Essential Summer Vehicle Maintenance Tips From Trusted Saskatoon Auto Repair & Service Shop Epic Auto and Driveline

21. Jun 2023 Admin Saskatoon Auto Repair & Service, Trusted Tips

Epic Auto and Driveline is a one-stop Saskatoon automotive and tire shop for domestic and import cars, light trucks, and SUVs. You can be confident knowing that they always take pride in their work and take good care of their customers. Epic Automotive and Driveline is a Trusted Saskatoon Auto Repair and Service Shop. In this tip, they share the importance of maintaining your vehicle's driveline.

Essential Summer Vehicle Maintenance Tips

As the summer season approaches, it's crucial to ensure that your vehicle is in optimal condition to handle the warm weather and long road trips. Regular maintenance can help prevent breakdowns, improve fuel efficiency, and increase overall safety. In this blog post, we'll outline some essential summer vehicle maintenance tips to keep your car running smoothly throughout the season.

Check the Cooling System:

The cooling system plays a vital role in preventing your engine from overheating during the hot summer months. Inspect the coolant level and ensure it's at the recommended level. Consider flushing and refilling the coolant if it hasn't been done recently. Additionally, inspect the radiator and hoses for any leaks or damage.

Test the Air Conditioning System:

Driving in scorching heat without a functional air conditioning system can be uncomfortable and potentially dangerous. Before the summer heat hits, have your air conditioning system inspected by a professional. They can check for refrigerant leaks, clean the system, and ensure it's functioning correctly.

Inspect the Tires:

Proper tire maintenance is crucial for safety and fuel efficiency. Check the tire pressure regularly, including the spare tire. Underinflated tires can overheat and wear out more quickly, while overinflated tires can lead to poor traction. Additionally, inspect the tread depth and look for signs of uneven wear or damage. Consider rotating the tires if necessary.

Replace Worn Wiper Blades:

Summer showers can be sudden and intense, so having functioning wiper blades is essential for visibility. Inspect your wiper blades for any signs of wear, such as cracks or streaks. If they are worn out, replace them with new ones to ensure clear visibility during summer rainstorms.

Check and Top Up Fluid Levels:

Fluids play a critical role in the proper functioning of your vehicle. Check the oil level and change it if needed, following the manufacturer's recommendations. Additionally, inspect the transmission fluid, brake fluid, and power steering fluid levels. Topping up or replacing fluids as necessary will keep your vehicle running smoothly.

Test the Battery:

Hot weather can put a strain on your vehicle's battery. Check the battery terminals for corrosion, and clean them if necessary. Test the battery's charge using a voltmeter or have a professional check it for you. If your battery is more than a few years old or shows signs of weakness, consider replacing it to avoid unexpected breakdowns.

Clean and Protect the Exterior:

Summer often means increased exposure to sunlight, dust, and road debris. Regularly wash your vehicle to remove dirt and grime, paying attention to the undercarriage. Apply a protective wax or sealant to the paintwork to prevent sun damage and maintain its shine.

Summer vehicle maintenance is essential for ensuring a smooth and enjoyable driving experience during the warmer months. By following these tips, you can minimize the risk of breakdowns, improve fuel efficiency, and enhance overall safety. Remember to consult your vehicle's owner manual for specific maintenance recommendations, and consider seeking professional assistance for complex tasks. With proper care, your car will be ready to hit the road and make the most of the summer season.

Epic also offers financing. If you need vehicle parts or car service but don't have the immediate funds to pay for it, take advantage of a monthly payment plan using the value of your vehicle through their financing partner.

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Epic Automotive and Driveline is a Trusted Saskatoon Auto Repair and Service Shop

The Importance of Maintaining Your Vehicle's Driveline From Trusted Saskatoon Auto Repair and Service Shop Epic Auto and Driveline

21. Jun 2023 Admin Saskatoon Auto Repair & Service, Trusted Tips

Epic Auto and Driveline is a one-stop Saskatoon automotive and tire shop for domestic and import cars, light trucks, and SUVs. You can be confident knowing that they always take pride in their work and take good care of their customers. Epic Automotive and Driveline is a Trusted Saskatoon Auto Repair and Service Shop. In this tip, they share the importance of maintaining your vehicle's driveline.

