May 16, 2012

Gebbie’s AutoCare: Use The Correct Fluids In Your Vehicle

Filed under: Oil Change — gebbies265 @ 5:52 pm

Gebbie's AutoCare 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 Gebbie’s AutoCare in Lansdale. And it’s important to use the right coolant for your automobile. If you pour in the wrong kind, it won’t protect the cooling system and may even void the warranty. Of course, your friendly Gebbie’s AutoCare advisor will know the proper coolant to use. If you’re concerned you may have use the wrong fluid, be safe and have your Gebbie’s AutoCare technician flush the system and start fresh with the correct fluid.

Brake fluid is confusing for some people in Pennsylvania. For a very long time, most vehicles used Dot 3 brake fluid. Now we have Dot 4 and Dot 5. Some Lansdale 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 automobile.

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 automobile engines have more parts and much tighter tolerances. Every year, engines make more power and get better fuel economy in Lansdale. 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 automobile 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 automobile is serviced at Gebbie’s AutoCare.

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 automobile owner’s manual or ask your Gebbie’s AutoCare service advisor. The wrong fluid can cause damage.

Give Tom Gebbie a call at Gebbie’s AutoCare in Lansdale

Gebbie’s AutoCare
215.855.2226
735 East Main Sreet
Lansdale, Pennsylvania 19446

At Gebbie’s AutoCare in Lansdale Pennsylvania (19446) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 215.855.2226. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

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May 11, 2012

Wheel Alignment Service At Gebbie’s AutoCare In Lansdale

Filed under: Alignment — gebbies265 @ 6:08 pm

Wheel Alignment Service At Gebbie's AutoCare In Lansdale

When all of a vehicle’s wheels are lined up exactly with each other, your wheels are in alignment. Hitting a road hazard in Lansdale or even just the normal bumps and bounces of everyday Pennsylvania driving can cause your automobile wheels to be out of alignment. This can lead to expensive premature tire and suspension wear.

Here are some alignment basics from Gebbie’s AutoCare:
The first angle is called toe: do the wheels point in towards each other or away from each other at the front of the tire.
The next angle is called camber: do the wheels tip in or out at the top.
And finally, there is castor. Castor measures the angle where the front axles attach to the vehicle.

The ideal alignment for your automobile was designed by its engineers. Gebbie’s AutoCare alignment service starts with an inspection of the steering and suspension – so see if anything’s bent, broken or worn out. Then the Gebbie’s AutoCare technician will look at tire condition. From there, the automobile is put on an alignment rack and an initial alignment reading is taken. The wheels are then aligned to manufacturer’s specifications.

Your owner’s manual probably has a recommendation for how often your automobile alignment should be checked – usually every couple of years. If you suspect an alignment problem with your automobile, get it checked at Gebbie’s AutoCare before you suffer expensive tire or suspension damage.

Give us a call

Gebbie’s AutoCare
215.855.2226
735 East Main Sreet
Lansdale, Pennsylvania 19446

At Gebbie’s AutoCare in Lansdale Pennsylvania (19446) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 215.855.2226. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

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May 4, 2012

Schedule A Suspension Inspection At Gebbie’s AutoCare

Filed under: Suspension — gebbies265 @ 4:52 pm

Today’s North Wales car care article focuses on your suspension system. After many years and tens of thousands of miles, your automobile suspension system components do wear out, but how long that takes depends a lot on how you drive. As you can imagine, if most of your driving is on smooth North Wales highways, your shock absorbers will last a lot longer than if you do most of your driving on bumpy roads or hauling heavy loads.

Schedule A Suspension Inspection At Gebbie's AutoCareIn addition to just wearing out, Gebbie’s AutoCare customers need to know that suspension components can be damaged in an accident or by a hard impact – like a pothole, hitting a curb or a rock in the road.

Because the life span of shocks can vary so widely, your automobile manufacturer and Gebbie’s AutoCare recommend periodic inspections. During an inspection, your North Wales service technician will check for worn, broken or missing parts.

Signs that shocks or struts are wearing out: The tires may have a cupped wear pattern. This is from the shocks bouncing unevenly as you drive around North Wales. You may notice a floaty or drifting sensation when cornering. If the front of your automobile dives excessively when stopping, or rocks back and forth after you stopped, your shocks may be worn out. And if they are leaking fluid, it’s definitely time to replace them.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, come into Gebbie’s AutoCare for a suspension inspection. Same if you’ve been in an accident that involved one of your wheels. Worn or broken shocks can cause premature wear or failure on other automobile suspension parts such as ball joints and other steering components as well. If your suspension actually fails, it could lead to a serious accident, so let us take care of your suspension components at Gebbie’s AutoCare.

When you replace your shocks, it’s usually a good idea to replace all four at the same time. That’ll give you more even handling. Talk with your service advisor at Gebbie’s AutoCare because you don’t want a big difference between the performance of your shocks from wheel to wheel, and replacing all may be the safest bet.

