How to Clean a Car Engine

It is crucial to give cars and trucks proper maintenance and care, year after year. This promotes longevity and sustains performance values in vehicles. One of the most important components on any car or truck is the engine. The engine is the heart and soul of your car. It provides all the power that makes your car drive. Engines are expensive to repair and replace because they are so valuable. This is why regular engine cleaning and detailing is a must when it comes to routine car maintenance. Cleaning and detailing your car engine can greatly reduce the likelihood of breakdowns and engine failures. Continue reading to learn some basic tips and effective approaches to cleaning and detailing a car or truck engine.

Car Engine Cleaning

First, scout an area outside where you can safely wash and clean your vehicle. This means avoiding sewers and storm drains, lawns, gravel driveways, and other hazardous places. Soapy run-off can be detrimental to water sources, lawns and gardens, and more. When you clean a car engine, there is almost always leftover engine sludge and other wastes that need to be disposed of responsibly. Steering clear of sewers, drains, lawns, creeks, and other areas is the first step to avoiding a potential accident. Finding a responsible disposal spot ahead of time is a huge advantage and is highly recommended.

Once an area is located that can be used to safely clean a car and engine, you can get started. Turn on the car engine to heat up the soiled areas. The more soiled the engine, the longer it should remain running. Do not let the engine run past 10 or 15 minutes or you will need to let it cool down before touching it. Allowing the engine to run softens and loosens accumulated dirt, grease, and debris attached to the engine parts. Once these materials come loose, it is much easier to clean.

Before you reach for the bucket of soap and water, be sure to use a plastic tarp or plastic bags to cover the electrical components and other areas that shouldn’t get wet under the hood. This will protect any areas that should remain dry during the cleaning process.

Now that you are ready to start scrubbing, grab a thick bristled brush, like an old paint brush, and use this in combination with a hot water and soap solution. Begin scraping away dirt, debris, and other fragments soiling the surfaces. Using dish detergent as soap is a great way to increase grease-fighting potential. Continue using as much elbow power as you can to scrub the engine inside and out.

Next, use a garden hose to gently rinse away the soap suds and loosened dirt. Let the engine dry completely before starting it up. Driving with a wet engine can cause serious automotive damages that can cost a pretty penny.

For more information about car engine cleaning and detailing, call North East Auto in Indianapolis, Indiana. You can reach a licensed automotive technician at 317-475-1846 any time. We are happy to answer any questions you have about engine repair, engine maintenance, replacement, and more. We offer auto repair coupons, discounts, free estimates, and DIY advice too! Visit our website at https://www.autorepairindy.com/engine-repair-indianapolis.php to learn more about major engine repair. Trust our mechanics to provide the quality engine repair and maintenance you are looking for in Indianapolis, IN.

How to Improve Gas Mileage

The gas prices are skyrocketing and our patience for spending our hard earned cash on fuel is running thin. Unfortunately there is nothing we can do as car owners to lower the price of gasoline these days; however there is something we can do to increase the mileage we get from every tank of gas. Continue reading to learn how to improve gas mileage and start saving money today!

Stay on Track with Regular Scheduled Maintenance and Service

With a busy life, it can be hard to remember when to service and maintenance your vehicles on schedule. Also, with so many fixed costs people face these days, it can be out of someone’s budget to get their car serviced routinely. Although there are obstacles that can easily sidetrack us when it comes to vehicle care, it is important to try harder and make sacrifices for the betterment of your car and your safety. By getting regular oil changes, engine cleanings, inspections, tire rotations, and more, you can greatly increase your gas mileage almost immediately!

Drive Efficiently

Another effective way to increase your gas mileage, and save the fuel you buy, is to drive more efficiently. This means no revving of the car engine to impress pedestrians and other drivers on the road, no abrupt starting and stopping of the vehicle, no erratic driving patterns, and reduce the amount of speeding. All these combined will increase your gas mileage by burning less fuel per mile.

For details about how to reduce the amount of fuel you use up per week, call Northeast Auto Repair in Indianapolis, IN or visit our webpage at https://www.autorepairindy.com/factory-schduled-maintenance-indianapolis.php anytime. Talk to one of our highly trained and experienced auto mechanics about gas mileage in your vehicle. They are happy to answer any questions you have about anything; from when to replace your car brakes, to regular scheduled maintenance. Call 317-475-1846 for a free estimate or information about factory scheduled car maintenance and more in Indianapolis, IN.

Car Radiator Repair and Maintenance

Car radiators are an important component to anything fueled by an engine. Before you can learn about the areas of car radiator repair and maintenance, you must first understand what a car radiator is. A car radiator is a unit on a car that is made of metal. They can be made from a variety of metals, but most are manufactured in aluminum because it is lighter in weight and dissipates heat more evenly.

