Morgan Automotive Repair

The Perils of DIY Lube, Oil and Filter Changes

The typical auto engine oil lasts 5,000 to 7,000 miles.  When in doubt, err on the side of safety rather than potential engine destruction by having your oil changed sooner rather than later.  Our auto repair team is here to help with your automotive needs.  Here’s a quick look from our car repair and maintenance experts as to why you should strictly rely on the professionals for oil changes.

Don’t Make a Potentially Costly Mistake

If you were to change your oil, filter, and lube incorrectly with a DIY (do it yourself) effort, you would likely make a mistake.  Unfortunately, even the slightest mistake in the context of an oil change has the potential to cause significant damage to your vehicle’s engine.  A compromised engine will require expensive repairs or a total replacement. 

Keep in mind, your vehicle’s oil is the lifeblood of the engine that makes your car, truck, or SUV go.  If this lifeblood is compromised in the slightest, it has the potential to cause internal problems within the engine that necessitate a full replacement.  A full engine replacement will cost several thousand dollars. Why take that risk when our team is here to change your oil, filter, and lube on your behalf and also perform additional auto maintenance and car repairs? 

Consider the Time Investment

There is a common misconception that changing an engine’s oil, lube and filter will only take a couple of minutes or less.  The truth is replacing these vital components of an engine takes a considerable amount of time.  Though experienced professionals can perform an oil change much faster than an automotive novice, it still requires attention, effort, and a meaningful amount of time.  Take a moment to consider what it would take to change your oil on your own.  You would need to buy the right type of oil, an oil pan, a special wrench, and more.  You would then have to learn how to change the oil properly, clean up the area and properly discard the oil and filter to ensure you don’t compromise the environment. 

Consider the Cost of DIY Oil Changes

Once you buy all the items necessary for an oil change and factor in the value of your time, you will find the math does not work out in your favor.  Add up the cost of all the materials necessary to perform a DIY oil change and you’ll find that aggregate cost is greater than the cost of an oil change at an auto repair shop.

Get It Right on the First Try

Above all, the best reason to rely on an auto repair specialist is that this professional will perform the oil change the right way on the first try.  Mechanics sweat all the small stuff of oil changes, meaning they will choose the right oil, pinpoint oil leaks, and discard the old oil in as green a manner as possible.  The end result is a well-lubricated engine that provides you with an invaluable sense of confidence.

Morgan Automotive Repair

Our auto repair shop is here in your time of need.  If you get into any type of accident or simply need an oil, filter, and lube change, lean on our car repair shop to get the job done right.  Reach out to us today at (209) 836-4909 to schedule an appointment.

Frequently Asked Questions About a Car Overheating

One of the most common car issues that vehicle owners encounter during the summer months is their car overheating. An overheating vehicle can be extremely problematic and can lead to extensive and costly car repairs being needed. As such, it is important to learn more about why cars overheat, the signs that your car is overheating, and what you should do if your car is overheating. Here are a few frequently asked questions about overheating and automobiles along with the answers. 

Why Do Cars Overheat? 

When a car is overheating, it is because the engine has gotten too hot. There are a number of reasons why this may happen. The most common reasons include radiator problems, issues related to the car’s cooling system, a broken water pump, a clogged coolant hose, low oil levels, a bad thermostat or problems with the heater core. An auto repair shop can inspect a vehicle that is overheating and determine the exact reason why your car may be getting too hot. 

How Do You Know If  Your Car is Overheating? 

The easiest way to tell if your car is overheating is to keep an eye on your temperature gauge. The temperature gauge has a "C" at the bottom for cool and an "H" at the top for hot. When you first turn your car on, it will likely stay around the "C" or bottom of the gauge until the car warms up. Once the car is warm, the indicator or arrow should be around the middle of the gauge. If the arrow starts to hit the upper 75 percent of the gauge or higher, your car is getting too warm and is starting to overheat. If you continue to drive your car when it is overheating, you may notice steam coming from the front of your car. This is an indication that the car has overheated. 

What Should You Do If Your Car is Overheating? 

If your car is starting to get too warm, you should immediately turn off the air conditioning system. Roll down your windows and turn on your heater to full blast, allowing the hot air to escape your engine area. If the car does not start to cool down or only gets hotter, you will need to pull over when it is safe to do so and shut your car off. You should not drive your car until you get the problem repaired. 

You should not drive a car that is overheating. You can cause major problems to the engine if you do so, and unfortunately, engine repairs can be pricey. If your car is overheating, you should tow your vehicle to a car repair shop to get it assessed and repaired. At Morgan Auto Repair, with locations in Tracy, Manteca, and Stockton and a Sacramento location coming soon, we can assist with all of your car-related problems, including an automobile that is overheating. Reach out to us today to schedule an appointment to bring your car in for repairs. 

