Auto Mobile Repair Frequently Asked Questions

To reduce these consequences, consider the following suggestions:
 
Make sure you have the proper air.
Pressure in the tires.
Avoid abrupt acceleration
Don’t carry unnecessary weight.
Remove racks or luggage racks, When you don’t need them.
Do not heat the car while it is parked.
Shift gears using 2/3 of full engine speed (manual gearbox)
Constantly monitor fuel
Consumption and performance.
The best thing you can do for your car and your safety follows the manufacturer’s recommendations

The oil most used today is semi-synthetic, synthetic, and mineral. Most modern vehicles use semi-synthetic or synthetic.

Motor oil is the lifeblood of your car’s engine. It is used to lubricate all internal moving parts and help cool the engine. Changing the oil is essential for keeping your engine in good health. Some cars have a service interval counter built into the Vehicle’s dashboard, while others do not. 
 
Depending on your car and the type of oil you use, it is typically recommended to change your oil and oil filter every 10,000 miles. If it’s time for an oil and filter change, our mobile mechanics can come to your home or workplace to service your car.

A chemical process produces synthetic oil; it has high quality and efficiency without extra additives. They have excellent engine performance and extend the change interval (7,500kms-10,000kms depending on the type of use).
 
Semi-synthetic oil is a mixture between mineral and synthetic oil. It provides similar characteristics to synthetic oil, but it depends on the type of oil and the use of the Vehicle.
 
Mineral oil is extracted from petroleum. It has a lower cost, and its quality is not always optimal. Sometimes it requires extra additives to improve its performance.

The original spare parts have excellent quality and guarantee, being their costs higher. Quality alternative parts have the same performance as an original or sometimes better, and their costs are much lower. 
 
The answer will depend on the type of part being replaced. For example, in the case of electrical sensors, it is generally recommended using an original spare part.

This will depend on the manufacturer’s recommendation and the type of motor oil. Mineral oil should be changed every 5,000 km and synthetic oil every 7,000 or 10,000 km.
 
Remember that it is recommended to make shorter periodic checks to identify other vehicle problems in extreme conditions or terrain.

Tires have a useful life of approximately 4-5 years from the date of manufacture. We find it in the DOT code space, expressed in 4 digits; the first 2 express the week and the last two the year. 
 
The consequences of using expired tires translate into cracking of the tire surface, loss of surface, repeated punctures, and even spontaneous tire explosions while driving.
 
On the other hand, your tires’ valuable life and mileage are conditioned by a combination of factors such as their design, your driving habits, the weather, the conditions of the roads you frequent, and the care you give them. Preventive care will help you maintain your average lifespan.

We recommend checking the tire pressure every month or month and a half. Make it part of your monthly maintenance because, on average, tires lose about a pound of pressure per square inch (PSI) each month; this causes them to go flat, increase fuel consumption and make you more prone to accidents. 
 
If you drive on bumpy and debris roads or drive long distances regularly, then you should inspect your tires more often than previously recommended. Also, inspect the tires before any long trip.
 
The more often these inspections are performed, the easier it will be to find any minor issues, such as nails or low pressure, so they can be fixed before they become more costly and safety-threatening.

There are several things your mechanic or auto center might check during your regular maintenance visits, such as alignment, rotation, and balance. 

You can hear sounds or feel irregularities affecting the tires when you drive. Pay attention to the following cases:
 
Unusual vibration or noise while driving: May indicate an unbalanced tire or other problems. In that case, take your vehicle immediately to the mechanic.
A pull to one side: If you are driving at a constant speed and you feel a pull to one side, this may indicate that a tire on the side you are pulling from is out of air or damaged.
Don’t see these tire issues on that side; it could be a misalignment or brake problem.
Tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) on. In modern vehicles, a system alerts when one or more tires are below the proper pressure. This is evidenced on the Vehicle’s dashboard with a yellow warning light like the one in the image. If the pressure is in order and stays on, it is an indicator of a fault in the pressure monitoring system, and the Vehicle must be taken to the workshop to correct the said fault.

