27|Team: Andretti Autosport|Driver: Alexander Rossi|

 

Throughout the race, Rossi was running with or ahead of Championship leader Josef Newgarden, who had a chance to top-off on fuel during a late yellow. However, while running fifth in the final lap, he spun making a move on Santino Ferrucci, and finished P7.

“It can be frustrating,” said Rossi. “[Newgarden] spins and is unaffected; crashes in Toronto and is unaffected. It’s just the way it goes.  It’s unfortunate the way it goes down, the Series is really difficult. But we’ve got two more to go and we’ll just keep our head down and try to win races.”

 

|Photographer: Kenneth Midgett|Event: Bommarito Automotive Group 500|Circuit: World Wide Technology Raceway|Location: Madison, Illinois|Series: NTT IndyCar Series|Season: 2019|Country: US|Car: Dallara DW12 UAK18|Number: 27|Team: Andretti Autosport|Driver: Alexander Rossi|

 

Three unlikely podium candidates stood on the box with Takuma Sato, Ed Carpenter and Tony Kanaan finishing in the top three spots. Simon Pagenaud finished fifth and passed Rossi in the Championship standings. Newgarden leads Pagenaud by 38 points and Rossi by 46 points with two races remaining.

The NTT IndyCar Series immediately heads west for next Sunday’s Grand Prix of Portland. Live race coverage on NBC begins at 3 p.m. ET (noon PT local) with the green flag at approximately 3:45 p.m.

 

| Driver: Alexander Rossi| Team: Andretti Autosport| Number: 27| Car: Dallara DW12 UAK18| Keyword: Honda|Keyword: NAPA Auto Parts|Keyword: GESS International|Keyword: GESS RNG Biogas|Keyword: Capstone Turbine Corporation|| Photographer: Andy Clary| Event: Bommarito Automotive Group 500| Circuit: World Wide Technology Raceway| Location: Madison, Illinois| Series: NTT IndyCar Series| Season: 2019| Country: US| Keyword: motor racing| Keyword: motorsport|Keyword: open wheel|Keyword: single seater|Keyword: IL|Keyword: oval|Keyword: short oval|Keyword: Gateway|Keyword: Axalta|Keyword: Valvoline|| Session: Race|

 

Start / Finish: 11 / 13
Points Earned: 17
Points Standing / Total: 3rd / 517 pts.

 

Next Race: Grand Prix of Portland, Sunday, September 1 at 3:30 p.m. ET
How to Watch or Listen: NBC broadcast at 3 p.m. ET; INDYCAR Radio Network Sirius 214//XM 209

 

NAPA: @NAPARacing
Alexander Rossi: @AlexanderRossi
Andretti Autosport: @FollowAndretti



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NAPA Know How: Kraus Earns Runner-Up Finish in K&N Pro Series West Race at Evergreen

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Bill McAnally Racing earned two of the top three positions at the NAPA AUTO PARTS 150 presented by ENEOS NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race at Evergreen Speedway on Saturday. Derek Kraus led the team with a runner-up spot in the No. 16 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota Camry while teammate Brittney Zamora enjoyed her homecoming at Evergreen Speedway by qualifying on the pole in her No. 99 ENEOS/NAPA Filters Toyota Camry, leading nearly a third of the laps and matching her career-best mark with a third-place finish.

Hailee Deegan challenged the leaders on numerous occasions in the No. 19 Monster Energy/NAPA Power Premium Plus Toyota Camry, but faded to seventh in the final laps.

Zamora – a 20-year-old series rookie from Kennewick, Washington – set the pace for the first 46 laps. She got shuffled back to fifth on a later restart and settled in at that point, but mounted a charge after making adjustments at the midway break of the race.

Zamora remains second in rookie points and fifth in the overall championship standings for the series. She has five top-five and six top-ten finishes, along with two poles, in nine starts this season.

Kraus, who qualified third, worked his way to the front and led laps 81 through 100. He was battling a tight condition, however, and had to settle for second.