Patching Versus Plugging Tires: What’s the Difference?

If you have a tire that has a small hole or rip, patching or plugging the tire may be possible. Both tire patches and tire plugs help to fill or cover the small hole on the tire, helping to prevent air from escaping. A properly placed tire patch or plug that is installed at a car repair shop can last the life of your tire. If you have never had a tire repair completed before, you may be wondering what the difference is between a tire patch or plug. Read on to learn more. 

What is a Patch? 

Think of a tire patch like a Band-Aid. It goes outside of the hole, completely covering the hole so that air does not escape. A patch is typically made of a rubber material and adhesive is used to apply it to your tire. It needs to be cut to the proper size to completely cover the hole, while also not interfering with any of the treadwork on your vehicle. 

What is a Plug? 

A plug is a piece of rubber that is coated with leather that is typically fed into the hole or small cut on the tire to completely fill it. This helps to prevent air from escaping by filling the hole, rather than covering it. Plugging a hole is usually a faster process compared to patching a tire, as you do not have to wait for a patch to completely dry or seal before driving your vehicle. 

Is Patching or Plugging Better?

Both patching and plugging a tire have their benefits and downsides. As a general rule of thumb, if the damage is evenly shaped, such as a nail hole, a patch may be the perfect solution. However, if the damage is jagged or uneven, such as a tiny slash or slit, a patch may be perfect. The location of the damage also plays a role in whether a tire should be patched or plugged. Damage that is on the tread work is easier to plug, whereas damage closer to, but not on, the sidewall, is easier to patch. A professional can take a look at the damage and its location to determine whether patching or plugging is the better fit for your tire. 

Both plugging and patching a tire can be a great way to fix a tiny imperfection on the tire and allow you to get more use out of the tire. However, if you are looking to have a tire repair completed, you should always bring your vehicle to an auto repair shop. Completing tire repairs on your own can be dangerous and may void your tire warranty. Here at Morgan Auto Repair, our professionals can help you with all of your car repair needs, including tire repairs. Call us to schedule an appointment or swing by one of our shops to get your tire repairs completed. 

Signs Your Car’s Air Conditioner Compressor is Reaching the End of Its Lifespan

It can get hot in Northern California during the summer months. As such, you likely rely on your car’s air conditioning system to keep you comfortable when you are going from one location to another. One of the components that help the air conditioning system operate is the air conditioner compressor. A compressor should last about 10 to 15 years but may have a reduced lifespan if you use your air conditioning system frequently. If your air compressor is going bad, you need to take your vehicle to an auto repair shop to have it replaced. Here are a few of the signs that the compressor may be nearing the end of its lifespan. 

You Hear Strange Sounds When You Turn on the Air

One of the signs that your car may give you if the air conditioner compressor is nearing the end of its lifespan is strange noises when you turn on your air conditioner. The compressor is made up of different parts, so you may hear different noises coming from the unit. The most common noises people hear are screeching or squealing, but you may also hear squeaking, grinding, or hissing sounds. 

You See Fluid Leaking Under Your Car When Running the Air

If your car’s air conditioner compressor is at or near the end of its lifespan, it may start to leak. As such, you may notice a puddle of fluid under your car after you have been running the air conditioning unit. It is important to note that your car can leak a small amount of condensation when the air conditioning unit is operating, so small amounts of water should not be a concern. However, you should be concerned about car fluids under your car. Unfortunately, it can be hard to tell if the leak is caused by the compressor or a different part of your car, so you should always have a car repair shop check your vehicle out if you notice any leaks. 

You Notice Reduced Air Flow When Your Air Conditioner is Running

If your air conditioning compressor is going bad, you may notice that there is less air blowing out of your vents than normal when you run the air conditioning unit. This can be caused by many problems, including air filter issues. So this problem should be inspected by an auto repair shop to determine if the problem is the compressor or something else. 

Your Air Conditioner is Blowing Hot Air

Finally, if your car’s compressor has actually gone bad, the car will not blow cold air. Instead, the air coming from your vents will be hot. Once again, there are many reasons your car may blow hot air, such as low refrigerant levels or a bad air conditioner compressor. A mechanic should be consulted to determine the reason you have no cold air when you operate your car’s air conditioning unit. 

If your car’s air conditioning system is not keeping you cool, you should take your vehicle to a car repair shop, such as us here at Morgan Auto Repair. We can help you determine if the compressor or another part is going bad and repair the problem so cool air starts to flow through your vehicle again. Schedule an appointment at our Tracy, Manteca, or Stockton location today. 

