WHAT IS IT?! Sneak Peek

Here is a sneak peek of the WHAT IS IT?! picture that will be posted on our  Facebook page tomorrow. The first person to correctly identify this vehicle part will receive $10 off their next service; but remember: do not start guessing until it's posted on Facebook tomorrow!

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Pioneer Day Celebrations 2011, 24th of July events

Below are Pioneer Day celebrations happening around Utah this week. 




View Utah's NEW fireworks laws HERE.

Salt Lake County

• Salt Lake Bees baseball games
• Days of 47 events (all month long July)
• Days of 47 Rodeo July 18-25
• Float Preview Party July 20th and 21st
• Pioneer Day Commemoration Concert July 22nd
• First Encampment Hike July 23rd
• Brother Brigham's Ball July 23rd
• Free admission to Red Butte Garden - July 24th
• This Is The Place Pioneer Days - July 23rd and 25th
• Days of 47 Parade July 25th
• Deseret News Marathon July 25th
• Sunrise Service July 25th

Davis County

• Bountiful Handcart Days July 22nd and 23rd
• Bountiful Historical Tour July 23rd

Weber County

• Ogden Pioneer Days - all month long July 2011
• PRCA Rodeo - July 20th through 23rd
• Community Pancake Breakfast - July 25th
• Parade - July 25th

Box Elder County

• Tremonton Days July 23rd

Tooele County

• Childrens' Parade - July 23rd

Utah County

• Spanish Fork Fiesta Days July 21st - July 25th
• Mapleton Pioneer Days July 23rd

Washington County

• Pioneer Day Celebrations at the Heritage Center in Pine Valley July 23rd

Sanpete County

• Fairview Pioneer Day festivities - all month long July
• Spring City Pioneer Days - all month long
• Sterling Pioneer Days - July 24th

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Extra Contest Entries When You Perform Maintenance Or Visit Our Shop!

Enjoy Utah! is holding a summer contest, and you get extra entries for visiting our shop and posting a picture in your album about it! View complete details about the contest HERE.

Here are ideas of pictures you can post for the contest, and in the description put a link back to our blog:

• Checking your tire pressure to prepare for a road trip.
• Checking your oil
• Coming in our shop for regular maintenance, or any repair
• Checking or adding windshield washer fluid
• Be creative! There will be many times this summer when you need to prepare your vehicle for a road trip, so snap a picture, post a link back to us, and you get extra entries!

read more "Extra Contest Entries When You Perform Maintenance Or Visit Our Shop!"

WHAT IS IT?! Sneak Peek

Here is a sneak peek of the WHAT IS IT?! picture that will be posted on our  Facebook page tomorrow. The first person to correctly identify this vehicle part will receive $10 off their next service; but remember: do not start guessing until it's posted on Facebook tomorrow!

read more "WHAT IS IT?! Sneak Peek"

HOW TO: Check Your Oil

Make sure your vehicle has the proper amount of oil! If your engine runs out of oil, your engine will seize up and stop running. Don't let your engine oil get low! By doing the simple maintenance tasks, you can keep your vehicle running in top shape!

For more tips like this, visit our Auto Care Tips Page.

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Happy Independence Day!

Happy Independence Day!

Have an enjoyable and safe day!

From all of us here at

Gines Auto Service!

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FRIDAY TIDBIT: Insulated Thermal Coolant Jug From Hybrid Car

Insulated (thermal) coolant jug on a hybrid car
(Toyota Prius)

The insulated or thermal coolant jug in the Toyota Prius is used to capture hot coolant from the engine.

After the engine is shut off the thermal coolant jug keeps the heat in some of the coolant. When the engine is restarted the hot coolant in the jug is pumped into the engine to bring it to normal operating temperature.

With the engine being brought instantly to normal operating temperature it uses less gas and is much more efficient. Cold engines burn much more gas than an engine that is at operating temperature.

This was our WHAT IS IT?! picture posted on our Facebook page yesterday, and we got some really fun and interesting guesses. Here are some  of the guesses that people thought this vehicle part was:

• coffee maker
• what Chad uses to make coffee while hunting
• R2D2's cousin
• homemade stove for hobos
• messed up fuel filter that somebody made themself
• fuel vapor canister
• fuel charcoal canister
• housing for filter cartridge
• alternator

Good guesses! Remember, we randomly give out prizes for those that guess on our facebook page frequently, so even if you don't know what it is, take a guess! We need to be amused, especially on a Thursday when it's been a long week! :)

For more tips like this, visit our Auto Care Tips page.

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CUSTOMER QUESTION: Can't I Just Add Fluid To My A/C If It's Not Running Cold?

We love answering your questions! A recent question asked by one of our customers was this:

"My air conditioner isn't running very cool. My friend said that a local auto parts store sells fluid that you can just add to your air conditioner and it will run cold again. Is this okay to do? It's definitely quite a bit cheaper than having the entire A/C serviced!"


We are very glad you asked us before just going ahead and doing this! Here's why......