The Importance of Maintaining Your Vehicle's Driveline

The term "driveline" refers to the components in a vehicle that transfer power from the engine to the wheels, enabling the vehicle to move. It includes various parts that work together to transmit power and torque. The driveline components can vary depending on the type of vehicle, but here are some common elements:

Engine: The engine is the power source of the vehicle, typically fueled by gasoline, diesel, or alternative fuels. It generates rotational power that needs to be transmitted to the wheels.
Transmission: The transmission is responsible for transmitting power from the engine to the wheels at different gear ratios. It allows the driver to select the appropriate gear for the vehicle's speed and load conditions. Common types of transmissions include manual, automatic, and continuously variable transmissions (CVT).
Driveshaft: The driveshaft, also known as the propeller shaft, is a rotating shaft that transfers torque from the transmission to the differential or directly to the wheels in some cases. It is commonly found in rear-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive vehicles.
Differential: The differential is a gearbox located between the driveshaft and the wheels. It allows the wheels to rotate at different speeds while receiving torque from the driveshaft. This is important when the vehicle is turning, as the wheels on the outside of the turn need to travel a greater distance than those on the inside.
Axles: Axles are shafts that connect the differential to the wheels. They transmit power from the differential to the wheels while also supporting the weight of the vehicle. In rear-wheel-drive vehicles, there are separate axles for each rear wheel. In front-wheel-drive vehicles, the front axles also serve as the driveshafts.
Transfer Case (in 4WD and AWD vehicles): In four-wheel-drive (4WD) and all-wheel-drive (AWD) vehicles, a transfer case is used to distribute power between the front and rear wheels. It allows the driver to engage or disengage the 4WD or AWD mode, providing increased traction in off-road or slippery conditions.

These are some of the key driveline components in a vehicle. Each component plays a crucial role in transferring power from the engine to the wheels, allowing the vehicle to move efficiently and smoothly. The design and configuration of the driveline can vary depending on factors such as the type of vehicle, its drivetrain layout (front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, all-wheel drive), and intended use (off-road, sports car, etc.).

Epic also offers financing. If you need vehicle parts or car service but don't have the immediate funds to pay for it, take advantage of a monthly payment plan using the value of your vehicle through their financing partner.

Relationships - Affordability - Transparency

Epic Automotive and Driveline is a Trusted Saskatoon Auto Repair and Service Shop

Trusted Saskatoon Auto Body Experts at Preferred Collision Explain How to Avoid Collisions

31. May 2022 Admin Saskatoon Auto Body, Trusted Tips

What can you expect when you deal with the professionals at Preferred Collision and Glass Saskatoon? You can also expect seamless quality repairs! A faster turnaround for your vehicle (on average 25% faster!!) and assistance dealing with insurance! You'll find quality at every price point - from a few hundred dollars to a thousand or more. Preferred Collision and Glass is a Trusted Saskatoon Auto Body Expert.

5 COMMON CAUSES OF AUTO COLLISIONS AND HOW TO AVOID THEM

Auto Collisions are quite often referred to as accidents. However, the reality is that auto collisions happen for a reason and can usually be avoided. Here are 5 common causes of auto collisions and how to avoid them.

1. DISTRACTED DRIVING

Distracted driving is the leading cause of auto collisions. Driving is an important task, and it is imperative that the driver is fully aware of all surroundings and remains alert at all times. With the number of distractions for drivers such as texting, checking themselves out in the mirror, eating, changing the music, or even talking on the phone, it is no wonder distracted driving is the most common cause of collisions.

To reduce the chance of a collision, distracted driving should be avoided. Distracted driving can be avoided by only using your cellphone in emergency situations using the Bluetooth feature, and not eating, texting, or attempting to multitask when you are behind the wheel. The driver must prioritize driving free from distractions to avoid collisions.

2. EXCEEDING THE SPEED LIMIT

Speed limits exist and are enforced for a reason. When the speed limit is exceeded, the driver has less time to react to potential hazards. Even if you are running late, slow down. Speeding is not worth the risk to yourself, passengers, and other drivers. Following the posted speed limit will help to avoid collisions by giving the driver time to react to unforeseen circumstances.

