Silver Spring Auto Repair

Good tread does not always mean a safe tire. Rubber ages from oxygen, heat, and sun exposure, which slowly hardens the compound and weakens the bond between rubber and internal cords. Grip falls off most on cold, wet mornings and during emergency stops. Here is how to judge tire age accurately and decide when to replace them, even if the grooves still look deep. Why “Plenty of Tread” Can Still Be Risky A tire’s chemistry changes over time. As rubber cures and dries, the tread blocks lose flexibility, sipes stop biting in the rain, and tiny surface cracks open around letters and at the base of grooves. Braking distances stretch and the car feels skittish over bumps. Our technicians often see this on low-mileage vehicles that sit outside, where age matters more than miles. Find the DOT Date Code and Read It Correctly Every road tire s ... read more

Brakes rarely go from fine to failing in one day. They whisper first. A pedal feels a touch lower at stoplights, a faint squeak shows up in the morning, or the wheel shudders a little on a downhill exit ramp. If you pick up on these early changes, you can fix a small issue before it turns into warped rotors, seized calipers, or a longer-than-expected stop. 1. Pedal Feel Is Not What It Used To Be Your foot knows your car. When the pedal starts to travel farther or feels softer when you hold steady pressure, something has changed in the hydraulic system. Air trapped in a line, moisture in old fluid, or a master cylinder that is beginning to bypass can all make the pedal feel spongy. If the pedal sinks slowly at a red light, that is a sign to park the car and schedule service, since internal leaks will not heal themselves. 2. New Noises That Do Not Fade A light squeal on the first few stops of the day can be normal when moisture flashes off the rotor ... read more

TheUS Advanced Battery Consortium(USABC) states that the battery used by a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) is expected to last for over 15 years and 300,000 charging cycles. However, its lifetime hinges on different stress factors that strongly affect degradation rate, with temperature being a huge factor. Further, by being the most expensive element in an electric vehicle, the automotive industry is focused on developing better battery thermal management systems to avoid premature and costly battery replacement. What are the latest developments in battery thermal management systems?The relationship between degradation and temperature can be formulated by an Arr ... read more

Preventative maintenance now can help ensure worry-free driving this winter Winter is coming! Actually, it's already here. Take these tips to prepare your vehicle for the winter ahead, advise the pros and the non-profit National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). Breakdowns, never convenient, can be dangerous in cold weather period. The following tips from ASE should give parent and student alike a road map to fall car care. First things first.. Read your owner’s manual and follow the manufacturer’s recommended service schedules. There are usually two schedules listed: normal and severe. Engine Performance Have engine driveability problems (hard starts, rough idling, stalling, diminished power, etc.) corrected at a good repair shop. Cold weather will make existing problems worse. Replace dirty filtersair, fuel, PCV, etc. Fuel Put a bottle of fuel de-icer in your tank once a month to help keep moisture from freezing in the fuel line. Note, t ... read more

You swap your winter boots for flip-flops in the summer. Why not change your winter engine oil for summer, hot-weather oil? While it may seem like it makes sense, there's some good news.  Most drivers don't have to, and here's why. Engine oil can be made in different thicknesses. That thickness is called viscosity, how easily it flows. Now, it makes sense that the hotter it gets, oil gets a little thinner and doesn't lubricate as well. So if you used a thicker oil in the summer, it's logical that it would protect better in the hotter weather. While there was a time when oils could be only made in one viscosity, times have changed. Using an ingenious formula, oil can now be created that changes its viscosity (called "multi-viscosity") as the temperature rises and falls. It self-adjusts to match the conditions. Now that's what I call a great invention. In most temperate climates, you don't have to swap out the type of oil you use in your vehicle each season. There are except ... read more