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

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