Most cars have a plastic coolant recovery tank (top of photo) connected to the radiator by a hose, so there’s no need to open the radiator cap itself (orange label at bottom). The coolant level should be at the tank’s MAX or HOT line when the engine is hot, and lower when it’s cold.

At  La Puente Auto Service, we try to give you all the helpful tips you need in maintaining your vehicle. Keeping up the maintenance on your vehicle is extremely important.

Coolant or Anti-Freeze is the fluid that absorbs heat from the engine and then dissipates it through the radiator. It is also released through the Heating System in the passenger compartment when you turn on your Heater in the winter.

Coolant or Anti-Freeze, is a mixture of ethylene or propylene glycol and water, usually in a 50/50 ratio. Servicing the coolant involves draining and/or flushing your car’s cooling system and then replacing the old coolant with fresh coolant.

When recommended, should I do the service right away?

Yes. Draining out the coolant and refilling the system removes dirt and rust particles that can clog up the cooling system and cause problems in winter and summer.

Why do I have to do this?

Because it is operating in a hot, hostile environment, coolant will break down over time. Most importantly, the coolant’s rust inhibitors get used up, leaving the small cooling passages in your engine and radiator vulnerable to corrosion. Even with these rust inhibitors, some corrosion will inevitably take place, contaminating the coolant with debris.

What happens if I don’t do this?

If the rust inhibitors stop working, the cooling system will rust from the inside out. The biggest source of rust in a car’s cooling system is the engine block.

In time, these bits of rust will also clog the tiny passages within the radiator and heater, causing your engine to overheat. When an engine overheats, the result is a bonus yacht payment to your mechanic that someone else should be making.

Is there any maintenance required between intervals?

Check your coolant level periodically. Your owner’s manual will have a recommended interval in which to check the coolant level.

If you check your coolant level when the engine is cold, the coolant should be at or above the “minimum” or “fill” line on the transparent refill container. If you check your coolant level when the engine is hot, the coolant should be at or just below the “max” line.

Disappearance of coolant could be caused by either an external or internal leak, the latter being more expensive. Either one should be addressed quickly, since running low or out of coolant can lead to catastrophic engine failure and many boat payments to your mechanic.

If you live where the temperature dips below freezing, we suggest that you ask your mechanic to check the concentration of the coolant. Coolant that’s diluted or weak can freeze when the temperature drops below 32 degrees Fahrenheit.

Check your owner’s manual to see if your car uses “long-life” coolant. For the first 100,000 miles, it is necessary to check the coolant level simply to be sure you’re not leaking or burning coolant.

Auto Tip of the Day: If you have pets around, you should be very careful when replacing or replunishing your Antifreeze. It is can fatal to all animals.  Animals like the smell and taste of Anti Freeze & there’s no substance that you can add to antifreeze to make it less appealing to animals, but antifreeze made with propylene glycol instead of the usual ethylene glycol is about a third as toxic. Propylene glycol is sold under the brand names Sierra, Prestone Low Tox and Texaco PG.

At  La Puente Auto Service, we try to give you all the helpful tips you need in maintaining your vehicle. Keeping up the maintenance on your vehicle is extremely important.

Disc Brake & Drum Brake Maintenance

Brake Pads, Linings and Rotors are all a part of your car’s brake system and are housed behind each of the wheels asembly. They Brake Pads push against one another to create friction, which stops the car.

The disc brake caliper, squeezes brake pads against either side of the rotor. The rotor is part of the wheel hub, to which the wheel & rim is attached securely with lug nuts.

There are two kinds of brake systems: Disc Brakes and Drum Brakes.

The first type, Disc brakes, are amongst the most common system in use today, and they’re very similar to the hand brakes on a bicycle. When you step on your car’s brake pedal, the brake pads will be compressed agaianst the spinning disc rotor that’s attached to the wheel. The friction caused by the compression of the disc against the rotor, will slow the car down and bring it to a complete stop.

The second type, Drum Brakes, involve the brake shoes being push out against a spinning brake drum, which is attached, again, behind the wheel assembly. This friction, also will slow the car down and bring it to a complete stop.

Both systems work by creating friction, So your parts that make up the assembly of your Brake System will wear and eventually need replacing. The questions then are, “How worn have they become?” & “Are they worn to the point that they need replacement now?”

That’s what this service is all about — checking these components for wear & possible damage to other parts of the assembly.

Should I get them serviced when it was recommended to me

Absolutely. Maintaining your Brake System is extremely important as it becomes a “Safety Hazard” to continue to operate your vehicle with worn pads, shoes or Damaged brake assembly parts.

Why do I have to do this?

In short, you do this service so you don’t create potential Danger to yourself or others and To your vehicle or other peoples vehicle.

What happens if I don’t do this?

If you neglect your brake pads and shoes or any part of the assembly, your brakes will ultimately fail, stop working, discontinue to function properly, which could end up costing you a fortune in more ways then one. Like causing damage to other, more expensive brake parts, such as rotors, drums and calipers. In other words: a stitch in time … saves you from helping your mechanic with a boat payment later on.

Is there any maintenance required between each service I have performed?

If you notice any of the following signs and symptoms when you brake …

• flashing brake warning light
• squealing, chirping or grinding noises
• pulsations in the brake pedal
• shaky steering wheel
• increased stopping distance
• car pulls to one side when you stop

… it might be a good idea to have them looked at very soon because they may need to be serviced. Make an appointment with your mechanic right away.

Auto Tip of the Day: Most cars have disc brakes in the front and back. A few economy vehicles and many light trucks have disc brakes in the front and drum brakes on the rear wheels. When visiting your Mechanic, make sure he lets you know which you have to ensure your being charged properly.

At  La Puente Auto Service, we try to give you all the helpful tips you need in maintaining your vehicle. Keeping up the maintenance on your vehicle is extremely important.

Air Filter Replacement

The Air Filter on any vehicle prevents airborne contaminants from getting inside of your car’s engine. It’s a paper filter that stops debris like as dust, leaves, pebbles and so on before they get inside the engine and do damage.

Should I do this service when recommended?

Yes. It is recccomended that you maintain your cars Air Filters for many reasons.

And the reason for this is?

Because, eventually, as you use your vehicle to travel around on your daily routine, your air filter will get plugged up with dirt which will limit the air flow through the Air Filter.
What could happen if I don’t do the recommended maintenance?

If your air filter gets too dirty or plugged up with dirt and crime, your engine won’t be able to take in enough air into the combustion chambers. The engine will then run “Rich” (i.e., too much gas and not enough air). When this happens, your car will can and in most cases will lose power and run rough. Your Check Engine light may also come on letting you know there is a problem.

If you really neglect the air filter for a long time, your car may stop running altogether. Permanent damage is highly unlikely, but is possible. If an air filter were extremely dirty and damaged, it could allow harmful, abrasive contaminants into the combustion chamber.

Is there any preventive maintenance required between Air Filter changes?

If you operate your car under severe duty, such as frequent driving on dirt roads or a lot of stop-and-go driving around town, then you should halve the recommended service intervals for the inspection and replacement of the air filter.

Auto Tip of the Day: Inspecting and replacing your air filter is an easy task. Almost anyone can do it … It’s not “Rocket Science” and pretty easy to do. By purchasing the filter directly from an Auto Parts Store, you can sometimes save $10 or more, in addition to the labor costs.