May 17, 2012

Art Ford’s Service Station, LLC: Use The Correct Fluids In Your Vehicle

Filed under: Oil Change — artfor936 @ 5:23 pm

Art Ford's Service Station, LLC Use The Correct Fluids In Your Vehicle

Big advances in automotive technology have led to the development of high-tech fluids to keep pace. A simple example of this is the cooling system. For decades it was primarily made out of iron, steel and rubber hoses. There was one kind of coolant that protected these components from corrosion.

Now cooling system components are made with various metal alloys and plastics. These materials require different additives to protect them from corrosion. Since the materials used vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, we now have a number of different kinds of coolant at Art Ford’s Service Station, LLC in Islip. And it’s important to use the right coolant for your family car. If you pour in the wrong kind, it won’t protect the cooling system and may even void the warranty. Of course, your caring Art Ford’s Service Station, LLC advisor will know the proper coolant to use. If you’re concerned you may have use the wrong fluid, be safe and have your Art Ford’s Service Station, LLC technician flush the system and start fresh with the correct fluid.

Brake fluid is confusing for some people in NY. For a very long time, most vehicles used Dot 3 brake fluid. Now we have Dot 4 and Dot 5. Some Islip people 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 requirements of differences in brake systems. Only one of them is recommended for your family car.

Transmission fluid is the same thing. With the tremendous engineering advances in 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 than in motor oil. Many new weights and formulations have been created to meet the demands of today’s modern engine design.

Modern family car engines have more parts and much tighter tolerances. Every year, engines make more power and get better fuel economy in Islip. And with all the complication and sophistication, they still have to be durable. That’s where the new grades of engine oil come in. They have to be formulated to lubricate, protect and clean all of those family car engine parts, big and little. The oil has to be thin enough to get into small passages, yet resistant to vaporization.

Your vehicle may have come from the factory with synthetic oil and/or transmission, brake, differential fluid, etc. If so, your recommended service intervals will be based on synthetic-type fluids and you should use the same type when your family car is serviced at Art Ford’s Service Station, LLC.

Because grades of oil and types of coolant, transmission fluid, brake fluid, etc. are so carefully matched to the vehicle, take care to always use the proper fluid if you are topping off at home. Check your family car owner’s manual or ask your Art Ford’s Service Station, LLC service advisor. The wrong fluid can cause damage.

Give Andrew Ford a call at Art Ford’s Service Station, LLC in Islip

Art Ford’s Service Station, LLC
631.581.9682
200 Main St
Islip, NY 11751

At Art Ford’s Service Station, LLC in Islip NY (11751) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 631.581.9682. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

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May 9, 2012

PCV Valve Replacement At Art Ford’s Service Station, LLC

Filed under: PCV Valve — artfor936 @ 7:44 pm

Today’s North Babylon car care article focuses on PCV valve replacement. The PCV valve is a little, inexpensive part that does a big job for your family car. PCV stands for Positive Crankcase Ventilation.

The crankcase is the bottom area of the engine that holds the oil. When the family car engine’s running, fuel is burned to generate power. Most of the exhaust from combustion goes out through the exhaust system. But some exhaust blows by the pistons and goes into the lower engine, or crankcase.

These hot gases are about seventy percent unburned fuel. This can dilute and contaminate the oil, leading to damaging engine oil sludge. It can also cause engine corrosion in your family car. PCV Valve Replacement At Art Ford's Service Station, LLCAt high speeds, the pressure can build up to the point that gaskets and seals start to leak.

North Babylon car owners need to know that over time, the vented gases will gum up the PCV valve and it won’t work well. That can lead to all of the problems I’ve already described, oil leaks, excessive oil consumption and wasted gas.

Fortunately, it’s very easy to test the PCV valve and quick and inexpensive to replace it at Art Ford’s Service Station, LLC. Even so, it’s often overlooked because many North Babylon drivers don’t know about it.

Check your family car owner’s manual or ask your Art Ford’s Service Station, LLC advisor. If this is the first time you’ve heard of a PCV valve, you might be in line for a PCV valve replacement.

Please ask us about your PCV valve. For the price of a couple of burger combo meals, you can avoid some very expensive deep engine repairs.

At Art Ford’s Service Station, LLC in Islip NY (11751) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 631.581.9682. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

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May 1, 2012

ICE

Filed under: Safety — artfor936 @ 8:10 pm

In Case of Emergency Sometimes the unthinkable happens here in Babylon… A terrible accident and those involved aren’t able to provide our local Babylon rescuers with emergency contact information. There are people who must be contacted to arrange help, give consent to treatment, inform paramedics of medical conditions, allergies or medications.

Too often, Babylon police and rescue workers must sift through pockets, glove compartments, wallets, purses and cell phone directories for clues – often wasting precious time.

