Which one is it? Tire Balancing or Wheel Alignment?

Does your vehicle stray from one side of the road to the other, or does the steering wheel vibrate at high speeds? If so, you could be wondering whether your vehicle needs a wheel alignment or the tires balanced. Actually, the only thing wheel alignment and tire balancing have in common is that they both affect the forward motion and drivability of the vehicle. Proper car alignment is necessary for many reasons. In fact, after many types of vehicle repairs, a wheel alignment is necessary because they may interfere with the wheel alignment.

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There are several symptoms that signify your vehicle needs a car alignment. The most common symptoms are severe wear on the inside or outside edge of your tires and drifting problems when you let go of the steering wheel. This can be caused by several different things:

    * low tire pressure

    * worn out brakes

    * front end problems

A proper wheel alignment is necessary to keep your vehicle going straight down the road. It will not, however smooth out a vibrating or pulsating steering wheel as a result of unbalanced tires. This is an entirely different problem to be addressed when the tires are inspected.

Every automaker establishes a default setting for what their vehicle’s specific alignment should be. Unfortunately, these factory default settings will get off, due to the unevenness of the pavement, the crown of the highways, vehicle accidents, and daily driving in general.

Many auto mechanics suggest getting cars aligned every time tires are replaced. It may be needed sooner if they notice uneven wear or if the ball joints, tie rods or suspension has been replaced. One important thing to remember is; if the front end of your car is under repair, hold off on an alignment until the new parts are replaced. There is no need to pay for a second alignment.

For quality wheel alignment, contact our ASE-certified technicians at Rum River Automotive by calling (763) 389-3811, or go on-line at http://www.rumriverauto.com/ for expert advice on good car care. Since 1997, our auto repair shop has served vehicle owners in Princeton, MN, and in the surrounding areas of Milaca MN and Zimmerman MN, Minnesota area.

What do you know about oil changes? Take this oil change quiz!

It’s back to school time for many people now that summer is over. With that thought in mind, here is an oil change quiz to test your knowledge about oil changes. Can you answer the questions without looking? Even though an oil change is so basic, it remains as one of the most important parts of preventative automobile service.

What determines how often to have an oil change?

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The type of driving determines the interval between oil changes, found in the vehicle owner’s manual. Today’s driving is generally considered as “severe” so the manual will usually recommended an oil change every 3,000 miles or 90 days, together with an oil filter replacement for optimum engine performance.

Does my driving qualify as “severe?”

    * Trips shorter than 10 miles?

    * Consistently driving in dust and sand

    * Unable to warm up due to cold weather starts

    * Idling for more than 5 minutes

    * Stop-and-go driving in traffic

    * Pulling trailers and heavy loads

    * Heavy duty driving, such as sustaining high-speeds in hot weather, or curvy mountainous roads.

What good is the Oil Filter?

The filter “sifts” and removes solid contaminants in the oil. This allows it to freely flow and keeps it clean as it enters the engine lubricating areas. Otherwise, a condition called “by-passing” may be created, when the oil and contaminants flow around the filter element due to a clogged filter. This could possibly cause damage to the engine’s moving parts and increase the production of sludge.

Are all filters the same size?

The answer is no! But you should know that the effectiveness of the filter is directly related to its size. Before the 1990’s, most filters in cars and light trucks held approximately a quart of oil. Due to the downsizing of the filter size, it now barely holds half a quart.

What do you mean by sludge formation?

Sludge is formed when the oil is not changed frequently enough. This lets contamination (blow-by, condensation, fuel, dust, metallic shavings, anti-freeze) mix, which then oxidizes and clogs the filter even more.

Tip to Remember: For a few minutes of your time and just a few dollars every three months, or 3,000 miles, you can keep your car on the road with confidence with regular oil changes.

Need professional oil changes? Contact the ASE-Certified Technicians at Rum River Automotive by calling (763) 389-3811, or go on-line at http://www.rumriverauto.com/ for expert advice on good car care. Since 1997, our auto repair shop has served vehicle owners in Princeton, MN, and in the surrounding areas of Milaca and Zimmerman, MN.

Exhaust System: Do You Know What Your Muffler is Saying?

If you want to know what’s going on inside your vehicle’s engine, pay attention to the exhaust system. As the engine burns fuel and creates exhaust, lots of different things are happening. Unfortunately, burning oil, evaporating coolant and leaving unburned fuel in the exhaust are things that aren't supposed to happen. Maybe what seems to be engine trouble is just a worn out muffler, but it’s hard to know without an inspection. 

There are a couple of ways to understand what’s happening in your vehicle’s exhaust system-- the color and smell of the emissions from the muffler.

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If you notice…

• Blue or Gray Smoke: If gray or blue smoke comes from the muffler when you start your car, it may seem to disappear after the car warms up, but in reality, it is just less noticeable. Grey smoke indicates that oil has gotten into the combustion chamber or on the cylinder head, indicating an oil leak. Even though this is easy to find, it can be expensive to fix. The best case scenario, however, is that your vehicle simply needs an oil change.

• White Smoke or Water Vapor: You may see white smoke coming from the muffler when you start your car when it’s cold outside. However, if it’s still there after the car warms up, it could be coolant leaking into the combustion chamber, caused by a crack in the coolant pipe. Or, there may be a crack in the cylinder head or the exhaust port facility. These are serious problems and will usually require extensive work in the exhaust system.

• Black Smoke: Black smoke may come from the muffler when you start your car and it may or may not disappear after the car warms up. The engine may be running rough or misfiring. Black smoke often signifies a more serious problem, an indication that your engine is burning oil. This could mean you have a blocked air filter, or your injection system is malfunctioning.

If your muffler reflects any of the exhaust system problems above, have it checked out by a certified auto mechanic as soon as possible. It’s true that a little prevention now can save a more costly repair down the road.

Need an inspection of your vehicle’s exhaust system? Contact the ASE-Certified Technicians at Rum River Automotive by calling (763) 389-3811, or go on-line at http://www.rumriverauto.com/ for more information. Since 1997, our auto repair shop has served vehicle owners in Princeton, MN, and in the surrounding areas of Milaca and Zimmerman, MN.