Gines Auto Service BLOG

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Keeping Tires Properly Inflated

A properly inflated tire will roll better than one that is not properly inflated.
Imagine the effect this has on your vehicle as you drive down the road.
Watch a short video below demonstrating this.

You've probably heard more than once that keeping your tires properly inflated can help prevent blowouts, increase the life of your tire, and increase your gas mileage.

HOW does keeping your tires properly inflated help with all of this?!

When tires are inflated properly they are easier to roll and have less drag. When they are low on air the excessive drag causes heat. The heat and not having even weight distribution across the tread causes the tires to wear out faster than they should, and could cause the interior construction of the tire to come apart, which is known as a blowout.
When the tire is low on pressure and becomes hard to roll it makes the engine work harder which burns more fuel than it should.
When a tire is low on pressure, it does not wear evenly on all sides, which decreases the life of your tire.
Watch the short demonstration in the video below on the difference between a properly inflated tire and a tire that is not properly inflated.

How do I know how much air my tire needs?

Many people will tell you to look on the inside of your driver's side door, but we always tell our customers to look directly on the tire. You will see a marking around the inside that says "Max Press." for maximum pressure. Watch a short video below on how to check your tire pressure.

We are always happy to show you how to check your tires, or do it for you. Stop by any time during regular business hours (Monday-Friday 7:30am to 6pm)! We are located at 4261 W 5415 S in Kearns, and can be reached at (801) 966-6021 or contact@ginesautoservice.com.

You can also find us on:

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Fun Facts About Hybrid Vehicles

Toyota Prius

Did you know...
(information from hybridcars.com)

The first plans for a hybrid were developed by priest and astronomer Ferdinand Verbiest some time between 1665 and 1825.
An electric-powered taxicab was introduced in England in 1886, and the London Electric Cab Company began regular service using electric cars in 1897.
Over 500 electric cars were built in 1897-1899.
In 1900, American car companies built 1,681 steam cars, 1,575 electric cars, and 936 gasoline cars.
Read more fun facts on HybridCars.com.

Many of the manufacturers, including General Motors, were introducing hybrids on order in the 1980s-1990s. If the technology was around so early for electric cars, why did it take until 1997 for Toyota to introduce the first mass-produced hybrid, which is the Prius?

Battery technology in the last 15-20 years is what's made it possible for hybrid cars to be on the market now. The batteries wouldn't last long enough.
Batteries take a long time to recharge, don't put out as much power as gasoline. For a long time, gasoline was cheap, but now that gas prices are going up, the federal government has put out incentives for car manufacturers to improve batteries and electric cars.
Batteries still take a long time to charge, which is why you don't see many "full electric vehicles". You'll never get the power and convenience out of batteries as you do petroleum based fuels (gasoline, diesel, fossil fuels).
On full electric vehicles, you can drive approximately 40-50 miles, then you have to plug it in and let it charge for approximately six hours.
The Chevy Volt runs on electric for approximately 40-50 miles, then switches to gas and electric, and charges the battery while on gas.

DON'T FORGET! We are now ACDC certified to work on and repair hybrid / electric vehicle cars!

We have spent the last year and a half getting all the training necessary to be the only independent repair shop along the Wasatch Front certified to work on and repair hybrid cars.

May 2011, Mark and Chad flew to California for a hybrid training class. Craig VanBattenberg from Massachusetts was the instructor, and did such a fabulous job teaching, that Mark invited him here to teach a training class on hybrids / electric vehicles.

May 2012, VanBattenberg's staff and our staff had worked for a month and a half calling auto repair shops from Ogden to Provo to invite them to the training, but the class ended up consisting of only Mark, Gary, Chad and Preston.

