Monthly Archives: April 2024

Why is Checking my Engine Oil Level Important?

Why is Checking my Engine Oil Level Important?

It would seem that checking the oil level in your car’s engine should be auto maintenance 101. However, on a weekly basis we find vehicles that have no oil on the engine oil dipstick. This is a sign that the oil level is being neglected. To put it bluntly, a lack of oil will cause engine damage or complete engine destruction. We recently had a 2015 vehicle that was towed in to our shop for a no-start condition. We discovered that the timing chain had failed, causing the engine to not start. When the engine oil was drained out, there were 2 quarts of oil in the engine. It holds 5 quarts when full. We also found that there was piston/valve contact resulting in an engine that was destroyed. All of this could have been prevented had the oil level been checked routinely. It is our recommendation that the engine oil level be checked monthly. A comment that we hear frequently when talking with a client about oil consumption is, “But I should be OK, my oil light was not on yet&rd ... read more

Why is Spark Plug Replacement Important?

Why is Spark Plug Replacement Important?

If you’re a client at Good’s Auto Service and your vehicle has over 80,000 miles, you’ve probably heard us talk about spark plug replacement. But what exactly are spark plugs, and why are they important? To understand the importance of spark plug replacement, you first need to know what a spark plug actually does. Let’s discuss. Spark plugs are a vital component in the starting and running of your engine. They are typically located on the top of the cylinder head, and create the spark needed to ignite the air/fuel mixture in each cylinder. When this “explosion” happens, it pushes down on the pistons, giving your engine the power it needs to run. This is a continuous process while you drive down the road. In fact, at highway speeds, one single spark plug creates around 600 sparks per minute! Because of this continuous combustion, your spark plugs are subjected to a great amount of heat and pressure. Which leads us to why we recommend replacing your s ... read more