Archive for March 2024No Fountain of Youth (Aging Tires)Posted March 31, 2024 7:57 AMCan you think of anyone who enjoys aging? Wrinkles where you don't want them, gray hair, eyes that won't focus any more, no stamina. Believe it or not, your tires age, too, and they don't get better the older they get. And here's the important thing to know, even if they can still pass a tread depth test, they may simply be too old to be safe Here's the best way to understand this. Have you ever found an old deck of playing cards with a rubber band wrapped around them? Try stretching the rubber band. SNAP! It's all cracked and brittle. And you haven't stressed that rubber one bit since the time you put them in that drawer. Now you know what's happening to your tires. Rubber ages. Just like us, the day we come into the world, we start to go downhill (no pun intended). Oh, engineers are able to make a tire last longer than ever before. But that gas that keeps us alive—oxygen—seems to love to chemically mix with some components in rubber. Oxidation causes rubber to become hard and brittle. The rubber band test. Is there an age test that can tell you when a tire is tool old to roll? Well, not really. They don't all age the same. Hot climates can make tires wear out more quickly. Some experts say a tire can last up to 10 years but should be inspected every year after the age of five. Others say tires should have an expiration date at six years old. Since no one would ever ask a tire its age, how do you know how old one is? Believe it or not, tires made after the year 2000 have a date code stamped on either the inside or the outside of the sidewall. It's a four-digit numbers; the first two tell you the week, the second two tell you the year. So if it has the number 1916, it was made in the 21st week of 2016. Another way to find out if your tires still have enough life in them is to have your vehicle service facility inspect them. They look for signs of age, such as developing cracks in the rubber, the condition of the sidewalls and, of course, that old standby: tread. If it's time to "retire" them, discuss options with your service advisor.
Why You Have an O2 Sensor (Oxygen Sensor)Posted March 17, 2024 9:31 AMIf someone asked you what gas made up the largest portion of the atmosphere, what would you guess? Well, it's not oxygen; it only makes up 20.9 percent. But since we're talking about oxygen, you should know that your vehicle uses oxygen sensors to make sure your engine is running the way it should. The oxygen sensors measure how much oxygen is in your exhaust. If there's too much, it means there's a problem with the mixture of fuel and air. The sensor sends signals to computers in your engine and adjusts the mixture so it maximizes performance and efficiency. It does this constantly. Many vehicles have multiple oxygen sensors. Some have one close to the engine, another close to the muffler. Two measurements are better than one since they allow readings to be more accurate. You may have a vehicle with a dual exhaust, so you'd have twice as many oxygen sensors. Your oxygen sensors can fail. One thing that can damage them is contamination from bad fuel. The sensors can simply wear out, though they usually last a long time. It's not unusual for an oxygen sensor to last 100,000 miles/160,000 km. One more thing that can cause an oxygen sensor to fail is residue from an engine that's burning oil. Plus contaminants from the road like salt can also cause problems. Here are some signs that your oxygen sensors might be failing.
Head to your service facility and tell your advisor what symptoms your vehicle is experiencing. They have the equipment and training to track down the issue. Note that simply replacing the oxygen sensor is often not enough since it doesn't get to the root of the problem; other repairs may be needed. So make sure your oxygen sensors are working the way they should be. Oh, and back to the question of what gas makes up most of the Earth's air? It's nitrogen, which comprises 78 percent of the air we—and our engines—breathe. Franklin Auto Service | ||
SearchArchiveApril 2019 (17)May 2019 (4) June 2019 (5) July 2019 (4) August 2019 (4) September 2019 (5) October 2019 (4) November 2019 (4) December 2019 (5) January 2020 (5) February 2020 (4) March 2020 (5) April 2020 (4) May 2020 (5) June 2020 (4) July 2020 (4) August 2020 (5) September 2020 (4) October 2020 (4) November 2020 (5) December 2020 (4) January 2021 (6) February 2021 (4) March 2021 (4) April 2021 (4) May 2021 (5) June 2021 (4) July 2021 (4) August 2021 (5) September 2021 (4) October 2021 (5) November 2021 (4) December 2021 (4) January 2022 (6) February 2022 (4) March 2022 (4) April 2022 (4) May 2022 (5) June 2022 (4) July 2022 (5) August 2022 (4) September 2022 (4) October 2022 (5) November 2022 (4) December 2022 (4) January 2023 (5) February 2023 (4) March 2023 (4) April 2023 (5) May 2023 (4) June 2023 (4) July 2023 (5) August 2023 (4) September 2023 (4) October 2023 (5) November 2023 (4) December 2023 (5) January 2024 (5) February 2024 (4) March 2024 (5) April 2024 (4) May 2024 (4) June 2024 (5) July 2024 (4) August 2024 (4) September 2024 (5) October 2024 (1) | CategoriesMaintenance (6)Keys to a long lasting vehicle (1)Fluids (2)What Customers Should Know (37)Alternator (4)Headlamps (3)Wheel Bearings (1)Transmission (4)Auto Safety (3)Brakes (8)Service Standards (1)Check Engine Light (1)Fuel System (3)Fuel Economy (4)Drive Train (1)Cooling System (2)Tires (7)Battery (5)Alignment (3)Safe Driving (1)Oil Change (4)Steering (5)Water Pump (2)Older Vehicles (1)Air Conditioning (1)Fuel Saving Tip: Slow Down (1)Timing Belt (2)Exhaust (1)Inspection (1)Tire Rotation and Balancing (1)Winter Prep (3)Dashboard (1)Automotive News (1)Brake Service (1)TPMS (1)Transfer Case Service (1)Differential Service (1)PCV Valve (1) |
What our clients are saying about us
We have established longterm and stable partnerships with various clients thanks to our excellence in solving their automotive needs!
My vehicle broke down right in the middle of Maple and Telegraph. Called tow truck company and as I waited I googled auto repair shops near by. Franklin Autos had the highest reviews and was close by. The reviews were well deserved! Fixed my car at a very fair price and while I was scrambling with Uber to get back home the owner was intuitive and generous enough to say "you want a loaner"! In this day and age WoW-good work, fair price and empathy has my business for as long as I am in MI.
The most honest people I have ever dealt with! !