 

 

With his second-place finish, Kraus retained his lead in the championship standings by 18 points. He has three wins, six top-five and eight top-ten finishes in nine starts this season.

Deegan, also a NASCAR Next driver, slipped to third in the standings. The 18-year-old from Temecula, California, has two wins, five top-five and seven top-ten finishes – along with two poles – in her nine starts this year.

The Evergreen Speedway race will be televised to a national audience on NBCSN on Aug. 22 at 3 p.m. PST.

 

Derek Kraus Hailie Deegan Brittney Zamora NAPA AUTO PARTS BMR NASCAR KN West Evergreen

 

Derek Kraus

Start / Finish: 3 / 2
Points Earned: 43
NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Points Standing / Total: 1st / 372 pts.

 

Hailie Deegan

Start / Finish: 4 / 7
Points Earned: 37
NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Points Standing / Total: 3rd / 350 pts.

 

Brittney Zamora

Start / Finish: 1/3
Points Earned: 42
NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Points Standing / Total: 5th / 310 pts.

 

Next Race: NASCAR K&N Pro Series East-West combination race, World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway near St. Louis on Saturday, Aug. 24
How to Watch or Listen: fanschoice.tv

 

Derek Kraus: @derek9kraus
Hailie Deegan: @HailieDeegan
Brittney Zamora: @BrittneyZ52
NAPA Racing: @NAPARacing
Bill McAnally Racing: @BMR_NASCAR



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NAPA Know How: Metric vs. Standard Bolts. Do You Know The Difference?NAPA Know How Blog

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If you’re tooling around with a wrench set in the U.S., you’ve probably cross-threaded a bolt or two, thinking it was a standard when actually you had a metric in your hand. It happens. With the metric system being adopted (almost) everywhere else in the world and the U.S. stubbornly holding on, it’s always a good idea to measure twice and thread once. Have you ever misidentified a nut or bolt? When it comes to metric vs. standard bolts do you know the difference?

1. The Metric System is useful because it is an internationally standardized system of measurement which relies on easily convertible units. There are only three countries that haven’t officially adopted the Metric System. One is the US of A. The other two are:
a) Canada and England
b) Burma and Liberia
c) China and Russia

2. According to Merriam-Webster, a base unit is “one of a set of fundamental units in a system of measurement that is based on a natural phenomenon or established standard and from which other units may be derived.” Examples of “base units” in the metric system are:
a) Second, ampere, candela
b) Foot, inch, ounce
c) Pounds, stones, blips

3. America did not invent its own system of measurement. Originally the U.S. Standard System is derived from the:
a) British Imperial System
b) Japanese Shakkanhō
c) French Carolingian

4. There are many ways to measure a fastener accurately so you can be sure you’ve got the bolt you need. The “10.9” stamped on to the head of this bolt denotes what?
a) Major nominal diameter
b) Thread pitch
c) Tensile strength

5. The Metric System was designed to reflect the natural world and be as accessible as possible. It is based on units of:
a) 1.5
b) 10
c) 100

6. Both the Metric and Standard Systems are called by different titles. SAE, Imperial, and Customary are all other names for:
a) The Metric System
b) The Standard System
c) Neither

7. The Metric System was originally developed in:
a) France
b) India
c) China

8. A bolt that measures M10 x 45mm 1.5 pitch will move in or out _______ with one complete turn of the head.
a) 10 mm
b) 45 mm
c) 1.5 mm

9. SAE is an acronym that stands for:
a) Society of Automotive Engineers
b) Standard Automotive Engravings
c) System of Amplitude Endorsement

10. The words “course” and “fine” may describe the threads of which kind of hardware?
a) Imperial
b) International System
c) Metric

Check out all the tools & equipment available on NAPA Online or trust one of our 17,000 NAPA AutoCare locations for routine maintenance and repairs. For more information on metric vs. standard bolts, chat with a knowledgeable expert at your local NAPA AUTO PARTS store.

