Busted: The Maintenance-Free Myth In Plainfield


April 8, 2013

There’s a segment of the Plainfield population that’s not committed to proper vehicle maintenance. Mistaken perceptions have crept into the IL. area over time. Many Plainfield motorists think the root lies in the fact that modern cars are so reliable. Reliability has improved dramatically in recent years. Quality surveys report fewer problems with new cars than ever before.


Back when cars spent more time in the repair shop, Plainfield drivers were more mindful of routine service. Now, it’s much easier to put it off.


Take tune-ups for example. In the days of mechanical ignition systems, an engine needed to be tuned-up every couple of years. The ignition points had to be replaced, spark plugs and coils replaced and the timing adjusted. If your engine was out of tune, you knew it. It ran poorly and got bad fuel economy.


Now, the ignition system in your sedan is electronic and controlled by the engine management computer. Spark plugs rarely get fouled and will last for as much as a hundred thousand miles. So tune-ups used to force you in to AACCEL EMISSIONS LUBE for service and while you were there you just took care of whatever else was on the list.


Also, in recent years, a large percentage of new cars in Plainfield have been leased. These folks plan on turning the car in after two or three years, so they haven’t focused on the maintenance that helps your car last longer.


Given all that, what’s the benefit to keeping up with factory scheduled maintenance? Well, your sedan will perform better and return better fuel economy.


Those benefits pay for themselves as they go along. The big plus is that major repairs are prevented. And these aren’t just repairs that are a long ways off. Modern sedan engines are far more sophisticated and have many parts that are in critical need of proper lubrication. Missing just one oil change can allow oil sludge to start forming. Sludge clogs small engine passages, robbing parts of the lubrication they need. An expensive failure could easily occur within two or three years.


And modern engines require more sophisticated fluids. Because of the different types of materials that are used to make auto parts, things like aluminum, plastics and steel, different types of additives are required to protect automotive components from corrosion. These additives deplete with time as well as with use.


For example, your sedan engine coolant could actually become so corrosive that it eats holes in your radiator or other cooling system parts. Of course, that could lead to massive engine damage, all for the want of replacing the coolant on schedule.


Taking care of the little things now prevents big problems later. At AACCEL EMISSIONS LUBE, we have been taking care of all those little things for seven and a half years. Your sedan still needs to be taken care of – it’s just that some of those points of care have changed with automotive advancements. The need for proper maintenance in Plainfield did not go away.