At Gebbie’s AutoCare in Lansdale Pennsylvania (19446) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 215.855.2226. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

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April 25, 2012

Deciphering The Menu Board At Gebbie’s AutoCare: F to W

Filed under: Making Your Vehicle Last — gebbies265 @ 5:09 pm

Deciphering The Menu Board At Gebbie's AutoCare F to W

You may not be familiar with all of the items on Gebbie’s AutoCare’s menu board so here is a quick description of some of the typical services that might be listed. Remember, the board is there for reference; speak to your Gebbie’s AutoCare Service Adviser about other possible needs or services.

Gebbie’s AutoCare Fuel System Cleaning: Over time, the fuel system gets gum and varnish built up. A fuel system cleaning at Gebbie’s AutoCare gets rid of that and cleans out the fuel injectors. Saves gas as you drive around Lansdale and on Lansdale freeways, by the way.

Gebbie’s AutoCare Headlamp Replacement: Halogen and standard headlamps gradually fade. When one burns out, replace both so they’ll have the same brightness. Also, if your headlamp lenses are yellowed or cloudy, you can have them professionally restored to like new-condition. As your friendly Gebbie’s AutoCare advisor for information.

Gebbie’s AutoCare Inspections: Lansdale drivers get inspections for many reasons. Maybe they’re going on a trip or just want to make sure their vehicle’s ready for summer or winter in Lansdale. Maybe they just bought a used car and want to give it the once over. An inspection at Gebbie’s AutoCare may reveal some things that are broken or are getting close to having a problem.

Gebbie’s AutoCare Oil Change Service – there are several options: Some Lansdale auto service centers offer just an oil change and new filter as an option. Most will also check and top off all of your other fluids and do a quick visual inspection with a full service oil change. There may also be options for higher mileage fluids or an upgrade to synthetic oil.

Gebbie’s AutoCare PCV Valve Service: PCV stands for Positive Crankcase Ventilation valve. It’s a little part that releases pressure from the engine. It can get gummed up and that can lead to engine damage. Just needs to be changed now and then.

Gebbie’s AutoCare Power Steering Service: Often overlooked. Your Gebbie’s AutoCare technician will evacuate the old fluid, clean out the system and replace it with clean fluid. Keeps the system running well for a long time.

Gebbie’s AutoCare Serpentine Belt Replacement: That’s the belt that powers the engine’s accessories like the alternator, air conditioner, power steering and brakes. You’ll want to replace the serpentine belt at Gebbie’s AutoCare before it breaks or wears down too much, because that’ll lead to other problems.

Gebbie’s AutoCare Shocks and Struts Replacement: This starts with an inspection of the suspension components. Shocks last a long time and wear out slowly, so many Lansdale motorists don’t notice when it’s time to change them. If they’re worn or leaking, they need to be replaced.

Gebbie’s AutoCare Transmission Service: This involves removing the transmission fluid and replacing it with clean fluid. It’s like an oil change for your transmission.

Gebbie’s AutoCare Tire Rotation and Wheel Balancing: The tires are rotated from front to back using the recommended rotation pattern. This helps tires wear more evenly. Wheels need to be balanced from time to time to keep them turning without any wobble or bounce. Helps the ride and saves tire wear as you drive around Lansdale.

Give us a call

Gebbie’s AutoCare
215.855.2226
735 East Main Sreet
Lansdale, Pennsylvania 19446

At Gebbie’s AutoCare in Lansdale Pennsylvania (19446) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 215.855.2226. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

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April 17, 2012

Making Your Vehicle Last With Regular Service in Lansdale

Filed under: Making Your Vehicle Last — gebbies265 @ 8:33 pm

Making Your Vehicle Last A lot of people in Pennsylvania have older vehicles. They’re good commuters, grocery-getters or toy-haulers. They enjoy that fact that they’re paid off, or soon will be. They would gladly like to keep their vehicles for 200,000 miles or more – as long as it’s economical to do so.

There are plenty of people in Lansdale whose vehicles are running after 150,000 or 200,000 miles. We can learn from what they’re doing to keep our own cars on the road.

A common denominator is that they never skip an oil change. That may sound a bit unsophisticated, but it’s really not. First off, oil is the life blood of your engine and it needs to be clean to properly lubricate. Skipping oil changes leads to clogged oil filters and sludge that can damage your engine. Enough said.

There’s another reason why the scheduled oil change is so important. It’s simple – a Gebbie’s AutoCare professional is going to be looking at your car. All of your fluid levels will be inspected and topped off so they won’t get so low that damage can be done. If there is a significant fluid loss, let’s use brake fluid as an example, your Lansdale technician can look for the cause of the loss and find the problem before it leads to an accident or costly repair.

Your Lansdale service technician will also visually inspect the vehicle for worn belts and hoses, uneven tire wear, leaking shock absorbers and more. Problems get addressed before they lead to repairs that cost more than the car’s worth. And your Lansdale service advisor will be able to remind you of other services that the factory recommends you get done.

Just think of that oil change the same way as you do about going to the dentist for your six month cleaning and checkup. Don’t skip it.

Of course, good maintenance costs money, but it’s far cheaper than new car payments.

Give us a call to schedule your next oil change today. You can find us online at Gebbie’s AutoCare, or you can find us in Lansdale, Pennsylvania 19446 at 735 East Main Sreet. Or simply give us a call at 215.855.2226.

At Gebbie’s AutoCare in Lansdale Pennsylvania (19446) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 215.855.2226. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

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