A radiator uses thermal heat exchange to remove heat from a running engine, and transfer it outside the vehicle. This process requires a liquid as well, called antifreeze. The antifreeze, or coolant, is passed through the engine to cool it off, and then transferred back to the radiator to be instantly cooled again. This entire process alleviates the situation of an over-heated car by constantly repeating itself as the car engine runs.

As you can already tell, there can be some complications if this process is interrupted or not implemented. Read on to learn important points on car radiator repair and maintenance in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Car Radiator Problems

Like all mechanical things, car radiators can have issues in many forms. For example, if the fan belt breaks, the coolant cannot be pumped through the engine block to cool it off. Also, it the coolant tubing is busted, it can create harmful leaks within the engine and car. Other problems can have a DIY solution, such as being out of coolant and replacing the antifreeze.

In most cases, if any leaks or damages occur to your radiator system, it is advised to get them repaired right away. Otherwise, it can cause a significant amount of damage to the engine and other areas of the vehicle. Never run an engine without coolant in the vehicle! If the part cannot be repaired, you will need to buy a new radiator or part. Be sure to order through a trusted parts distributor.

For more information about car radiators, call Northeast Auto Service in Indianapolis, IN. We are professional ASE certified mechanics with decades of experience in the automotive repair and service industry. Call us today at 317-475-1846 for a free estimate, or visit our Car Radiator webpage at https://www.autorepairindy.com/radiator-exhaust-repair-indianapolis.php anytime, day or night!

What is a Tune-Up and Does My Car Need One?

Everyone has had their vehicle inspected at one point or another; but regular scheduled maintenance is just as important as gasoline for your car. One inspection is just not enough. Cars are valuable assets that need consistent care and attention. Oil changes, brake replacements, and fuel are just a few things that are mandatory in order to have a fully functioning vehicle. Along with all this regular maintenance, tune ups are a common service that is similar to getting an inspection. Continue reading to learn what a tune-up is and if your car needs one or not.

Auto Tune-Ups

A tune-up is like a makeover and grooming session for your car. The basic goal of a tune up is to inspect the inner parts of the car, diagnose any issues, and find and fix areas that need repair. There are many steps in the tuning process, and depending on what make or model, can differ slightly. In general, a tune up includes things like replacing spark plugs, adjusting the timing and idle settings, engine inspection, filter replacements, carbon deposit removal, fuel injector services, and more. Tune ups are very important and help increase the life of your vehicle.

When Does My Car Need a Tune Up?

Every vehicle is different when it comes to scheduled auto maintenance. Expert mechanics suggest having your vehicle tuned every 50k to 80k miles. If you are unsure on when to have your car serviced, refer to the owners’ manual. It will have instructions and charts on what services your car will need, and when.

Northeast Auto Service

Northeast Auto Service 317-475-1846

If you are interested in more information about auto tune ups and routine maintenance, call North East Auto in Indianapolis, IN today. We are licensed professionals with over 20 years of experience. Visit our website at https://www.autorepairindy.com/factory-schduled-maintenance-indianapolis.php, or call us at 317-475-1846 anytime.

When to Get an Oil Change

Regular scheduled maintenance is a must for any car owner. This includes brake inspections, filter replacements, tire rotations, and more. They are all part of the cycle to keeping your car in mint condition. Above all, one of the most important, and frequently neglected, requirements is oil changes. Oil changes are crucial to maintaining a well-functioning vehicle. Read on to learn how often you should be changing your oil in your ride of choice!

Oil Change Cycles Vary

There are many factors that contribute to the frequency of oil changes. It really differs from person to person, and even from vehicle to vehicle. Many people generally suggest changing your oil every 3,000 miles, or every three months; while others recommend changing oil between 5,000 and 10,000 miles. These are general estimations and can vary greatly depending on the lifestyle and driving style you live by.

As far as vehicles go, the type of fuel designed for your car can influence the amount of recommended miles driven between oil changes. If your car runs off of gas, then most likely your car’s manufacturer has already suggested a mileage for oil changes. You would just need to refer to the car’s manual. If your car didn’t come with a manual, you can look up the make and model online, and refer to the oil change requirements there. For trucks that burn diesel fuel, the same instructions would apply.

Driving Record

If you are a person that drives your personal vehicle around for work, then you may need to get oil changes on the more frequent spectrum, rather than a six month marker. If you drive fast and abruptly, you will need to get an oil change around 3,000 miles rather than 6,000.

Regardless of what type of vehicle you drive, or the type of driver you are, you should never go more than six months before replacing the oil in your car. Neglecting to change the oil in your car will cause expensive and inconvenient repairs and breakdowns, as well as, reduced performance value.

For more information about oil changes and changing your oil in Indianapolis, IN, call North East Auto today! We are ASE certified mechanics with over three decades of experience in the auto repair and service industry. We are the experts to rely on for auto repair, maintenance, oil changes, free estimates, DIY advice, and more! Call us at 317-475-1846 and speak with a professional auto repair technician about factory scheduled maintenance in Indianapolis, IN.