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There are certain things you do on a monthly basis. You pay your utility bills, for example. And there are some things you need to do every week, like get gas, perhaps. But when it comes to getting an oil change, the timing varies and you don’t always remember! It’s hard to keep track of everything you need to and should do for your vehicle, your home, your family, and everything else. But your car will tell you if you’re overdue for an oil change. Here are a few signs to help you know you’ve forgotten something important in Philadelphia.

Your Mileage Says So
The easiest way to tell whether or not you are overdue for an oil chance is to simply keep track of how far you have driven since your last oil change. Many service centers will place a sticker in the upper left corner of your windshield to remind you of when you need to come in for another oil change. Keep an eye on your mileage and if it goes way beyond what they recommend, you’re overdue.

The Oil Change Light Comes On
In many modern vehicles, there will be an oil change light that comes on when you need an oil change. The light could also come on if you are low on oil, which could mean your oil pump isn’t working right. Whatever the reason for the light, you need to see a technician right away. But keep in mind that not every vehicle will warn you in this manner if you have forgotten about an oil change.

Your Oil is Dark and Dirty
If your oil looks sludgy, it probably is and can clog up with whole system. Dirty oil running through the engine will have an effect on it sooner rather than later. However to see the oil, you actually have to open the vehicle and check it. If you want to know if you are overdue for an oil change, it’s a good way to go But if you’ve forgotten about the oil change, you may not remember to do that either.

The Engine Complains
Listen to your vehicle! It knows what it needs! If you forget your oil change long enough, the engine will start knocking or clunking. The engine rods will knock against one another and you don’t want to have to replace them…it’s expensive! If you hear a clicking sound, you might be low on oil. Check to see if you need an oil change, or top off the oil.

A Complete Breakdown
When one part of a complicated system isn’t doing well, the whole thing will follow suit eventually. The oil in your vehicle makes things run smoothly. If the engine starts to dry out, it’ll stop working.

Don’t let your vehicle suffer the consequences of your forgetfulness. Keep track of your Philadelphia ,PA oil change and bring your car to Schafer’s Auto Center for those regular changes. Give SAC a call at 215-755-1270 to schedule an appointment or visit our shop at 1924 S Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19148.

Buying new tires isn’t exactly a purchase you get excited about, but it’s something every car owner has to do at some point. When you need new tires, pay attention to the process so you can get something that will last a long time and suit your car well. Give your tires attention now and you can have peace of mind as you drive for years to come. Here are a few tips to help you figure out which tires will work best for your vehicle as you drive around Philadelphia.

Tip 1: Make Sure you Need Them
The first thing to do is figure out whether or not you actually need new tires. Perhaps your technician at Shafer’s Auto Center is telling you that you need them, but you can also perform a visual inspection yourself between visits to see what’s going on. If you see wear on the tread, a cracked sidewall, discoloration or bulging, you should get new tires. You may even need new tires if yours are 10 years old or older. Rubber deteriorates over time and they need to be replaced even if they look okay.

Tip 2: Inspect the Vehicle
You need to know how your vehicle is doing before you get new tires. If you have something wrong with your vehicle and you get new tires, you could be throwing money away. Tires will wear quickly in certain situations (like if your vehicle has bad shocks or is misaligned). You can get an assessment on your vehicle before you put on new tires when you visit SAC.

Tip 3: Get Information from the Owner’s Manual
You will want to follow your owner’s manual regarding the size and type of tires that work best on your car. The information is placed in your car by law and it is in your best interest to follow it. You can get advice on further options from SAC technicians.

Tip 4: Buy a Full Set
Though you might want to just replace one or two tires, it’s best for the suspension and wear to get a whole new set at once. You’ll be able to maintain the tires better and evaluate issues in the vehicle when they arise because the tires are even.

Tip 5: Check the Spare
When you get new tires, check in on the spare tire as well. You might need a Philadelphia brake replacement there and can get a better deal by doing it at the same time.

Whether you need new tires or help with tire services or maintenance, call Schafer’s Auto Center for an appointment at 215-755-1270. SAC is a locally owned and operated business and we want to make sure our fellow Philadelphia residents are driving on tires that are suited for their vehicles. Our shop is located at 1924 S Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19148 and we have a full range of tire mounting from 13 to 30 inch. With nationwide road hazard warranties, free tire repairs and rotations for the life of the tire, it pays to work with us!

