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December 2020

auto repair in Philadelphia, PA

Choosing The Right Tires For An Approaching Winter

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As the temperatures cool and the days get shorter, you know what’s happening…winter is coming. One thing you absolutely have to have on your vehicle, along with good auto repair in Philadelphia, PA is a good set of tires in the winter. Even if you have four-wheel drive, you have to have the tired to back that up. Follow the rules of the road and take things slowly during the winter. But even when you do that, tires are a necessary part of staying safe. Here are a few things you need to know about tires to ensure your safety this winter driving period.

All Season Tires

Not everyone wants to change their tires out when a new season hits. All season tires are the type that can be driven and give a comfortable ride any season of the year. These tires have a good tread on them and are able to grip the road in a safe manner that helps drivers maintain control in lots of different conditions.

Snow Tires

If you do a lot of driving in the winter, and you know what it can be like around here, snow tires might be a good idea for you. These tires have to be put on at the start of the season and they have more tread on them to help you get around better. If you know it’s going to be a rough winter, or you have a lot of commutes to work in store, these tires might be a good idea. They work on snow, ice, and cold roads with deeper treads that help you handle dicey road conditions better.

No matter what kind of tires you have on your vehicle, it is important to get them checked out before the winter hits. You want to make sure you have enough tread on any kind of tire and the air pressure within them is important as well. If you find that you are in need of new tires, right before winter is a good time to replace them because it gives you the benefit of brand-new tires during months that are the most perilous on the road. If your tires are relatively new, get them checked over to make sure they are in premium condition before the weather hits and the snowfalls.

auto repair in Philadelphia, PA

The next time you are in for auto repair in Philadelphia, PA of any kind, make it a priority to get your tires checked as well. At Schafer’s Auto Center, we understand what the snow and ice can do to the safety of drivers and we want to make sure your vehicle is in the best possible condition in every way—especially where the rubber meets the road in the tires. We will let you know when the tread is too low to keep you safe during the winter months and after we hear about your driving habits, we might recommend snow tires to keep things as safe as possible when the snow comes around.

auto repair in Philadelphia, PA

Engine Smells That Lead To Auto Repair

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Wouldn’t it be nice if your car could retain that new car smell forever? Perhaps it used to smell like leather, new carpet, or that overall new car scent. But as the miles go by and you check in for maintenance and auto repair in Philadelphia, PA, that smell goes away and everyday life smells creep in. While you might be okay with the normal family smell, there are certain scents that can emanate from the engine that could mean you need auto repair. Here are some things to watch for…or sniff for, as the case may be.

Burning Rubber

If you smell that burned rubber scent coming from your vehicle, it probably means that somehow, rubber parts of your car are in contact with something hot and are melting. In most cases, that burning could be because of the friction between moving metal parts or a hose or belt could be slipped within the power steering system. Either way, the scent is not pleasant, and you probably need to have things checked over before you drive too much further.

Gasoline

You might smell gas a bit after you leave the gas station and that’s normal. But if you smell gas just driving down the road, it could be a leak in a pipe or something within the fuel injector or even gas tank. If the odor is strong, you need to get it checked out right away so there isn’t as much danger.

Hot Oil

You smell hot oil in the kitchen, but in your car? That’s not a good thing. Oil heats up when you are driving, but that system is enclosed so you shouldn’t smell it. That means that the leaks are likely in the oil circulation system. You should get an inspection as soon as you can because oil levels could drop and cause engine damage.

Burning Carpet

Just because you smell burning carpet doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with the interior of your vehicle. Instead, it could mean there’s an issue with a brake pad or rotor overheating. You need that fixed right away or it could be a huge hazard to your safety.

Rotten Eggs

In a house, smelling rotten eggs means a gas leak. In a vehicle, it’s generally the catalytic converter. This area converts gas into a releasing form and the smell shows you that it’s not working well. The engine might also have an issue that is taking on the converter.

auto repair in Philadelphia, PA

Any time you smell something unusual and unpleasant in your vehicle, assuming you haven’t driven by a skunk that was hit by another car, you should take your car in for auto repair in Philadelphia, PA as soon as you can. You know the normal scents of your vehicle and none of the above are normal in the least. The professionals at Schafer’s Auto Center want to restore that new car smell or, at the very least, keep the vehicle in good condition without any scent at all.

auto repair in Philadelphia, PA

Getting In For Auto Repair Before A Big Trip

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Are you headed out to the Midwest for the holidays? Do you want to take your car for a business trip a few hours away? It’s always best to go in for maintenance and auto repair in Philadelphia, PA before you have to take a big trip. You don’t want your timeline thrown off because you end up by the side of the road. You also don’t want to get halfway there and realize you need an oil change—badly. Take care of all of that in advance and you’ll be good to go. Here are a few reasons to go in for that auto repair before the trip occurs.