A brilliantly simple solution is now spreading around the globe: ICE. ICE – standing for ‘In Case of Emergency’, is a way of identifying emergency contacts in your cell phone directory.

Simply put ‘ICE’ before a contact name, like ‘ICE – Dad’, ‘ICE – Nancy’, or ‘ICE – Doctor Roberts’. Rescuers will be able to quickly identify your emergency contacts, saving valuable time.

It’s easy and just takes a few minutes to designate some ICE contacts in your cell phone. Remember to keep the listings current.

From your friends at Art Ford’s Service Station, LLC in Islip NY, we’d like you to be as safe as possible while out on the road. Give us a call any time for great automotive advice.

At Art Ford’s Service Station, LLC in Islip NY (11751) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 631.581.9682. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

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April 24, 2012

Tracking True In NY; Wheel Alignment In West Babylon

Filed under: Alignment — artfor936 @ 7:12 pm

Tracking True In NY Wheel Alignment In West Babylon

Wheel alignment is often overlooked by busy West Babylon car owners until serious tire damage has been done. One wheel can be knocked out of alignment from the rest by hitting a curb or pothole on West Babylon roads.

The tires will wear out very quickly and will need to be replaced prematurely. It could also lead to suspension damage. Conversely, worn suspension or steering components can lead to alignment problems for West Babylon motorists.

But the big issue for West Babylon motorists is safety. When your family car wheels are out of alignment, the vehicle will pull to one side, which could lead to an accident. When you’re out of alignment, you should have it taken care of right away at Art Ford’s Service Station, LLC.

Signs of alignment problems are: Your car pulls to one side. Also, your steering wheel may not be centered when you’re going straight. If you see the edges of one or more tires rapidly wearing down, you should have your technician at Art Ford’s Service Station, LLC look it over.

If you’ve been in an accident in West Babylon that involved a wheel, you should get your alignment checked. A big jolt can seriously knock things out of alignment, but West Babylon drivers also need to understand that a series of smaller ones can add up. Worn steering or suspension components can also lead to alignment problems for West Babylon drivers. That’s why your family car manufacturer recommends periodic alignment checks.

If your family car owner’s manual doesn’t specify, once a year might be appropriate. Or check with Andrew Ford or your service advisor at Art Ford’s Service Station, LLC in Islip. He’ll also be able to tell you if your vehicle requires a four wheel alignment or if just the front wheels can be aligned.

One thing’s for sure: the cost of the alignment at Art Ford’s Service Station, LLC is cheaper than having to buy a couple of new tires because of neglect.

At Art Ford’s Service Station, LLC in Islip NY (11751) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 631.581.9682. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

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April 19, 2012

Viva la Differential At Art Ford’s Service Station, LLC

Filed under: Differential Service — artfor936 @ 6:41 pm

Viva la Differential At Art Ford's Service Station, LLC

With front-wheel drive being so common in Islip these days, the differential is just taken care of during a transmission service, so most Islip folks don’t even have to think about it. And most rear-wheel drive family car differentials don’t need to be serviced for many miles, so it’s understandable that it’s not something on the top of mind. So it’s not uncommon for NY people to not know they have a differential let alone know that it needs service.

To better understand what a differential does, think about a high school track. There are lanes marked off on the track. For the longer distance races, the starting lines are staggered. The starting lines for the outside lanes are ahead of the starting lines for the inside lanes. That’s to compensate for the longer length of the outside lanes. Staggering the starting lines means that each runner has the same distance to run.

The differential compensates for the difference in speeds on drive wheels between the inside wheel and the outside wheel in a turn, because they have to travel together through slightly different distances.

Many family car differentials do a lot of work and require very heavy duty parts. And those parts need protection. The differential fluid lubricates the gears in the differential and keeps them cool. The fluid eventually gets dirty and worn down. Some kinds of differentials require special additives that break down over time. So manufacturers and Art Ford’s Service Station, LLC technicians recommend intervals for replacing your differential fluid.

Your Art Ford’s Service Station, LLC service technician will drain the used fluid and check it out for metal bits, which could be a sign of excessive wear on the gears. He’ll then replace the fluid and install the additives if necessary.

Islip four wheel drive family cars need special attention to their differentials because they have a differential on both the front and rear axles that work at different times and sometimes under heavy loads – so they may need to be serviced at Art Ford’s Service Station, LLC at different intervals.

Your Islip service advisor can look up the manufacturer’s recommended service interval or you can check your family car owner’s manual.

Give us a call

Art Ford’s Service Station, LLC
631.581.9682
200 Main St
Islip, NY 11751

At Art Ford’s Service Station, LLC in Islip NY (11751) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 631.581.9682. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

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