Your vehicle is an investment and you need it to work properly at all times to get you around Philadelphia when you need to be somewhere. There are many important elements that go into running an effective, efficient vehicle and the tires are one such element. The tires on your vehicle work very hard. They are the only link the car has between it and the road. The tires handle turning, braking, acceleration, and tons of weight. You’re going to see wear on your tires, but the longer you can make them last, the less money you will have to spend on replacing them. When you want your tires to last longer, it is a good idea to be able to spot abnormal wear patterns so you can correct what is wrong and extend the tire’s life. Here are some common reasons tires wear unevenly and what you can do about them.

The tire is overinflated
If your tires have too much air in them, you will get more wear in the middle of the tire than on the edges. In this case, simply let some air out of each tire. Check your manufacturer’s guide to see how much air you should have in your tires.

The tire is underinflated
If your tires don’t have enough air in them, you will see more wear along the edges of the tread. Keep in mind that when Philadelphia gets cold, the tires can vary on their air pressures. Check in with the tire inflation level regularly to ensure that they have the right level of air in each of them.

The wheel is out of alignment
If you see wear on one edge of the tire, but not the other, you may have a misalignment issue. Take your vehicle to Schafer’s Auto Repair (SAR) to be realigned and save your tires from wearing down too fast.

The tires are never rotated
Most technicians advise that you rotate your tires every other Philadelphia oil change or so. If you neglect to do that, you will see an uneven wear on the outer edge of the tires. The best way to combat that is to keep up with the rotations.

Shocks, Suspensions, or struts are worn or damaged
The tire will have an indented surface that is called cupping. The damaged parts can cause vertical forces to be rather erratic on the tires, which shorten their lifespan significantly. Get those items checked out for the good of your entire vehicle, not just the tires.

Whether you know what is going on with your tire tread or not, it is a good idea to have your vehicle looked over. The tread can tell you a lot about what’s going on and the professionals at Schafer’s Auto Center can ensure that everything is up to par so your tires will last as long as possible. Give SAR a call for an appointment at 215-755-1270 or just ask us some questions over the phone.

Your vehicle needs a number of things over the years. When you first invest in a car, you might think that’s it. You own the vehicle and that’s all you have to spend. That’s not even close to the truth. Car ownership is a responsibility and you have plenty of expenses coming your way. OF course, you have to pay for insurance. And you know the car will stop running if you don’t fill it with gas. But what else? Oh yes, the oil changes! You might hesitate about getting oil changes because you don’t think it’ll make that big of a difference, but you would be wrong. You have to have blood running through your body to operate correctly and your vehicle has to have oil in the engine in order to operate. Without oil, it dies. It’s as simple as that.

Oil is an essential lubricant to your engine. IT lets metals press against other metals without causing damage. Without oil, the metal on metal causes friction that heats up so much that the surfaces mold together and the engine seizes. If you want to get where you’re going, that’s not a good thing. So, you want to avoid that oil change in Philadelphia? Fine! But here’s what will happen if you never change your oil:

-Dirt Accumulates

You will start to get more and more dirt in the oil as you use it and it cycles through the engine. Your filters will remove dirt for a while, but it will clog and get dirty eventually and the dirty oil will pass through it to the relief valve. Dirty oil is thick and abrasive and causes more wear on your engine. The longer you go without that oil change, the dirtier the oil gets. The oil could start to get sticky and cause issues, or it could dry up completely.

-Your Engine Will Stop

Eventually, your engine isn’t getting what it needs and it will start to cause damage to itself. When it’s lubricated well with oil, it runs nicely. When it isn’t, it’ll start to run harder and that will cause a number of things to possibly go wrong. It could stop running completely or it could run harshly and cause itself a great deal of damage.

When you think about getting an Philadelphia , PA oil change, sure, it’s going to take a little time out of your day and a little money out of your pocket. But in the end, isn’t that much better than having your car stop by the side of the road needing major engine repairs? That’ll take a lot more time and money away, right?

Schedule your oil change with Schafer’s Auto Center today by calling 215-755-1270. If you aren’t sure how long it’s been, or when you need to get your oil changed to stay safe, we can help you set up a schedule that suits both you and your engine. Our shop is located at 1924 S Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19148. We look forward to seeing you soon!