Get Better Gas Mileage

Pretty much every driver would rather get better gas mileage than worse, right? That means they pay less at the gas station every time they fill up. Having good gas mileage is better for your car and for your budget. When you take the vehicle in for auto repair, everything can be looked over and tweaked so you get the best gas mileage your vehicle can give.

A Smoother Ride

Long car trips can be tiring…especially if your vehicle doesn’t ride very well. If the steering is hard to control or the tires make the bumps even bumpier, it’s harder than ever. When you get maintenance and auto repair before you leave, your tires, wheels, shocks, brakes, steering, and everything in between can be checked over to make sure your car handles well along any road you might need to take. The trip as a whole will feel better to everyone along.

Safer Driving Options

When your brakes have just been checked, you know your vehicle is safer to drive because they are doing just fine. When you have enough tread on your tires, the same is true. There are lots of intricacies on a vehicle and when one thing goes wrong, lots can go wrong. Your vehicle will be safer to drive if everything is lined up well. Having a maintenance and auto repair check before you go on your trip will help you recognize that your vehicle is safe and ready to roll.

auto repair shop in Philadelphia, PA

There are lots of reasons to have auto repair in Philadelphia, PA and you should place an upcoming trip on that list. Before you head out, take an hour or so to get your vehicle checked out from top to bottom. Perhaps throw in an oil change and tire rotation and you will feel much better about how the trip is going to go and how well your vehicle will hold up for the duration. The professionals at Schafer’s Auto Center are here to check your vehicle out and make any recommendations we might have about what you may want to do before you go. We want you to be safe and we won’t advise that you do things unless it’s what we would do on our own vehicle if we were in your position and about to take a trip.

auto repair in Philadelphia, PA

Good Reasons To Keep Up With Auto Repair

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When you make the investment in a vehicle, what you pay for the car is not the only thing you will invest. You will have maintenance and auto repair in Philadelphia, PA that you need to keep an eye on as well. And while there will be some things that come up out of the blue over time, many things you can predict. Here are a few reasons why it’s good to keep up with auto repair over the lifetime of your vehicle.

Keep The Warranty In Check

Your vehicle may have come with a warranty and that covers certain things. If something specific breaks and the warranty covers it, you could get parts and labor completely paid for. Your technicians are going to notice when something that is under warranty is going awry and they will point it out to you. It’s nice to use the warranty for all it’s worth while you can. If you aren’t regular about your auto maintenance, you might not know you need something until the warranty is already expired.

Save Money In The Long Run

Yes, things like oil changes and new brake pads cost money, but in the long run? Those costs are minor compared to what you would pay for a new engine or completely new brakes. Having regular auto repair on things that are bound to wear out will help you prevent larger things from wearing and costing you much more money. An oil change is nothing compared to an engine rebuild.

Prevent Larger Problems

When you pay less for something like brake pads and replace them when you need to, you prevent the brake rotors and other larger issues from ever occurring. There are generally smaller maintenance and repair things you can do, when you catch them early, that will help you to avoid larger things down the road. You save money, save hassles, and allow your vehicle to stay in better working order for the time you have with it.

Maintain Vehicle Value

While most vehicles depreciate as they age and raise in mileage, you can keep your car value as high as possible by taking good care of it. People are willing to pay more for a vehicle they know was treated right. If you stood by the manufacturer recommendations and did things are recommended, your car is a lot more likely to be in good condition when you sell in the future.

auto repair in Philadelphia, PA

There are plenty of other reasons to get auto repair in Philadelphia, PA as well as maintenance on a regular basis. If you don’t know a lot about cars, that’s all the more reason to take it to a technician so you are able to get what you need, when it’s needed. The professionals at Schafer’s Auto Center are here to help with any repair or maintenance need. We want you to feel comfortable with us and know that we are being honest about what we recommend for your vehicle’s repairs.

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