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Our blogs are updated once a month, usually on the first day of the month. On this page, we offer advice, tips, and insights for becoming a safer driver and for better travels on Chico roads. Bookmark this page and remember to check back!

If you need auto repair service, don’t forget that you can schedule an appointment at this link for D&E Auto Repair in Chico. We look forward to seeing you! Remember that you are a part of the family at D&E Auto Repair in Chico. We’re located at 3328 Esplanade St., Chico, CA 95973.

Monthly Archives: September 2019

Engine Air Filter

Engine Air Filter

Today we want to talk about your engine air filter. That's the filter that cleans the air before it's burned in your engine. Many people in CHICO wonder how often they should change their engine air filter. The simple answer is "when it's dirty." That's a function of how much air has passed through the filter, so your vehicle manufacturer will recommend a mileage interval for replacing the air filter. But you can imagine that how dirty the air is would affect how quickly the filter gets filled. If you drive in CHICO where there's lots of dust, pollution or pollen, your engine air filter will get dirty more quickly and need to be changed sooner. That's why we check the air filter with every full-service oil change at D AND E AUTO REPAIR. We can visually tell if the filter needs to be changed. Your filter can only hold so much dirt. Once the filter is full, dirt will pass through to th ... read more

Extend The Life Of Your Cooling System In CHICO

Extend The Life Of Your Cooling System In CHICO

Our vehicles operate in a wide range of outside CHICO temperatures. That's why use testing grounds from the frozen tundra to the blistering desert. Your vehicle engine antifreeze/coolant must be able to perform in these extreme temperatures. Antifreeze/coolant has to move heat away from the engine to prevent costly damage. Water does a very good job of holding heat, but it freezes at 32 degrees F, 0 degrees C. That's why we mix anti-freeze with water – it lowers the freezing point of the antifreeze/coolant and raises the boiling point as well. A 50/50 blend of water and antifreeze/coolant is the usual recommendation for CA . And on top of that, antifreeze/coolant has to protect the components of the vehicle cooling system from corrosion. Your owner's manual will tell you what kind of antifreeze/coolant you should use. Of course at D AND E AUTO REPAIR, we can advise you on what to put in your vehicle. Cooling system failure is the most common ... read more

Categories:

Cooling System

5 Reasons To Keep Your Car Well-Maintained

Thanks for visiting the D AND E AUTO REPAIR auto care blog. Today's post lists 5 important reasons CHICO drivers should follow recommended maintenance schedules. 1. Be Safe A well-maintained car doesn't put you and your passengers at unnecessary risk. Think brakes, headlamps, tires. 2. Get Better Fuel Economy Regular maintenance is an investment in optimum fuel economy. Inadequate tire pressure, a dirty fuel system and a clogged air filter are just a few things that reduce fuel economy. 3. Preserve Resale Value How many CHICO used car buyers will pay full Blue Book for a car with a filthy engine, clogged filters and bald tires? 4. Don't Void Your Warranty Your warranty claims may be denied if your service history doesn't fulfill the minimum requirements recommended by the vehicle manufacturer. 5. Save Money Regular maintenance reduces the chance of catastrophic failures and re ... read more

Categories:

Maintenance

Simple Answers from D AND E AUTO REPAIR: Engine Air Filter

Question What's the harm in putting off replacing my engine air filter a little longer? Answer That's a fair question because the harm takes a while to manifest.  Let's take a small step back and talk about what an engine air filter does. The air all around us contains dust, dirt, pollen, spores, etc.  Some areas and times of the year have more contaminants in the air.  The job of the air filter is to keep that stuff out of your engine.  The benefit of that is obvious. Now your engine uses a lot of air – like 12,000 gallons of air for every gallon of fuel – so the engine air filter has a big job to do.  When the filter gets full and can't hold any more dirt, all that air still has to get to the engine, so dirt gets forced through the filter and heads on downstream. The air flows passed the mass air flow (MAF) sensor on its way to the engine.  The MAF sensor tells the engine control computer how much air is coming so the co ... read more

Scheduled Wheel Alignment at D AND E AUTO REPAIR

People need to be concerned about wheel alignment for two primary reasons: safety and money.  When your wheels are out of alignment, they can pull to one side. A moment of inattention could put you into on-coming traffic or off the road.  And a bad alignment will chew up your tires very quickly. We had one guy in the shop who said his wheels were a little out of alignment before a family vacation, but he didn't think it was that bad, so he didn't take care of it before he left.  A couple days and a thousand miles later, his front tires were worn down to the cords.  He had to take a half day out of his mountain vacation to find a town big enough to have a tire center for replacements. All four wheels are supposed to be lined up and point in the same direction.  Sometimes one or more goes out of alignment and is pulling against the rest of the team.  In addition to excessive tire wear, this also hurts fuel economy. Part of the alignment service is ... read more

Categories:

Tires