January 1, 2016
Uneven tire wear, the auto pulling to one side or a steering wheel that is off-center are signs for Joliet motorists that their wheels may be out of alignment.  When doing an alignment inspection, the service advisor will check your tires for uneven wear as well as suspension and steering parts for signs of wear or damage. He’ll also compare your current alignment with the auto manufacturer’s settings. Your vehicle owner’s manual will have a recommendation for when to check alignment. Of course, this recommendation is based on normal driving. If you have been in collision, hit a curb/pothole, frequently drive off-road around Joliet, or notice any symptoms of misalignment, have your AACCEL EMISSIONS & LUBE service specialist carry out a critical alignment check.
December 24, 2015
When properly aligned, all of your wheels are pointed in the same direction. Your vehicle will track true and handle the way it is designed. Joliet motorists often associate our wheels being “knocked” out of alignment with an event like a major collision, hitting a pothole, curb or some other object. While these can certainly take your wheels out of alignment, the bumps and bounces of everyday driving take their toll on wheel alignment as well. Your automobile can lose alignment over time with just normal driving. When your wheels are out of alignment, the team of automotive professionals at AACCEL EMISSIONS & LUBE in Joliet can return your wheels to the factory settings. Most owners’ manuals suggest a diagnostic examination every year or two.
December 24, 2015
The timing belt rotates the cam shafts which open and close the valves that allow air, fuel, and exhaust to flow through the engine as it powers your auto. An old timing belt can lose a “tooth” in the belt allowing it to slip. The engine could stop or misfire. Timing belt slip – or a broken timing belt – can be disastrous on some engines. In “interference” engines, open valves can get in the way of the piston when the timing belt breaks or slips. When that happens one or more valves can be bent requiring pricey engine repairs. It is critical for Joliet auto owners to replace their timing belts as recommended in their owner’s manual to avoid unnecessary breakdowns. Ask the team of professionals at AACCEL EMISSIONS & LUBE in Joliet if it’s time for your timing belt to be replaced.
December 18, 2015
Tires are an expensive purchase so knowing when tires should be replaced is important for Joliet motorists. Tires will just wear out with normal use. The depth of the tread on your tire determines how well it will stop, start and steer – especially in wet conditions. 4/32th of an inch of tire tread is considered a safe amount of tread. Uneven tread wear can be a symptom of other problems and simply replacing your tires will not prevent the same uneven wear from happening to the new tires. We can survey your tires for excessive or uneven wear. Unusual wear may lead to further review of steering, suspension or alignment troubles. We can help with required repairs and with getting you the right tires for your needs.
December 4, 2015
Repair or Replace? That’s a question Joliet drivers ask when they have tire damage. Some punctures cannot be repaired because of their size or location. Punctures larger than a quarter of an inch are considered too large to be safely fixed. Punctures in the sidewall or near the shoulders may not be able to be repaired. And sometimes there is internal damage revealed on inspection that indicates the tire should not be repaired. Run flat tires should not be fixed. Repairing high performance tires may make them unsuitable for motorsports. Your honest AACCEL EMISSIONS & LUBE service advisor can review your damaged tire and tell you if it can be safely fixed or if it should be replaced – and then help you get back on the road.
December 3, 2015
In your engine, valves over each combustion chamber open to allow fresh air in, close during the combustion event, and then other valves open to let out the exhaust. All of this happens over and over thousands of times a minute. The timing belt’s essential job is to make sure that all of this happens as it should – at precisely the right time. If the timing is off, your engine won’t run efficiently or maybe not at all – so a good timing belt is important. If it should break, you could have expensive engine damage. Ask your honest AACCEL EMISSIONS & LUBE service advisor when your timing belt is scheduled for replacement.
November 20, 2015
The primary job of the serpentine belt is to provide critical traction to spin the accessories. As the belt wears it loses some of its grip and the accessories may not spin at best speeds. For example, if your alternator doesn’t spin fast enough, the battery will not completely recharge while you’re driving and you could end up stranded with a dead battery. In short, a worn serpentine belt will stress all of the accessories it powers leading to premature wear and possible early replacement. When as little as 5% of belt material is lost, the serpentine belt cannot provide the proper traction for the accessories. Your honest AACCEL EMISSIONS & LUBE service professional can survey your belt for excessive wear and replace your serpentine belt system if it’s excessively worn.
November 18, 2015
The brake rotor, or disc, is attached to your wheel. The brake pads rub on the rotor to slow your vehicle. Rotors can warp, crack or become misaligned. They can also be damaged by worn out brake pads that scratch grooves into the surface. These conditions result in less contact surface for the brake pads, leaving you with reduced braking power. Over time and miles, rotors can also wear down below safe specifications. It is important for Joliet car owners to know that simply replacing brake pads on a wheel with a bad rotor will not solve the problem. Depending on their condition, rotors may be resurfaced or replaced. Brake noise or a pulsation in the brake pedal are signs of potential brake troubles that should be addressed right away. If you have any brake concerns, please have your honest AACCEL EMISSIONS & LUBE tech carry out a thorough review.
November 6, 2015
Your brake pads are the essential parts that rub against the rotor (or disc) to slow and stop your automobile. They eventually wear down. When your pads are worn too much, they won’t stop your vehicle as well. When the friction material is worn away, metal parts of the pad are exposed and you’ll hear a squeal or grinding sound. That’s when Joliet auto owners should replace their brake pads. Not only will new pads restore your stopping power, but replacing them on time will prevent damage to the rotor. If your brakes are making noise, ask your AACCEL EMISSIONS & LUBE service specialist to review your brakes. Addressing issues early will restore your safety and prevent pricey brake damage.
November 5, 2015
One thing all Joliet car owners can do to extend the life of their battery is to keep it clean. A greasy, dirty battery holds in damaging heat. Same goes for removing corrosion from the terminals. AACCEL EMISSIONS & LUBE can help maintain your battery. Allowing your battery to be deeply depleted – like from using your headlights when the engine is off – is very harmful to your battery. Most automotive batteries can only take that about 10 times before they are ruined. Also, making sure you have a full charge every month or so extends battery life. Either an extended drive at freeway speeds or using a battery charger will preserve your battery’s ability to hold a full charge.
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