Follow the steps below to get your tires to the correct pressure:
 
1. Remove the tire valve cap. 
2. Place the gauge over the tire valve and press down
firmly so that you can’t hear the air escaping. The gauge will tell you how much pressure is in the tire. For this, you can purchase a PSI pressure gauge or stop by any of our stations where you can check the current pressure of your tires in our air dispensers. 
3. Adjust tire air pressure as needed. When adding air, firmly
push the air hose into the valve until the air stops escaping. It checks the pressure every couple of seconds to help determine how much air is going into the tire until the recommended air pressure is reached. If the tire pressure is higher than it should be, use the nozzle on the tire gauge to press down on the center of the tire valve stem to release air.
4. Replace the valve cover.
5. Repeat the process with the other tires. Don’t also forget to check the air pressure of the spare tire.

If one of your tires blows out on the road while traveling at high speeds, here are some essential steps to take:

Keep a firm grip on the steering.
Wheel and don’t slam on the brakes.
Let your car gradually slow down by taking your foot off the accelerator.
Let your vehicle roll onto the sides of the road or into an exit. Don’t stop in the middle of traffic.
Brake lightly once off the road until it comes to a stop.
Turn on your emergency flashers.

Modern lubricants are validated in tests that certify low fuel consumption or have specific properties that achieve it. Likewise, many manufacturers’ specifications are especially incisive in fuel economy. This is why this property is usually the main commercial claim.

A lubricant is synthetic or mineral depending on how its main component has been obtained: the base oil. If the base oil comes from conventional petroleum refining, it is mineral. On the other hand, if it is obtained through more complex processes (chemical synthesis or others), it is considered synthetic.
 
You should know that a lubricant is not better or worse because it is mineral or synthetic. The quality of the compounds is determined by laboratory and engine tests that the lubricant must pass during its design.

Although many lubricants can be used interchangeably in gasoline and diesel vehicles, there are lubricants explicitly designed for gasoline engines and lubricants explicitly designed for diesel engines.

It is not recommended, but if, for some reason, you have to mix different oils (for example, to fill up the tank), you must follow some recommendations: Use oil of the same quality level as the one currently in the Vehicle and, if possible, from the same manufacturer. Also, it is convenient that you replace the oil filter with a new one at the following oil change.

They are lubricants designed explicitly for diesel vehicles that incorporate particulate filters, such as the exhaust gas treatment system. In addition, they must have a suitable composition to make them compatible with this type of device.

In general, it is a substance that reduces friction between two moving surfaces, although its functions are very diverse:  

Reduce friction between two metal surfaces.
Protect mechanical elements from wear and corrosion.
Clean and cool motors.
Act as a sealant between the segments/pistons and the liners to prevent gas leaks produced in the combustion chamber.

The SAE organization has established an internationally accepted standard based on the differentiation of viscosity at different temperatures. This classification defines a series of grades for motor oils and has two sub-classifications: 

One that is designated with a “W” and refers to the low-temperature properties of the oil.

Another without “W,” which refers to properties at high temperatures. 
 
Thus, oils are designated with a numerical grade followed by the letter W (for example, SAE 10W) ​​or simply with a number (SAE 40). These are known as “monograde” oils. 
 
In contrast, those designated by both grade types (for example, SAE 10W-40) are known as “multigrades” because they can bring together viscometric properties, both at low and high temperatures.

The oil must withstand a lot of pressure. It must withstand the high pressures of the engine and cool the parts with which it is in contact. Being so important, how to choose the best lubricant? 

Viscosity is the resistance of a liquid to flow, and, in the case of lubricants, it is an essential characteristic to consider when choosing it. 
 
The vehicle manufacturer establishes the most suitable viscosity for its models, which is included in their manual. Several viscosities usually are recommended, as it may be necessary to adapt the viscosity depending on the conditions of use of the Vehicle and the climatic conditions. 
 
Viscosity is not an indicator of the quality or suitability of the oil. It is only one of the properties when choosing a lubricant, but its quality is what differentiates the performance of one or the other. These quality levels are usually indicated on the label. 
 
It is not advisable to mix lubricants with different viscosity levels. Only in the event of an urgent need, such as refilling when the oil level is low, could it be refilled with an oil of the same quality level as the one we are using in the Vehicle and, if possible, from the same manufacturer.

Although many lubricants can be used in gasoline and diesel vehicles, lubricants are designed for gasoline and diesel vehicles.