Answers: 1.b, 2.a, 3.a, 4.c, 5.b, 6.b, 7.a, 8.c, 9.b, 10.a

Photos courtesy of Blair Lampe.

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NAPA Know How: 10 Overlooked Services That Can Extend The Life Of Your VehicleNAPA Know How Blog

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Servicing your vehicle is usually the last thing on your mind. The daily grind of life tends to take all of your focus, so unless it is actively causing an issue, your vehicle’s maintenance schedule is out of sight, out of mind. The problem is that ignoring that schedule will eventually cause a failure, costing you more time and money that necessary. As the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

While oil changes and tire service are the most common maintenance items, we have compiled a list of the top 10 most overlooked services that you should keep in mind the next time you change the oil.

Power Steering Service

This is one of those overlooked services that rarely comes up in a situation before it is too late. Over time, the fluid in your power steering system picks up dirty and moisture, clogging the steering components, eventually causing a failure. Adding a power steering fluid additive will help maintain your system’s function, as will a periodic flushing of the system.

Wheel Alignment

How your wheels are aligned not only effects how the car handles, but also the life of your tires and suspension components. The alignment can fall out of adjustment from several factors, including component wear and potholes. Hitting a curb is a sure-fire way to jar the alignment as well. When the alignment is out, the car may pull to one side or the other, steer erratically, and may even dart across the lanes with just a small move of the wheel, making driving the car a perilous adventure. Not only have that, but even a slight mis-alignment leads to uneven and premature tire worn.  An annual wheel alignment ensures that your wheels are pointed the right way.

Differential Service

The differential is the component that transfers input from the transmission to the wheels. Some front wheel drive vehicles incorporate this into the transmission, but some have separate units, and all rear wheel drive vehicles have a rear differential. The rear axles an differential are housed in the rear end housing. Over time, the gear oil breaks down, reducing its viscosity and ability to properly lubricate the differential and wheel bearings. Additionally, the transfer case (for vehicles equipped with one) should be serviced at the same time as the differential. Most manufacturers have a set maintenance schedule for the differential and transfer case fluids.

Cabin Air Filter

When you turn on the AC does your car smell like a junior high gym locker? Can you still smell that dead skunk you drove by last week? Does the air coming out of your vents barely move? Well then maybe you need to check the cabin air filter. You may not even realize there is such a thing, but it helps filter out the bad smells, dirt and other debris from entering the interior of the car as your drive. One side of the filter is directly exposed to the outside environment, meaning they get wet. This moisture builds up, leading to mildew and mold spores that stink up the interior of the car. These are easily changed by the owner in most vehicles; you just need to look up the location in your vehicle’s manual and use a new filter from your local NAPA AutoParts store. Maybe your car won’t smell like roadkill anymore.

Timing Belt Replacement

Not all vehicles have timing belts. DO NOT confuse this with the accessory drive belt, which drives all of the engine accessories such as the AC compressor, alternator and water pump. The timing belt connects the crankshaft to the camshaft(s). Some engines have external belts, while others use internal belts. Regardless of how they are accessed, these are incredibly important to the function of the engine. If the engine is what is known as an “interference” engine, a slipping or broken timing belt can not only keep the engine from running, but can destroy the internals of the engine itself as the valves and piston can collide. Each manufacturer has specific maintenance schedules for the timing belt, make sure you check your owner’s manual. If your odometer is showing 50-60,000 miles, you need to get your timing belt checked. This is one of the overlooked services that can really hit your wallet hard if you ignore it.

Transmission Service

Leaving your transmission fluid unchecked for 100,000 miles it usually a recipe for disaster, so don’t let it go that long. Follow your manufacturer’s guidelines on transmission filter and fluid change, and be sure to check the fluid level at every oil change. Burnt or dark-colored fluid is a sign of an overheated transmission and continued use without servicing could lead to internal damage.