3. IMPAIRED DRIVING

Impaired driving is an inexcusable behaviour that causes auto collisions and destroys lives. It is every driver’s responsibility to ensure that they are fit to operate a motor vehicle before getting behind the wheel. To avoid a collision, do not get behind the wheel if you are impaired, and always plan a safe ride home. With ride-sharing apps such as Uber, a safe ride home is more accessible than ever. There is no excuse for driving impaired, and we must ensure the safety of our community.

4. INCLEMENT WEATHER

Though inclement weather is a cause of auto collisions that is out of the driver’s control, it is important to exercise caution when driving conditions are unfavourable. Snow, ice, heavy rain, and fog are just some of the inclement weather conditions that are not ideal for driving.

If you do find yourself caught driving in a storm, avoid a collision by slowing down and staying focused on the road. When driving in a storm ensure your windshield is kept clear to optimize visibility, and always pay closer attention to the road than usual.

5. TAILGATING

Following too close behind the vehicle in front of you is known as tailgating, and this driving behaviour can easily cause an auto collision. To avoid a rear-end collision with the vehicle in front of you, always maintain a safe following distance of at least three seconds.

When you’re driving, you should focus only on the road that is in front of you and if you get in any collision or accident, contact Preferred Collision for all your vehicle repair needs.

If you are in a collision, Preferred Collision and Glass will look after all your and your car’s needs, during and after, with our Customer For Life program.

Preferred Collision and Glass is a Trusted Saskatoon Auto Body Expert.

Trusted Saskatoon Auto Body Experts Preferred Collision Explain The Costs of Respraying

25. Nov 2019 Nat Saskatoon Auto Body, Trusted Tips

What can you expect when you deal with the professionals at Preferred Collision and Glass Saskatoon?
You can also expect Seamless quality repairs! A faster turnaround for your vehicle (on average 25% faster!!) & Assistance dealing with insurance! You'll find quality at every price point - from a few hundred dollars to a thousand or more. It's up to you. Preferred Collision and Glass is a Trusted Saskatoon Auto Body Expert.

Preferred Collision Break Down The Costs Of Re-Spraying Your Vehicle

Respraying a vehicle is a time-consuming process, with dozens of hours needed for preparation, painting and follow-up color sanding, making it very difficult for a good-quality paint job to cost less than $10,000. Obviously, there is trade-off, you can have less time spent on the respray, which will mean the process will cost less. However, there will be a noticeable difference in the quality of the finish.

Here we look at the various costs that are involved with any respray

DISASSEMBLY
Before any work can begin, the vehicle needs to be completely disassembled. This can be done by the owner if they wish to save costs. However, we recommend that the shop should do it for continuity and parts-tracking assurance. This process can take 12-20 hours and will cost around $2,500.

STRIPPING
The next step is to media-blast or chemically strip the body, which will reveal the full extent of any rust or previous body repairs. This step is where the cost of the project can increase considerably, but it is essential to ensure that a quality job is done. This step will cost around $1,500-$2000. A body respray can be done without media-blasting to save on cost, however, several hours will still be spent sanding down the existing finish.

BODY REPAIR
Body Repair is often the biggest variable as every vehicle needs a different amount of work, but it's normally inevitable that it will need to be done to some degree on every project. Sometimes, it can be cheaper and more efficient to do a whole panel replacement than repair the existing damage. It is difficult to estimate the cost of body work before the project has started, but it can range from a few hours of work to hundreds of hours, purely depending on the state of the car once it has been stripped.

PANEL ALIGNMENT
Panel alignment tends to be necessary on older vehicles, as the body panels generally need to be adjusted to achieve more even gaps and ensure the body lines have good alignment. This process could add $2,000 or more to the cost, but it isn’t always necessary on every project.

BLOCK SANDING
The smoother and straighter the body is, the better the finished job will look, and this comes down to block sanding. Block sanding is an extremely time-consuming process and it takes hundreds of hours to do a quality job. A reasonable 100 hours of block sanding can add $9,000 to the tally, but this doesn’t include a concours-level finish. It is very important not to skimp at this step as it will massively affect the quality of the paint job.

PAINTING
This part of the project actually involves less hours than others. Depending on how many layers are sprayed on, the painting process tends to involve 8-12 hours’ worth of labor, costing around $800-$1,200. However, two or three gallons of paint will be needed, so this part of the project will normally cost between £3,000-$5,000 in total, but can sometimes be more.