The Benefits of Utilizing an Auto Repair Shop Compared to Making Repairs Yourself

When you are in need of a car repair, one of the decisions you may be faced with is making the auto repair on your own or bringing your car to a car repair shop. Thanks to the Internet, it is easier than ever to find videos and tutorials that can help guide you as you work to make repairs to your own vehicle. However, while you can find these tutorials, there are still many benefits associated with bringing your car to an auto repair shop instead of making the repairs yourself. Here are some of those benefits.  

You Maintain a Factory or Dealership Warranty

If you have a warranty on your vehicle, either from the factory itself or from the dealership you purchased the car from, one of the conditions of the warranty is that you have to have auto maintenance and repairs completed by a licensed technician. While you do not have to use the dealership you bought the car from, you will have to show that the shop you took your vehicle to was licensed and the technicians were certified. As such, you can void the warranty by attempting to do any maintenance or repairs yourself, including basic oil changes. 

You Ensure the Work is Done Properly

Another benefit associated with utilizing an auto repair shop for your vehicle’s maintenance and repair needs is that you ensure the work is done properly. Unless you are a trained mechanic, you can easily make a mistake when making repairs yourself. Something as simple as using the wrong fluid, forgetting to replace a cap, or not tightening a screw or bolt can be damaging to your car. And unfortunately, if a mistake is made, it may not only damage the part you were repairing. It can cause additional damage which can increase the overall time and costs to repair your vehicle. 

You May Actually Save Money

The final benefit of using an auto repair shop for maintenance and repairs is that you may actually save money. One of the biggest misconceptions is that you save a lot of money making repairs yourself. The average person does not have the right tools and equipment to make repairs to their vehicle. As such, they have to not only purchase the parts for the repairs they need, but the tools and equipment as well. By the time you purchase specialized equipment and expensive replacement parts, you may spend more trying to make the repairs than you would have if you took your car to a mechanic. 

There are many benefits associated with bringing your vehicle to a car repair shop when it needs maintenance work or repairs. If your car is due to be serviced or needs auto repair, Morgan Auto Repair can help. We have three convenient Central Valley locations, in Tracy, Manteca and Stockton. Call one of our locations today to schedule an appointment to have your car serviced or repaired. 

What Is an ASE Certified Technician and Why Should You Look For This When Selecting an Auto Mechanic

If you are looking for a car repair shop to maintain and care for your automobile, one of the things that you should look for is whether the shop hires ASE certified technicians. Unfortunately, many people have no idea what an ASE certified technician is and why they should look for this when searching for an auto repair shop. Here are a few of the questions that you may have pertaining to ASE certified technicians and the answers. 

What Is an ASE Certified Technician? 

An ASE certified technician is an auto repair technician who has fulfilled the work requirements and has passed testing with the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence. Upon completing the work requirements and passing the test, the technician is deemed to be a certified technician. The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence is a non-profit company that works hard to provide a consistent standard for auto technicians, so consumers know that a technician has the skills and experience to work for an auto repair shop. 

Why Should You Look for An ASE Certified Technician When You Need Car Repair? 

While a car repair shop mechanic is not required to obtain an ASE certificate in order to work, the top repair shops in the country only hire ASE certified technicians. This is because these mechanics have demonstrated that they have the skills and expertise to complete maintenance and repair work. As a consumer, you should look to work only with ASE certified technicians as this is only of the only means of gathering insight about a mechanic before hiring them. You know the technician has had to demonstrate a high level of automobile repair knowledge to obtain certification. Mechanics also have to retest for the certification every five years, so this helps to prove that a technician is staying on top of new trends and repair methods as well. 

How Can You Determine if a Technician is an ASE Certified Technician? 

There are a few different ways that you can determine if a technician is an ASE certified technician. First off, you can find out if the business is part of the ASE Blue Seal Program. This is a program that businesses apply for to show that they use ASE certified technicians. If a company is part of the ASE Blue Seal Program, it will likely have this information displayed on the door or on its wall. In addition to this, you can ask a specific employee if they are an ASE certified technician. If they are, they will have a certificate naming them as a certified technician. This certificate lasts for five years before the mechanic has to reapply and retest for recertification. 

Here at  Morgan Auto Repair, we are proud to employ ASE certified technicians. When you are in need of car repair, our technicians can help you. Visit our website to request an appointment at either our Tracy, Manteca or Stockton location. Or, if you prefer, you can call us to set up a service or repair appointment.