When you live in Philadelphia, there are a lot of things you have to do. You need to pay taxes, for example, and you have to license and register your vehicle. You also need to have a Philadelphia vehicle inspection from time to time. You know it’s required, but you may not appreciate it. After all, who wants to do more things on their vehicle than absolutely necessary? While the vehicle inspection is a state requirement, it is also to your benefit for a number of reasons. Here are just a few to appreciate the next time you get a vehicle inspection.

Reason 1: Limit Pollution

When you have a vehicle inspection, one of the things the technicians are looking for is the vehicle’s ignition performance and fuel metering to make sure the vehicle is working as it was designed. This benefits you in a number of ways. First, you know you’re not polluting the air with your car more than you should. And second, these checks can showcase any larger issues that you should deal with before they get worse. You want to maintain your vehicle and the vehicle inspection can help you do just that.

Reason 2: Catch Small Items

The vehicle inspection will put your vehicle through a tailpipe test, which can show that your car isn’t running efficiently. When a vehicle isn’t as efficient as it can be, there are problems somewhere along the lines. The issues might be small now, but they can turn into something larger and more expensive later. If you want to avoid those, you may have the required vehicle inspection to thank for pointing out those issues early.

Reason 3: Peace of Mind

You want to drive a vehicle that is in the best possible condition and you can get that when you have a vehicle inspection as required by the state. It’s not something you can put off because you need to have it to continue to drive legally. And that’s a good thing because when you drive away from the vehicle inspection, you know your vehicle is in the best possible condition since it passed the required tests.

Getting the Vehicle Inspection in Philadelphia

To get the required state inspections, you need to go to a shop that is certified to run those tests. Sure, you can go anywhere, but unless the shop is recognized by the state, the tests won’t count. You certainly don’t want to run them twice if you don’t have to, so it’s best to go to Schafer’s Auto Center the first time around. We do all of the required Philadelphia vehicle inspection checks and we run an 80-point inspection completely free any time you visit for an oil change or anything else to help your vehicle remain in working order in every way. Call for an appointment today at 215-755-1270 or stop by our shop at 1924 S Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19148.

There are a lot of things you absolutely have to put on your to-do list. You have to go to the grocery store, for example, or your family will run out of food. You have to get gas or your vehicle won’t go any longer. And you have to go to work or you won’t have money for either of those things. When it comes to a vehicle inspection, however, you might feel a bit like a child when his parents ask him to clean his room. “Aw…do I hafta?” It’s just one more thing to do, right? And not something you necessarily enjoy. While the broad answer is “No, you don’t absolutely have to,” you most definitely should and here’s why.

Ensure Efficiency

Do you really want to drive a vehicle that sucks down oil or uses way more gas than it should? It ends up costing you much more to drive from place to place than you can afford. Instead of going that route, get that vehicle inspection and increase efficiency. It’ll help keep the costs down and your vehicle will last longer too.

Prevent Problems

Ever wish you could see into the future? We’re pretty sure you would turn back the clock and do things differently if you look a month down the road and find yourself stranded by the side of the road with a car issue. When you have vehicle inspections, you can forget about those types of worries because you are preventing major problems from occurring by fixing small things in advance. It might cost a tiny bit, but it’s way less than it would cost to fix something major.

Add Years

When you invest in a vehicle, you likely want it to run well for as long as possible. That way you don’t have to buy another one any time soon. Even if you plan to trade the vehicle in some time, you want it to be in the best possible condition so you can get the most money from it, right? Having a vehicle inspection can help with all that. They add years to your vehicle’s lifespan and increase their value as well.

Get Your Vehicle Inspection

Does your vehicle need an inspection? It can be hard to keep track of when you need an inspection and when you’re okay to drive longer. Ask your technician at Schafer’s Auto Center how many miles you can safely go between inspections. Many drivers like to have a full inspection when they get their oil changed in order to make it a one stop occurrence. It gives them a good rule of thumb to abide by as far as mileage goes as well. Give us a call today at 215-755-1270 to make an appointment for your Philadelphia , PA state inspection. When you find yourself happily driving down the road instead of standing beside it with a broken down vehicle, you’ll be glad you did. We’re located at 1924 S Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19148 and we’re here to help!