Air Conditioning Service

When the AC system goes down, it is usually during blistering heat or brutal cold. These situations can often be avoided with a few basic tips. The AC compressor contains oils that lubricate the seals and moving parts. Because the AC only sees action in the summer months, these oils tend to drain away from the places they are needed the most. Switching the AC on for 15 or so minutes once a month will keep those oils circulated, so that the seals and moving parts stay functional. Additionally, an annual service replenishes those oils and checks the system for leaks and ensures the proper levels of refrigerant.

Brake Service

Brake fluid is hygroscopic, that means it can absorb water out of the air. Even though the hydraulic system is sealed, the reservoir is not, meaning it can pull water straight out of the air and into the system. Over time, this corrodes the internal workings of the hydraulic system of your brakes. You can use a simple dip-strip (available at your local NAPA AUTO PARTS Store) to test your brake fluid. If it is a dirty dark brown color, it is old and should be flushed and replaced with new fluid.

Coolant System

Unless you drive a Corvair or VW Beetle, chances are your engine is water cooled. Because you are dealing with water, heat and several different types of metal, there are all kinds of potential maladies that can occur inside the cooling system. Contrary to popular belief, aluminum does in fact corrode, particularly when water and electricity are in close proximity, this is known as electrolysis. The cooling system is full of electrolysis, rust and degrading coolant which can lead to broken parts, cracked blocks and overheated engines. Check your coolant for the proper level of anti-freeze each winter, and flush the system with fresh fluid every 2 years.

Fuel System Cleaning

Carbon, sludge and dirt. These nasty bits of junk flow through your fuel system every single second the engine is running. As the build-up grows, the level of fuel that can pass is reduced, meaning the engine loses power, the fuel economy suffers and the drivability of the car is diminished. Restore the performance and economy of your engine with a fuel system cleaning. This can be performed in most cases with a twice-yearly fuel additive to the gas tank. Be sure to use quality gasoline to avoid dirty fuel.Cleaning your fuel system is as easy as adding some Royal Purple MaxClean to a tank of gas.

Addressing these overlooked services will only take a few hours combined, but they will add thousands of miles of life to your vehicle. A recent survey showed that 90% of all vehicles on the road have at least one basic maintenance item that has not been performed. Don’t let your car be the one on the side of the road when those issues come to fruition, visit your local NAPA AutoCare specialist and create a service schedule today.

Check out all the maintenance parts available on NAPA Online or trust one of our 17,000 NAPA AutoCare locations for routine maintenance and repairs. For more information on overlooked services for your vehicle, chat with a knowledgeable expert at your local NAPA AUTO PARTS store.

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NAPA Know How: Best West Coast Road Trips / NAPA Know How Blog

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It’s summertime — the perfect time to explore California in your car! It’s a huge state, so unless you have all summer, you’ll need to pick some highlights. Prepare your car and choose from these best West Coast road trips:

Southern California: San Diego and Orange County

Southern California means “LA” to most people, but if you skip San Diego, you’re missing out. A near-perfect climate, beautiful beaches, great restaurants and shopping, a thriving downtown including the historic Gaslamp District. And there’s 1,200-acre Balboa Park with its museums and the world-famous San Diego Zoo. The only drawback to San Diego is that you won’t want to leave.

From San Diego, take Interstate 5 north for an hour. Mission San Juan Capistrano is a great starting point for your Orange County adventure. Built in 1776, it is famed for the annual return of the swallows. Thirty miles on Highway 5 north from there will take you to Disneyland. It’s true what they say — you can’t see it all in one day.

Skipping Disneyland? Take State Route 73 out of San Juan Capistrano until it meets Highway 133, running alongside Laguna Coast Wilderness Park. Take 133 to SR 1 and you’re in Laguna Beach, famed for its sea views and vibrant art scene. Stay with Highway 1 and enjoy the laid-back beach vibe of coastal Orange County, the upscale shopping and dining in Newport Beach, the charming village of Balboa Island and its old-school Fun Zone, and the surfer havens of Huntington, Sunset and Seal Beach.