COLOR SANDING
Similar to block sanding, hundreds of hours can be spent on high levels of color sanding. Color sanding is necessary in order to achieve a greater appearance to the finish. A reasonable 40-50 hours of color sanding can add another $3,500-$4,500 to the final cost of the project, but for an even better finish more hours are needed, which will increase the cost.
So, if you are needing a re-spray on your vehicle come visit us at Preferred Collision, and we PROMISE to do a quality job for a fair price.

If you are in a collision, Preferred Collision and Glass will look after all your and your car’s needs, during and after, with our Customer For Life program.

Preferred Collision and Glass is a Trusted Saskatoon Auto Body Expert.

Preferred Collision and Glass Trusted Saskatoon Auto Body experts share a tip on Good Drivers

30. Aug 2014 trusted Saskatoon Auto Body, Saskatoon Auto Repair & Service, Trusted Tips

What can you expect when you deal with the professionals at Preferred Collision and Glass Saskatoon? More than you thought!

First, expect big cost savings!

You can also expect Seamless quality repairs! A faster turnaround for your vehicle (on average 25% faster!!) & Assistance dealing with insurance!

You'll find quality at every price point - from a few hundred dollars to a thousand or more. It's up to you.

Trusted Saskatoon Auto Body experts in collision repair and auto paint!

Preferred Collision and Glass shares a tip on Good Practises for Today's Drivers:

Driving is a daily task for most of us, and staying safe on the road is important. Your car is also likely one of your largest investments, so taking care of it should just be common sense.

However, when you spend so much time in your car, it can be easy to overlook even the most basic safety and maintenance issues. These are great habits to get into so that your car will serve you well for years to come, and yet overlooking these simple tasks are some of the most common mistakes drivers make.

Check Your Oil Frequently

Everybody who drives knows that cars need an oil change from time to time. However, many drivers really neglect this fact. They know what needs to be done, but they don't do it. Why?

While you might read that motor oil needs to be changed every 5,000 miles or so, the truth is that the only way to know how often you should be changing your oil is to follow the intervals recommended in the owner’s manual that came with your vehicle - and use the dipstick to see if the oil's colour has darkened. Every car is different, but that's why the owner's manuals exist.

Not changing your car’s oil frequently enough can harm yours. I f you have a leak, just topping it up will work for a while, but you should really get it fixed if you want your car to work for any length of time. Engine repairs are among the most costly, so changing your oil on time just makes sense for your pocketbook. You can even keep an eye out for coupons to save money on car maintenance.

Replace Your Air Filter

Most people simply don’t think about the air filter in their cars unless they’re very interested in how a car works. In fact, some people don’t even realize that their car needs a filter. It does, and if your air filter is dirty and needs replacing, your car won’t perform at its best.

Over time, running your car with a dirty air filter can cause the engine to overheat, damaging other parts of your car and keeping it from running efficiently. The worst part is that replacing your air filter is an inexpensive repair, usually below $40, so having a dirty one damage your car for expensive repairs doesn't make sense at all.

Don’t Drive With Worn-Down Brake Pads

Brake pads don’t really break, but they can easily become worn down over a period of time, making it more and more difficult to stop your vehicle. Eventually, that quick stop that keeps you from going past that red light or bumping into a car ahead of you just won’t be possible.

While there really is no ideal amount of time you need to wait between changing brake pads, many mechanics and car manufacturers recommend somewhere in the 20,000- to the 25,000-mile range. The best time to have your brake pads checked is when you’re having your tires rotated or replaced since they will be exposed and easily accessible. If the pads need replacing, do it on the spot if you can afford it to avoid any unnecessary risk.

There are also a few warning signs of worn-down breaks to look for between checkups. You should head to a mechanic if you start hearing squealing when braking, or if it starts taking longer than usual to break.

Keep Your Eyes on the Road

Beyond maintenance, you should practice good habits while on the road as well. For a lot of people, the biggest driving distraction is using a smartphone to send text messages or make voice calls. There's also applying make-up, changing the radio or iPod playlist, and eating and drinking food. Regardless of what your distraction is, stop it.

You might think you’re saving time, but doing too much while your eyes should be focused on the road can lead to catastrophe.

If you absolutely have to multitask on the road and make calls, you should consider investing in a vehicle with hands-free technology that allows you to dial, talk and answer calls with voice commands. Texting is something that you shouldn’t be doing in your vehicle.

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