Now that social distancing is a thing and keeping close to the home in Truckee is the new normal, we at Quality Automotive Servicing have a few suggestions on keeping you and your car healthy. Healthy Car, Healthy You - Five Things you can do to keep you and your car healthy. Your car can keep and carry unwanted germs. Sanitize all the surfaces, knobs and windows to keep your family healthy. (Ask about our A.R.-17 sanitation product that cleans and sanitizes the AC and recirculating air system, as well as the surfaces inside the vehicle). Review the owner’s manual and take the time to really learn about your car; the maintenance schedule and even a feature you had no idea existed. For example, inside the gas door on the Mercedes is information about tire pressure at different temperatures. Go for a drive. Like our bodies, it’s not healthy for a car to sit for long periods of time. Issues can ari ... read more

Attention College Students! Don’t Blow Up Your Car Engine It's the end of the school year and the last thing any college student is thinking about is vehicle maintenance and the condition of the auto they took to college. So listen up Mom and Dad, don't be on the hook for a new vehicle for something that could be prevented. Whether your student is driving a newer Subaru or a tired Toyota, insist that they take a look at a few simple things before they drive it home. Check all fluid levels and add fluid if necessary. At Quality Automotive Servicing we see many blown engines because a young driver did not pay attention to this basic vehicle maintenance task. Have the oil changed. Even a vehicle that is not been driven much needs fresh lubricant. Today's oil contain detergents that clean the engine. This used and particle-laden oil can becomes acidic over time and needs to be changed even if the vehicle is not driven much. Most manufacture ... read more

One of the biggest things you can do this Earth Day is pay a little attention to your vehicle. By changing a few habits and paying attention to maintenance, you can do your part in helping the environment. Here’s the Quality Automotive Servicing short list of things you can do to be a “Green Vehicle Owner”. Save gas, save on landfill material, save the planet. 1. Keep the engine running at peak performance. A misfiring spark plug can reduce fuel efficiency as much as 30 percent. Replace filters and fluids as recommended in the owner’s manual or by your Quality Automotive Servicing service technician. 2. Don’t ignore that ‘Service Engine’ light. Today’s vehicles have much cleaner tailpipe emissions than they did 30 years ago. But it's necessary to maintain that system. A poorly running engine or faulty exhaust system will pollute much more than one that is running clean. One indication of a ... read more

The buzz around ‘extended oil change intervals’ for passenger cars and SUVs is everywhere. Most vehicle manufacturers are recommending longer oil change intervals. Oil companies are offering oils that they promote as having extended life. And motorists, pressured by the challenges of a tight economy and a hectic lifestyle, like the prospect of fewer trips to get their car’s oil changed. There are a few issues with extended oil change intervals. One is the quality of product used. The oil filter needs to have the require a capacity and efficiency to stand up against the impact of dirt, dust and engine contaminants over an extended period of time. As an owner that wants to protect your engine, know that not all oil filters are equal and a discounted oil change will probably be using a less quality filter that just can not stand up. 1. Filter Capacity The term ‘capacity,’ when used in reference to an oil filter, does not mean the amount ... read more

Something we hear quite frequently from Truckee and Lake Tahoe drivers is that their fuel economy is down and their four-wheel drive just doesn’t have the pep it used to. When that happens, one of the things we look for is clogged fuel injectors. The engine management computer tells your fuel injectors exactly when to squirt fuel into your engine. It is key that clean fuel injectors spray the right amount of gasoline or diesel fuel in a nice, specific spray pattern. A dirty injector can’t spray enough fuel and it comes out in an uneven, weak pattern. When fuel injectors are dirty or clogged, the fuel burns less efficiently, which causes gas mileage to drop. This result in less power from your Subaru or Toyota. It’s normal for fuel injectors to get dirty over time and possibly more likely on the dirty, dusty roads we drive everyday. Gas and diesel fuel may cause varnish and gum to build up in your fuel injectors, especially if you buy bargain gas in R ... read more