PROBLEM WITH THIS "QUICK FIX": When the fluid levels in your A/C are low, you get air in the A/C system. When air is compressed it brings water vapor back to water liquid, and then it goes throughout the  A/C system. This will eventuality ruin the system (a/c compressor, etc.)

HOW TO PROPERLY FIX YOUR A/C: You should "Evacuate, recover, vacuum, then recharge" the system. This removes all moisture from the A/C system. Your air conditioner works much better with no moisture in it. Make sure you take it to a reliable shop that has the proper equipment to complete all of the above steps. If a shop is advertising a $20 A/C recharge compared to another shop charging $70, there is usually a reason. The proper questions to ask when having your A/C serviced is if they "evacuate, recover, vacuum, then recharge the system." If they are NOT doing all of these steps, it can cause you damage later on.

The old saying is "You can pay now or pay later!" Later usually ends up being very expensive and causing a lot of damage. By cutting corners and saving money now on your A/C, it will turn into a bigger problem later on down the road and cost you a lot more than doing it properly the first time!

DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ANSWERED?! Email us at michelle@ginesautoservice.com and we will post an answer to your question. If it's something you are wondering, chances are somebody else is too!


For more tips like this, visit our Auto Care Tips page.


(Image courtesy of computerclipart.com)

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WHAT IS IT?! Sneak Peek

Here is a sneak peek of the WHAT IS IT?! picture for tomorrow. Stay tuned on our Facebook page for complete details! The first person to correctly identify this vehicle part will receive $10 off their next service; but remember: do not start guessing until it's posted on Facebook tomorrow!

read more "WHAT IS IT?! Sneak Peek"

Utah's New Fireworks Laws

Many of our customers have been wondering about Utah's NEW fireworks laws, so we tracked them down for you!

Fire works...there's a new law for Utah.

You may contact the Office of the State Fire Marshal at 801-284-6350. Complete information can be found HERE.

Hello everybody, Fire Marshal Bob here. I want to take just a minute to inform you of a new law that effects they ways we can celebrate our Nation and heritage with fireworks. The legislature has not only increased the types of fireworks we can use but they have allowed us to shoot them from June 26th through July 26th.

First let me remind you that legal fireworks are still very dangerous and the effects of fireworks can cost all of us un-necessary dollars. Did you know that from 2002 and 2006 nearly half a million was the dollar amount in property loss due to fireworks. That doesn't begin to account for the monies from our tax dollars that were spent to combat these fires, or the money spent on medical bills from burns, amputations and other mutilations caused by fireworks. OK enough of the gruesome stuff.


Here are some good tips to remember as we get ready for our celebrations.

• Purchase fireworks from reliable, licensed fireworks dealers. Read all instructions to reduce the chances of a destructive fire or debilitating injury. Follow all safety guidelines exactly.
• Children should not handle fireworks. You must be at least 16 years of age to handle or light fireworks. Adults are to supervise any activity that includes fireworks.
• Never let children handle, play with or light fireworks. Only knowing and clear-headed adults should handle fireworks.
• Adults should never use alcohol or drugs or be impaired while engaged in handling, using, placing or lighting fireworks.
• New aerial type fireworks are now lawful. Aerial devices, also known as "multiple tube", "repeater", or "cake" fireworks often look like miniature professional displays and can travel high into the air, as much as 150 feet.
• These Fireworks need sufficient space from trees, carports, structures, powerlines, or other high or low obstacles. Aerial or "cake" fireworks need at least a 30 foot clearance around on the ground and at least 150 foot clearance in the air.
• Things that are still not allowed are fire crackers, M-80's, cherry bombs, bottle rockets, roman candles, single or reloadable mortars, and ground salutes. Remember that all State and Federal laws must be adhered to! Please use commonsense whenever you are around fireworks. Here are a few of Fire Marshal Bobs don'ts! Don't change or alter the fireworks in any way! Don't light them near or under a carport! Don't light them indoors! Don't carry fireworks in your pockets! Don't Shoot fireworks in windy conditions!
• Keep a bucket of water or running hose nearby during the time of lighting and disposing of fireworks and in case of an emergency.
• Wear safety glasses when shooting fireworks. Keep all unused fireworks 30 feet away from the shooting area.
• Make sure other people are out of range at a reasonable distance before lighting fireworks. Do not point or throw fireworks at people, animals or where they may not be under proper control. And remember, sparklers burn at 1200 degrees Fahrenheit. They are extremely deceptive in nature and can be an extraordinarily dangerous device in the hands of children and can cause serious burns and injuries if not cared for properly.
• Light fireworks one at a time. Do not attempt to light multiple fireworks at any time. Do not relight a firework whose fuse has burned away. Do not attempt to repair broken fireworks. Soak fireworks that did not ignite in a bucket of water. Once the firework is lit, get away quickly to a safe distance.
• Keep clear of the firework. Never place a body part above or around a burning firework. Never pickup a burning firework. Never look into the tube or stay close to the burning end of the device. Never hold a lit firework in your hand.
• Use caution with animals. Excitement, noise and lights can cause fear and stress.

As always...Be Smart... Be Safe... BE READY!

Fire Marshal Bob

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