The Central Coast

Rolling hills and oak trees on one side, the Pacific Ocean on the other, with an attitude very different from LA, that’s the Central Coast. Santa Barbara is called “California’s Riviera,” and with good reason. San Luis Obispo is a charming small college city with wonderful food and shopping. Hearst Castle, near San Simeon, is a must-see, as are the elephant seals that bask on the rocks right by Highway 1. Big Sur is where the mountains meet the sea and you’ll never forget the view as you drive across Bixby Bridge.

After Big Sur, you’re minutes away from the lovely village of Carmel-By-The-Sea and the exquisite 17-Mile Drive (there’s a toll) that connects it with Monterey, home of the famed Monterey Bay Aquarium and world-class seafood.

The North Coast

Highway 1 north of San Francisco to Fort Bragg is a trip that will challenge all of your assumptions about California, and that’s why it’s one of the best West Coast road trips. As soon as you cross the Golden Gate Bridge out of San Francisco, you’re in the woods of Marin County. Highway 1 takes you through the Point Reyes National Seashore and up the rugged, unspoiled coast through small towns you’d swear were in New England. The lovely town of Mendocino doubled for Maine in the old “Murder She Wrote” TV show and Fort Bragg is a rough-and-tumble former logging and fishing town.

There’s nothing quite like a summer road trip, but before you head out, make sure you’re prepped for the trip. You should have a tire repair kit in your car, just in case, and all your car’s maintenance should be up to date including the basics like tires, air filters, windshield wipers, and washer fluid.

Check out all the maintenance parts available on NAPA Online or trust one of our 17,000 NAPA AutoCare locations for routine maintenance and repairs. For more information on how to prepare your car for a road trip, chat with a knowledgeable expert at your local NAPA AUTO PARTS store.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

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NAPA Know How: Andretti Autosport Renews Rossi with Honda, NAPA AUTO PARTS and AutoNation Support

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LEXINGTON, OHIO — Alexander Rossi will continue to call Andretti Autosport home after extending his tenure with the team on a multi-year agreement. The championship contender will return in 2020 and beyond to pilot the No. 27 Honda Indy car, with primary sponsorship divided between long-time team partners NAPA AUTO PARTS and AutoNation.

“We’ve been working hard on this, and I’m happy to see everything come together,” said Andretti Autosport Chairman and CEO, Michael Andretti. “Since 2016, we’ve built a strong relationship with NAPA AUTO PARTS – they’re such a natural fit for the series, Alexander and for the team and we’re pleased to be able to continue working with them into 2020 and beyond. We first met AutoNation through Ryan Hunter-Reay – and we can’t thank Ryan enough for his support and efforts in helping the continued growth of that relationship. It’s been exciting to see AutoNation grow within the sport, and to see them now welcome Alexander to their family is just great.”

NAPA AUTO PARTS first appeared as a partner with the Andretti Autosport team in 2016 for the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 where Rossi drove his NAPA Racing machine to victory lane. Headquartered in Atlanta, NAPA AUTO PARTS will paint the No. 27 racing machine at nine races, including the 104th Running of the Indianapolis 500 and for the championship run up to the season finale at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

“We are pleased to announce our extension with Andretti Autosport and Alexander Rossi,” stated Gaylord Spencer, NAPA Senior Vice President – Marketing. “Since our initial partnership back in May of 2016, when NAPA was fortunate enough to ride along to a historic win at the 100th Running of the Indy 500, the team at Andretti Autosport and Alexander have continued to represent us well both on and off the track. Alexander brings a unique style to IndyCar that resonates well with many loyal fans of Indy car racing. NAPA is honored to play a small part in keeping this winning combination together for many years to come.”

