Five Things to Know About Your Oil Change Sticker Keeping up on regular oil changes is one of the most important things you can do for your vehicle. To make it easy to remember when an oil service is needed, the mechanics at Quality Automotive Servicing in Truckee will place a “reminder sticker” with some important information on your windshield on the drivers side.  This will prompt you to make an appointment for oil service at Your Trusted Local Auto Care in Truckee. Here are five things the sticker is telling you. Premium Oil & Filters: Quality Automotive Servicing uses high quality Valvoline oil and oil filters. There are cheaper products out there, but for best performance and engine longevity we choose Valvoline. Synth = Synthetic: Synthetic oils are a better product for your vehicle and the rigorous driving in our mountain environment. Synthetic oil performs better at high temperatures and has longer change inte ... read more

Buying a used vehicle can be a frustrating experience. How do you truly know what you are purchasing? How do you determine the true condition of a vehicle from a private party, a car lot or a dealership? Tips for asking for a pre-purchase inspection? Go to bottom of this blog. The first thing to know is that a seller may not be totally honest and forthcoming about the condition of the vehicle. Even honest sellers may not really know the "true" condition of the vehicle or be aware of a needed repair lurking under the hood. If you are purchasing from a lot, many vehicles come from out of state and could have been in a flood or accident. Even a dealership or independent sales lot that “certifies” the condition of the vehicle may have overlooked (or looked the other way) on vital maintenance and repair issues. Here are 5 things to watch out for when buying a used car. 1. Has the car been stored for a long period of time? A low mileage vehicle that ... read more

If your Truckee or Lake Tahoe student is heading off to college and bringing a vehicle, now is the time to start preparing. As a parent of a future college freshman, I know that there is alot to think about in getting ready to send them off. Sometimes the last thing on the to-do list is the vehicle they may be taking. Here are some hints from the folks at Quality Automotive Servicing that will make your students trip back and forth to school safe and worry free. Have the oil serviced and get an inspection: The last thing you need is for your student to be seeking out a mechanic and dealing with a repair while at school. Before they leave, have the vehicle in for an oil service and complimentary Red Check Inspect at Quality Automotive Servicing. We will rack to vehicle and give it an overall look. You receive a report giving you an idea of the condition of the vehicle and alerting you to any issues. Do this well before they leave so you have time to fix any items that need atte ... read more

The cooling system of your vehicle will be working hard this summer as temperatures in Truckee and Lake Tahoe heat up. To be sure your truck, SUV or car can take the heat have a qualified technician at Quality Automotive Servicing run through a checklist of items that will keep you on the road. Here are some things to consider in maintaining a healthy cooling system and your safety on the road. The ratio of coolant in the radiator should be 50:50 with the manufacturer recommended coolant for your engine and distilled water. Coolant should be flushed and changed regularly. The professionals at Your Trusted Local Auto Care suggest it be done annually for Glycol systems and every 100K with modern coolants. This keeps the system fresh and free of containements which will prevent corrosion and assures that the coolant has the proper boiling point and protection. If you experience overheating while driving, pull over at the next safe spot. You can do severe damage to your engi ... 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