Marshalls Automotive: Maintenance

Marshalls Automotive Maintenance Tips: The Belt Goes On

Today’s Marshalls Automotive auto maintenance article focuses on your serpentine belt. Your serpentine belt is a long belt that’s driven by your engine. It winds around several accessories that power critical automotive systems. Let’s go over them.

First, the serpentine belt drives your vehicle air conditioning system. It spins the compressor that makes the cool air that takes the edge off the summer heat in Bend.

Next, the belt powers the alternator. The alternator creates electricity that’s used by your vehicle’s electrical systems and also charges your car battery. All Bend car owners know that without the alternator, the battery will go dead in a few miles.

The serpentine belt may also run the pumps for both the power steering and power brakes. And, on many vehicles, the serpentine belt powers the water pump. The water pump circulates coolant through the engine to keep it within normal operating temperatures for Bend auto owners. (On some vehicles, the water pump is powered by the timing belt instead of the serpentine belt.)

So you can see the serpentine belt does a lot of work. And it if breaks, it affects a lot of systems. That’s why car makers and your service advisor at Marshalls Automotive have recommended that it be changed every so often so that it doesn’t fail.

Your honest Marshalls Automotive service specialist can perform a visual inspection of the belt to see if it has any cracks that signal the belt could fail soon and will measure the amount of belt material to make sure there is enough.

Your serpentine belt works in tandem with a spring loaded pulley attached to the engine called the tensioner pulley. Its critical job is to make sure there’s a constant tension on the serpentine belt so that it doesn’t slip. The spring can become worn and no longer provide the necessary pressure to keep the belt tight. At Marshalls Automotive, we recommend that the tensioner be replaced at the same time as the serpentine belt.

All in all, the serpentine belt’s a key art for the function of your vehicle. And it’s not that pricey to replace at Marshalls Automotive – so bring in your vehicle if it hasn’t been checked in a while.

Can Your Car Last Another Year?

Have you checked out the price of new vehicles at Redmond car dealers? Ouch! Add financing and insurance and – well a new ride may not seem so attractive. A lot of Redmond, Oregon folks are hoping to make their cars last a lot longer.

Fortunately, with the current state of automotive engineering and manufacturing, there’s no reason a modern vehicle can’t be made to last for a 150,000 miles or more for smart Redmond car owners.

The old adage: ‘a stitch in time saves nine’ is really true for Redmond auto owners when it comes to car maintenance. A great example is coolant service.

Over time, coolant becomes corrosive and actually starts to damage your radiator and other parts. Smart Redmond drivers have their cooling system service taken care of right on schedule.

Ditto for your power steering system, brake fluid, air conditioning system, differential and transmission. Of course, oil changes should be done right on schedule to avoid the build-up of harmful oil sludge.

Don’t let your brake pads go too long before they are worn to the point that your rotors are at risk. Preventative auto maintenance at Marshalls Automotive is a great way to keep your operating costs down in Redmond.

Replacing belts and hoses is much cheaper than repairing the pricey damage that can be caused by failure.

We know that this is a lot for busy Bend area drivers to remember. Let the team of automotive professionals at Marshalls Automotive keep on top of this stuff for you. We can tell you what your vehicle manufacturer recommends and help you develop an affordable plan to take care of it.

Bottom line – do routine maintenance on schedule and you will reduce operating costs, prevent pricey repairs and maintain your warranty coverage. Call Marshalls Automotive today for an appointment; you can reach us at 541-548-5239.

Let us take good care of your car at Marshalls Automotive in Redmond, and it’ll take good care of you.

Marshalls Automotive
Give us a call today at 541-548-5239.
Or stop by at 2110 S Highway 97, Redmond, Oregon 97756

Redmond Drivers Severe Service Maintenance Schedules

Since driving requirements and lifestyles differ among Redmond auto owners, vehicle auto manufacturers publish two auto maintenance schedules: the regular schedule and the severe service schedule. Which schedule should Redmond drivers follow?
Here are some questions to ask yourself:

Are most of your trips less than four miles around Redmond?
Are most of your trips less than 10 miles in below-zero Oregon temps?
Are most of your trips off-highway in Oregon?
Do you drive often in dusty Bend areas?
Do you regularly tow a trailer or carry heavy loads around Redmond?
Do you drive in very hot or very cold Oregon weather?

Think about your typical week. Do you live by your nearest Redmond interstate on-ramp and enjoy a non-stop commute to Bend or Bend? Or, do you drive the neighborhood car pool in stop-and-go traffic on Redmond surface streets?

Let’s suppose your owner’s manual says the severe service oil change recommendation is 3,000 miles and the standard recommendation is 5,000 miles. You know that you need to change the oil somewhere between 3,000 and 5,000 miles. Analyze your driving patterns and Redmond weather and road conditions to determine which end of the spectrum you’re closer to.

