Sterling Auto Repair

An Environmentally Friendly Car (or Green Car) whether new or old, big or small is important. There are preventive maintenance steps every vehicle owner can take to make sure their car is as “green” as possible. You can follow a few simple steps to help protect the environment by improving gas mileage, which in turn saves dollars at the pump. A Properly Tuned Car Insures Optimum Performance. A properly maintained vehicle can improve its efficiency, reduce emissions and save you money. Regular engine performance maintenance will help you burn less gas, pollute less, and prevent car trouble down the line, as well as keep you environmentally friendly. This will include checking the spark plugs, replacing the fuel and air filters, replacing ignition system and/or emission system parts if needed and ensuring the onboard computer control system is working properly. Regularly Check and Replace Dirty Air Filters. An air filter that is clogged with ... read more

There is more to shocks and struts than a smooth ride. It’s true… shocks and struts help to provide a smooth ride as you drive your car. What you may not realize is that they also greatly contribute to your ability to maintain control of your car while on the road. A quick test you can do yourself to determine if your shocks are worn or failing is to push down on each corner of your car. If it takes the car more than a couple of bounces to come back to a resting position, it’s a good sign that the shocks may very well be worn. Another telltale sign is seeing fluid leaking from a shock. Listed below are a few items to keep an eye on daily as your drive your car: You feel excessive bouncing, rolling and rocking while driving over rough roads or railroad tracks requiring you to hang on, or actively adjust your steering. Uneven tire wear can be a warning sign that your tires are not maintaining good contact with the road. Sliding in side winds to the point that you have ... read more

Here at Gill’s Automotive Service Center, we do our best to make sure that you are as informed as possible when it comes to regular vehicle maintenance. This is important, not only for day-to-day maintenance, but so you can better understand what we do when you trust us to keep your car in tip-top shape. In this post, we’ll cover typical maintenance and repair. You can think of these items as some of the most common maintenance procedures and repairs necessary to keep your car operating safely and optimally. Oil Filters and Fluids Periodic oil and filter changes keep your engine clean on the inside. Additives, which break down over time, are also subject to contamination. You want to change your engine oil and filter on a regular basis. Check your owner’s manual for their recommendation. There are other car fluids that will require periodic replacement as well. Automatic transmission failures are heat-related, and automatic transmission fluid breaks d ... read more