AutoNation, America’s largest automotive retailer, has been a long-time partner with the championship winning team providing associate support for Ryan Hunter-Reay and Marco Andretti and made their IndyCar Series primary sponsorship debut at the 2017 Indianapolis 500. The past two seasons, AutoNation’s DRVPNK campaign decorated Marco Andretti’s race car for the doubleheader event in Detroit. The NTT IndyCar Series circuit will see an AutoNation livery featured at seven events including the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg and the INDYCAR Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, as well as the Detroit Grand Prix.

“Alexander is a great addition to the AutoNation Team,” said Marc Cannon, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for AutoNation. “We look forward to a very successful run for the No. 27 AutoNation / NAPA AUTO PARTS Honda. AutoNation continues to partner with great drivers and co-sponsors; 2020 is going to be a memorable IndyCar season.”

Rossi boasts a total of seven wins (Indianapolis ’16, Watkins Glen ‘17, Long Beach ’18, Mid-Ohio ’18, Pocono ’18, Long Beach ’19, Road America ’19) and 18 podiums in just 62 starts. Finishing second in the 2018 championship, Rossi currently sits second in the championship, 29 points from the lead with five races remaining. The 2020 season will mark Rossi’s fifth season in the NTT IndyCar Series, each with Andretti Autosport and Honda.

|Photographer: Jamie Sheldrick|Session: qualifying|Event: IndyCar Classic|Circuit: Circuit of the Americas|Location: Austin, Texas|Series: NTT IndyCar Series|Season: 2019|Country: US|Car: Dallara DW12 UAK18|Number: 27|Team: Andretti Autosport|Driver: Alexander Rossi|

“It feels good to continue with Andretti Autosport,” said Rossi. “Over the past four years, we’ve built a very strong team with great chemistry and I believe that we have the tools necessary to win races and championships. I’m looking forward to not just calling this my team, but my home in the IndyCar Series. Michael [Andretti], J-F [Thormann], Doug [Bresnahan] and the entire team have been working very hard to put all the pieces of this deal together and it’s definitely a relief to have the future settled and be able to focus on the championship fight ahead of us.

“It’s fantastic to have NAPA AUTO PARTS, AutoNation and Honda supporting the 27 program. I’ve had the pleasure of developing a great relationship with both NAPA and Honda and couldn’t imagine not having them in my corner. AutoNation has always had a strong partnership with the team through Ryan [Hunter-Reay] and I’m looking forward to the opportunity to represent the Drive Pink campaign and getting to know the AutoNation team better.”

The Andretti Autosport team will also continue to drive under Honda Power in 2020 as part of a multi-year extension. Together, Andretti Autosport and Honda Performance Development have captured three championships and five Indianapolis 500 wins. In addition, the team has collected 55 Indy car wins with Honda power. In 2018, Honda won the NTT IndyCar Series manufacturers championship with 11 wins in 17 races. Honda currently leads Chevrolet in a tight battle for the 2019 championship – Honda with 976 points and Chevrolet with 930.

“We have a longstanding relationship of success with Honda and we’re happy to continue to build accolades together” continued Andretti. “All five of our Indy 500 wins have come under Honda power, and I’m looking forward to working with the entire HPD team to add to that count.”

“This is an important moment for Honda Performance Development,” said Ted Klaus, President, Honda Performance Development. “Andretti Autosport is unquestionably one of the premier teams in the NTT IndyCar Series, and we are gratified to earn their confidence for the foreseeable future. At HPD, our first goal every season is winning the Indianapolis 500, and Andretti Autosport has won more ‘500s’ for Honda than any other team.  That said, HPD is fortunate to work with multiple high-caliber racing organizations.  This commitment from Andretti Autosport strengthens our entire effort, as we move into the next era of Indy car competition.”

With only five races remaining in the NTT IndyCar Series season, Rossi continues his quest to capture his first championship at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course this weekend. NBC will cover Sunday’s Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio live at 4 p.m. ET.

NAPA: @NAPARacing
Alexander Rossi: @AlexanderRossi
Andretti Autosport: @FollowAndretti

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