Sparks Auto Repair

I’m often asked, WHEN SHOULD I change my oil? occasionally I hear people say something like, “My oil maintenance reminder says I have 30% life remaining, but the sticker says I’m due for an oil change. why is that?” Sometimes that occurs because the oil maintenance reminder in your vehicle operates on a predetermined amount of time set by the VEHICLE manufacturer. This time is calculated by engineers based on normal operating conditions. But here in Northern Nevada we often drive in other than normal conditions, such as weather extremes, extended warm up time, SHORT drive cycles, dust in the air and other factors. with our conditions, manufacturers recommend replacing your oil more frequently than the maintenance reminder indicates. and we all know that regular oil changes are critical in keeping your engine running smoothly and avoiding potential costly repairs. You can always count on locally owned and operated RPM Automotive & Scotty’s Transmission for “fa ... read more

If you own a vehicle, chances are it needs some work, according to the Car Care Council. Now is the ideal time to give your car some extra attention. The results of vehicle inspections reveal that 77 percent of vehicles need service or parts. An annual analysis of vehicle inspection forms found the top three problem areas posting the highest failure rates to be engine oil (22 percent), engine cooling systems (20 percent) and brake service (18 percent). Eight percent of the vehicles inspected had the “check engine” light on and new air filters were needed in 19 percent of the vehicles. At least one belt was reported as unsatisfactory in 14 percent of the vehicles inspected, and 10 percent required at least one new hose. Battery cables, clamps and terminals needed maintenance in 11 percent of the vehicles inspected, while 10 percent of the batteries were not properly held down. When checking lubricants and fluids, the three top failure rates were: low or dirty motor oil at 22 per ... read more