Category: Uncategorized

Business Break: April

How To Keep Your Car Cooler In The Warm Weather

Well, summer is nearly here by date and temperature!

We get several calls at White’s Automotive Center with customers saying their A.C. is not cooling well enough. When they come in to have their vehicle tested, many times we find nothing wrong and the A.C. is working perfectly.

So, you may ask, “What’s wrong then?”

Most of the time, the vehicle is in the sun with the windows closed and the interior can get up to between 120 and 160 degrees. In our area, most people drive to and from work or maybe to lunch and they’re only in their cars for about fifteen minutes. It takes a perfectly working A.C. about 15-30 minutes to really cool the car off.

If your drive is less than fifteen minutes, you may not be comfortable in your vehicle at all before you get out. Another thing to note… vans and SUVs are bigger and take longer to cool off. The best way to tell if your A.C. is working is to put the back of your hand to the vent and if it’s cold, it’s working.

There are a couple of things you can do to help your A.C. cool off your car more quickly.

The cheapest thing you can do is leave your windows cracked about half an inch. This allows the hot air to have a way out while it’s parked. If you’re worried about a rainy afternoon, there won’t be enough water coming inside your car to harm anything. You can buy rainguards to put on the doors to help.

Secondly, you can roll down the windows for a minute or two to get the hot air out quickly. Another tip is if you usually grip the top of the steering wheel when you drive, turn it upside down when you park so the sun doesn’t get that part too hot.

The easiest thing to do is to get a sunscreen and put it on the inside of your windshield. Crack the windows too – it’s the best combination to reduce heat in your car.

Last tip for a cooler car – park in the shade! And if you’re still having trouble with your A.C., please come see us at White’s Automotive Center and we’ll be happy to help you!

Is it better to do oil changes yourself or by a shop?

I agree that doing your oil change can save you some money, but doing an oil change is more than just an oil change.

If you take your vehicle to a shop, it allows you to get it inspected at regular intervals for problems or services that are going to need to be done. I have seen some people get upset because they think we are trying to upsell them things they do not need.

As mechanics and technicians, it is not all about the upsell and making money. In my shop, there is information about your vehicle that you need to know so you can make an educated decision on how you want to treat your vehicle.

I also rent cars, light trucks, and vans. Every time one has an oil change done or a vehicle is brought in for any repair work, even just a rotation, I have the vehicle inspected. This includes testing the battery, checking for leaks, and other maintenance items that are due.

By doing this inspection, I very rarely have to send a wrecker to retrieve a broken-down rental. With a fleet of 25 to 50 vehicles, I may have to go out once or twice a year to retrieve a vehicle. Now it seems the only thing that causes problems is the plastic cooling system parts. They are good until they decide to break, and it is a major leak.

So do not be upset, but be thankful that they are looking at your vehicle. If you are unsure, ask the mechanic or technician to show you or explain why and what is needed.

If you do not want to repair it now, just ask for a list and which one is more important than the other. If you have a list, you can either get a second opinion or repair it on your schedule. It also allows you some time to save up the money to have it repaired without causing financial trouble.

Call White’s Automotive Center if you have any questions. We’re here to help!

Business Break: March

Gas vs Electric – Is a Hybrid the Solution?

In my last article, I talked about gas versus electric vehicles. This time, I wanted to expand a little bit on hybrid vehicles. At this point, I believe that hybrid vehicles are a better choice due to the main factor that our infrastructure is not ready for all-electric vehicles. Hybrids give you the best of both worlds. Also, there are several different types of hybrid vehicles, and you can choose the one that fits your driving habits the best.

Most hybrid models available today use a gas engine that is too small to propel the vehicle. The electric motor is used to supplement the extra power when needed. Hybrids that have smaller engines use less fuel, so you get better gas mileage than a total gas engine.

Another hybrid style is when the vehicle is electric at lower speeds and the gas engine comes on only at higher speeds to recharge the battery. The electric motor can also supplement a smaller engine. This hybrid also reduces the maintenance cost since the engine does not run for every mile the vehicle is driven.

There is also a plug-in hybrid that is an electric vehicle. This style has an electric motor that is powerful enough to propel the vehicle without gas. This vehicle, depending on the model, can travel between 20 to 40 miles in total electric mode. After that, the gas engine comes on charges the battery, and propels the vehicle. This model is great for in-town commutes and random out-of-town trips. If your commute is less than 20 miles, you will not have to purchase gas for a long time.

So, if you want to go and purchase an electric vehicle, I recommend looking at hybrids also. That way, you can use the gas station infrastructure and not get stranded due to chargers not working or not being available. You also do not have to worry about freezing temperatures or high temperatures shortening the battery life of the fully electric vehicle. You can always call us at White’s Automotive Center if you have any questions at (706) 323-1060 or visit our website at https://whitesautomotive.com/.