Why should Redmond motorists care about this? Normal condensation causes moisture accumulation in the engine oil. Short trips around Redmond or winter driving means that the engine doesn’t heat up enough for the moisture to evaporate. The water in the oil turns to harmful oil sludge that clogs up your engine and doesn’t let the oil protect it adequately. That’s why Oregon car owners need to change their oil more often – to clean the sludge out before it causes problems.

Carrying heavy loads (with or without a trailer) in sunny Oregon summer weather causes your engine and transmission to run at higher temperatures and with more stress. The fluids will break down more quickly. Additives that clean and prevent harmful corrosion will be depleted sooner. Air pollution and dust cause fluids to get dirty faster. Ditto for filters. All of these things can lead to premature wear and eventual repairs, not to mention your fuel efficiency. If you want some expert advice, talk with your honest Marshalls Automotive advisor. We can help you restore your vehicle to good working order and help you know the best schedule to follow.

To learn more, watch our informative AutoNetTV auto video tips at the top of this post.

Marshalls Automotive
541-548-5239
2110 S Highway 97
Redmond, Oregon 97756

Why A Trip Inspection Is A Good Idea

At Marshalls Automotive we get a lot of Redmond drivers asking about car trip preparation. That’s a big deal. You could be driving through mountains and deserts in some pretty lonely areas outside of Redmond so it’s important to know that the car is up to the task and won’t leave you stranded.

Smart Bend car owners plan ahead for a major road trip – there are a lot of things to get ready. Where should you start? You could start with the tires. Look them over for tread wear and check to see that they are properly inflated. Take a quick test drive around Redmond to see if you can feel any vibrations: are the wheels in balance? Is the car tracking straight? Is the alignment ok? Come to Marshalls Automotive for a peace-of-mind trip inspection.

2110 S Highway 97
Redmond, Oregon 97756
541-548-5239

The next thing is a full service oil change to make sure all of your vital fluids are topped off and you have fresh oil for the trip. And if your car has over 75,000 miles, you may consider putting in the high-mileage formulation to clean harmful sludge deposits in the engine. You may also need a new PCV valve and an engine air filter.

How about your transmission and brakes? Have you had your transmission and brakes inspected in the last six months?

How are your wiper blades? There’s nothing like not being able to get rid of the bug juice on a long road trip away from Redmond.

Check your owners’ manual for any other important recommended service and have Marshalls Automotive in Redmond do the multi-point inspection before you head out in Oregon.

Consider also having the coolant system serviced at Marshalls Automotive – you want to stay within the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations. If you’re towing a trailer in Redmond you’ll want to be keep in mind that you’ll be going a long way under severe conditions.

A lot of Redmond folks overlook severe conditions like towing, or Redmond summer heat, or driving on dirt roads in Oregon. Plan ahead for your next road trip – Marshalls Automotive wants you to get there and back.

Keep Your Redmond Car Breathing Free: Engine Air Filter

Hey Redmond car owners – this is something really amazing: For every gallon of gas your vehicle burns, it uses 12,000 gallons of air. All of that air has to be filtered to keep your engine clean.

That’s like a hundred gallons of air every block! The engine air filter is just another example of a very important but inexpensive part that has to do a tremendous amount of work. And when it works, everything goes well. But, when it doesn’t, well, it can lead to expensive problems. Of course, your automobile manufacturer recommends how often to change your air filter. But like most service intervals, where and how you drive your car in Oregon affects when your filter needs to be changed.

Dusty conditions around Bend or polluted city driving means you’ll need to change your filter more often. Your honest Marshalls Automotive service advisor can check your filter for you. In fact, it’s often a routine part of an oil change.

When you think about it, a clogged air filter won’t allow as much air through as a clean filter. Your vehicle needs this air to efficiently burn its fuel, giving you better MPG and performance.

Dirtier filters don’t work as well as clean ones. A filter can only hold so much, after that, it allows dirt to pass right into your engine. Air filters come in all shapes and sizes. They also come in different grades. There are high performance air filters available for most cars. These high performance filters are a little more pricey in Redmond, but they increase horsepower and may improve MPG to boot.

So it’s essential for Redmond car owners to have their air filter checked. If it needs replacing, it doesn’t cost very much at Marshalls Automotive in Redmond and it should easily pay for itself in better MPG before your next oil change.

Stop by Marshalls Automotive at 2110 S Highway 97, Redmond, Oregon 97756, and we’ll take a look at your air filter for you. Feel free to give us a call at 541-548-5239 to make an appointment.

Marshalls Automotive
2110 S Highway 97
Redmond, Oregon 97756
541-548-5239