Do you go to the doctor every year? Well you probably should, especially as you age. It’s good for doctors to see what certain readings are on you when you are healthy so they know what is wrong when something is amiss. Plus, they can catch things early if there is a problem and make recommendations to help you avoid other things. Much of that is true for auto maintenance and service in Philadelphia. Think of an auto maintenance and service session like a check-up for your vehicle. Here are a few reasons why they are a good idea.

Prevent Vehicle Illness

You may go to your doctor for a flu shot attempting to prevent getting sick in the winter. In the same way, you take your vehicle to the auto center in order to prevent a break down or some other kind of serious issue. When you do those preventative things sure, they take a little time, money, and effort up front, but they save you time, money, and effort later.

Ramp Up Vehicle Efficiency

You want your body to run at its best so you visit the doctor to make sure everything is operating as it should. When you take your car in for an auto maintenance and service appointment, it is getting checked over to make sure things are running right as well. When you drive away, you know your vehicle is not only going to be effective, but also efficient. You won’t use as much gas and things are will be smooth sailing.

Maintain Reliability

You want your body to stay at an even level or even improve, so you go to the doctor to ensure that you can trust your body to perform certain functions. As we age, things tend to go wrong and the same is true with vehicles. However, when you visit your auto center for regular auto maintenance and service checks, you will be able to rely on your vehicle for a lot longer than you would have otherwise.

Save Money

It sounds strange that you would save money by visiting the doctor or the auto center, but many times it’s true. Would you rather go to the doctor for a check-up or visit the hospital for a serious issue? Of course you’d rather go to the doctor. And you would probably rather visit the auto center for an auto maintenance and service session than you would call a tow truck to drag your vehicle in for a major overhaul and repair.

When it’s time for your yearly doctor’s appointment, don’t skip out on it. You owe it to your body to make sure things are operating at their best. When it’s time for your yearly auto maintenance Philadelphia, PA and service check, don’t ignore that either. Call Schafer’s Auto Center at 215-755-1270. We want to make sure your vehicle runs at its best for as long as possible. We’re located at 1924 S Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19148 and we’re ready to help you!

If your technician tells you that you need transmission repair, you may feel the blood drain from your face. Transmissions are an important part of the vehicle, but repairing them can also be very expensive. How did you get in this position? What are you going to do? Could you have done anything differently? If you need transmission repair in Philadelphia, there might not be much you can do about it. However, if you do not yet need the repairs, there are definitely things you can do to avoid them. Here are a few tips to take to heart.

Careful Shifting

While your vehicle is a mechanical device and it seems like it can take a lot, the more gentle you are with it, the longer it will last. You wouldn’t throw your favorite sweater into the wash cycle several times a day and then dry it and expect it to last. A gentle touch can help things last longer, it’s as simple as that. Whether you have standard or automatic transmission, you need to be careful about how you shift. Never throw your automatic transmission from drive into reverse, for example, and make sure you have the clutch fully pushed down when you go from one gear to another in a standard transmission. Being careful about how you shift can help you avoid transmission repairs.

Regular Maintenance

You don’t need as much maintenance on a transmission as you do the engine, but like an engine, the transmission has fluids that need to be changed out from time to time. You won’t have to do this every oil change, but keep an eye on your owner’s manual to find out how many miles you can drive without changing the transmission fluids. If you change the fluids out at the proper time, you are much more likely to avoid transmission repairs.

Fix Small Things

There are signs that you need transmission repair that can pop up along the way. Don’t ignore them! If you notice something not working properly, it is best to get your car to the shop as soon as possible. Don’t panic yet, though. Sometimes, it might seem like your vehicle needs transmission repair, but really it is just a faulty or broken sensor somewhere that is making things act up. By fixing that small thing fast, you avoid needing actual transmission repair down the road.

Find a Reputable shop

When you have an investment you use as much as your vehicle, it is important to have a reputable auto shop to help you keep track of everything you need in terms of maintenance and tune-ups. If you need  transmission repair Philadelphia, PA, you have someone safe and trustworthy you can go to and pay reasonable, fair prices. But with any luck, you and your technician can avoid those types of transmission repairs with regular maintenance. Contact Schafer’s Auto Center at 215-755-1270 for an appointment. We’re located at 1924 S Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19148 and we’re happy to help you avoid transmission repairs!

