Walnut Creek Auto Repair

When you see a car emitting colored exhaust smoke, it's easy to assume something is wrong. But what does this smoke indicate? To answer this question, it's essential to understand the different shades of smoke and what they mean. As such, we're going to explore the various signs that colored exhaust smoke can give you about the state of your vehicle. Black Smoke Black smoke is one of the most common types of exhaust smoke and generally indicates an issue with fuel delivery or combustion. This could result from too much fuel being delivered compared to air or something blocking the airflow into the engine, such as a faulty mass airflow sensor. Black smoke could also signify worn piston rings or valves, causing oil to enter the combustion chamber and be burned off along with fuel. Blue Smoke If blue-colored exhaust is observed, the cause is usually an oil leak from another part of the engine. This could result from worn piston rings, valve stem seals, or gaskets and ca ... read more

Proper maintenance for your vehicle can extend the life of the vehicle beyond its already durable parts. Furthermore, it helps you maintain the value of your car, so you can trade it in or resell it later. That is why following the manufacturer’s maintenance schedule is the minimum of what you should be doing to make your automobile last. We’re here to offer our tips and best practices when it comes to taking care of your vehicle. Tip #1: Read the Manual The owner’s handbook contains everything you need to know about your vehicle’s specific make/model. Yet, so many people neglect to read it let alone skim it. Some people even throw it out! They are great references to find your maintenance history, recommended service intervals, and specifications for the kind of motor oil or brake fluid you need. Use it to upkeep your car, SUV, or truck. Tip #2: Follow the Schedule Speaking of the maintenance schedule, you should never miss it or skip it. These services do ... read more

Regenerative braking is another energy-saving feature that hybrids and electric cars (EVs) have in addition to running on electricity rather than gasoline. When a driver brakes, regenerative braking recovers the energy that is ordinarily lost as heat. In friction-based braking systems, all the energy expended to propel the vehicle forward evaporates into the brake pads as heat, causing brake pad wear. These conventional systems use braking rotors and brake pads, which come into contact with the wheels and road when the pedal is depressed, to generate stopping friction. Regenerative braking systems employ the motor of an electric vehicle to recapture the kinetic energy lost during braking and store it in the battery of the vehicle. When it accelerates, stored electrical energy is utilized rather than exerting more effort to use up its own energy stores. In order to generate more electricity, the motor works as a generator. The entire efficiency of regenerative brakes can be determined ... read more

Your tires will endure more use Tire rotation has many advantages, one of which is that it can increase the lifespan of your tires. You can ensure that the treads on each tire wears equally over time by occasionally moving them to different locations. Assures safety and smoothness The handling of a car with properly rotated tires makes for a considerably safer ride. Additionally, it makes for a lot smoother ride. Driving a car with irregular tires is never comfortable. Better consumption of fuel Improved fuel efficiency is a significant advantage of having your tires rotated. You may not need to refill as frequently which saves you gas costs. The engine of your car has to work a little bit harder as your tires start to wear down to have a decent traction on the road, which makes it burn fuel more quickly. By more uniformly distributing the weight, rotating your tires will increase friction, which will improve traction. Less vibration Your car starts to vibrate because of irregul ... read more

When it comes to smog checks or emissions testing, there’s nothing more frustrating than taking time out of your day to have it done. Most people don’t think about the bigger picture of why the government requires smog checks for specific vehicles. Today, we will discuss the goals and purpose of smog checks and why it is important for your car to pass.   If you’re a California resident, you know that our state takes emissions very seriously. Unfortunately, we are one of the most polluted states in the country. To keep emissions down to the best of our ability, our state government requires all hybrid vehicles and gasoline-powered vehicles that are 1976 or newer to undergo a smog check every 2 years. However, gas-powered vehicles eight years old or newer and electric vehicles are exempt.   All in all, the purpose of emissions testing is simple: to improve air quality, protect our environment, and to extend the life of your car. If emissions aren’t m ... read more