If you use your vehicle a lot to get around Philadelphia, you probably keep track of the mileage on your vehicle. You need to keep an eye on how far you’ve driven because you don’t want to go too far on the current oil in your vehicle. You understand that oil changes are important to how your vehicle operates. So you stop in to auto shops at the right intervals to get that oil changed out. But have you ever thought about the quality of the oil change? Maybe not. An oil change is an oil change, right? Not exactly?

When it comes to anything on your vehicle, quality matters. For example, you don’t want to get new brake pads that are too cheap and inexpensive and don’t work well. You’ll have to fix them again sooner, right? The same can be said for your oil changes. Not just any oil will do. Low quality oil will go through your vehicle faster so you’ll need another oil change sooner. And your vehicle may not run as efficiently in the meantime.

So how do you know what kind of oil your vehicle takes? Your first line of defense is your owner’s manual. It will tell you what type of oil your vehicle requires. There may be a few different options and you can choose, but as long as you get something along those lines, you’ll be doing something good for your vehicle. Now that you know what kind of oil you need, you have to ensure that the auto shop uses it. If you stop into a quick oil change place because you are short on time, who knows what they are using. They might charge you for the convenience of a quick stop, but put substandard oil in your vehicle. Or they may try to charge you extra for expensive oil that you don’t really need. Remain informed as a driver and you can avoid these expenses and pitfalls.

One of the best ways to ensure that your vehicle gets what it needs every time you get an Philadelphia, PA oil change is to find an auto shop you can trust with your vehicle. That’s as simple as calling Schafer’s Auto Center at 215-755-1270 for your next oil change appointment. Our expert technicians know just what your vehicle needs in terms of oil and we won’t use anything without your permission. We also won’t charge you for things that don’t deserve to be on the bill. And we won’t place anything on the bill at all without checking with you first. An oil change is a small thing that helps your car run efficiently. But if we play our cards right, together we can prevent major repairs from happening by paying the right kind of attention to your vehicle in the tune-up process. We’re located at 1924 S Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19148 and we hope you’ll give us a try the next time you need an oil change.

If you have ever taken a biology or anatomy class, you may be in awe of all of the different parts human bodies have. These parts have to work together to create a healthy human being. If one thing goes wrong, it can throw things off in other areas as well. While vehicles aren’t quite as impressive, they also have a lot of parts. And likewise, if one thing goes wrong, it can throw off a lot of other things. If you want your vehicle to run efficiently and effectively, everything needs to work well together.

As a vehicle owner in Philadelphia, it’s okay not to know everything about how your car operates. There are experts and technicians for that! But you do need to understand that one thing can throw off a lot of other things. If look in your manual, you will see a lot of recommendations for a variety of different items. You’ll need to get an oil change every so often, based on your mileage, for example. You might notice that the transmission fluids need to get changed at 100,000 miles or so as well. When you see something about the timing belt, you also need to take notice.

The timing belt is just what it sounds like, something that helps the timing of your vehicle. If that belt is “off,” it’s like one thing going wrong in your body that can throw a lot of other things off. You need to make sure that belt doesn’t wear out or all sorts of things can go wrong. But how do you do that when you don’t know much about vehicles or how to check the timing belt? It’s simple enough, really.

First, pay attention to your owner’s manual. It is a wealth of information when it comes to how you need to treat your vehicle. If you don’t want to keep it on your car seat and look at it all the time, simply mark down certain mileages on a sheet that you can refer to from time to time. Mark down when you need to have oil changes, tire rotations, brake inspections, and so on. It will be easy to see when you need a Philadelphia, PA timing belt replacement if you get it checked at the proper time.

Second, find an auto shop you can trust. If you visit on a regular basis for your oil changes and tune-up services, timing belt replacement won’t come as a surprise. Your trusted technicians can let you know when it is wearing down so you can prepare for timing belt replacement in the near future.

Finding that trusted auto shop is as simple as calling Schafer’s Auto Center for an appointment at 215-755-1270. You can trust that we won’t steer you wrong. We won’t tell you that you need timing belt replacement unless you really do! Our shop is located at 1924 S Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19148 and we look forward to helping you out with your repair and tune-up needs.