June 2012, Chad flew to Massachusetts to attend a six day, advanced hybrid / electric vehicle training class, also taught by VanBattenberg. The first two days were in class training, and the third and fourth day were in a shop doing hands-on training. The fifth and sixth days were a mix of in-class and hands-on, reviewing and confirming what he had learned the previous days. The class had 16 people split up into groups of four. There were enough cars for every person in the class to work on one. The instructor had a variety of hybrid / electric vehicles to learn on, including two first generation Prius, two Second Generation Prius, two Ford Escape Hybrids, two Honda Insights, a Chevrolet Volt and a Honda Accord Hybrid. During the class, the instructor had each group make a short presentation for the rest of the class so that everyone had a chance to learn the same material. While in the shop it was basically learn whatever you wanted and the teacher had all his tools, scopes, and meters so that any questions that arose, we could figure them out. Each group also had an ACDC employee with them to answer questions and help repair the vehicles. Every car was taken apart and put back together more than once. Chad's group took a Prius that would not even move and rebuilt the high voltage battery in it. After getting the car fixed, they tested it out to see what happens if there is a high voltage short to ground. They found out the cars are built very safe.

"After being in this class I feel very comfortable testing and repairing Hybrid and Electrical vehicles," Chad said. "They can be very dangerous to anyone that doesn’t know what they are doing if they remove the wrong protective cover or grab a part of the high voltage system without the proper protection."

FREE Hybrid / Electric Vehicle battery test!

Spread the word to your friends and family that own hybrid / electric vehicles that we will test their battery for free to make sure it's ready for Winter! You can visit us at Gines Auto Service in Kearns at 4261 W 5415 S. You can also connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Highway Safety Tips and FREE Roadside Assistance!

It's the last half of Summer, and everybody is trying to get in that last road trip / vacation before school starts. Here are some tips from us on how to stay safe on the highway getting to and from your destination, or just with every day driving:

Put the cell phone DOWN!
Texting and driving, and even distracted driving by cell phones, is becoming a big killer on the roads. It's not worth it.......if you have to text or talk, PLEASE pull over!

What To Do If I Get A Flat?

Before leaving, make sure your trunk has a jack, lug wrench and other tools you'll need to change a tire. When you get a flat tire, or have a blowout, the first thing you need to do is stay calm. Do not slam on your brakes! - this can cause you to lose control. Pull to the side of the road and out of traffic, and slowly bring your vehicle to a stop. DO NOT try to drive on a flat tire! This will cause damage to your rim, and can also cause you to lose control. Watch a video on tips when changing your tire on our YouTube channel. We are always available if you want to learn how to change your tire with the jack designed for your specific vehicle; just come on in during regular business hours! You can also watch our blog for our next FREE Women's Auto Care Workshop, where we will teach you how to change your tire. Through ACDelco we are also offering FREE roadside assistance for all of our 2012 customers! Check out the details HERE.

What should I check before heading out on a road trip?

It is always a good idea to look your vehicle over before heading out on a road trip. Here are a few things you should look at:

Tire pressure: Making sure you have adequate tire pressure can not only help prevent a blowout, but can also help you in your gas mileage. (Don't forget to check your spare tire as well!) Watch a short video on our YouTube channel how to check your tire pressure.
Tire tread: Driving on bald tires is the main cause of flats and blowouts. Rotating your tires during your regularly scheduled maintenance helps your tires to wear evenly all the way around, and not just on one side. (Don't forget to check your spare tire as well!) Watch a short video on our YouTube channel on how to check to see if your tire tread is too low.
Major fluids: Make sure to check your oil, windshield washer fluid, radiator fluid and ??. You can watch short videos on our YouTube channel on how to check your oil and windshield washer fluid. If you have any questions on how to check your fluids, stop by during regular business hours and we can help you with that.
Wiper Blades: Make sure your wiper blades are not old and worn out. Driving in a rainstorm with worn wiper blades will cause decreased visibility.
Lights: Make sure that your headlights, high beams, brake lights and turn signals are all in working order.
Belts and Hoses: Make sure your belts and hoses don't have any visible cracks or kinks.

Emergency Kit

Being prepared before an emergency happens is the best way to handle an emergency situation. Read through our list of suggested emergency kit essentials, and adjust the contents according to the current season. You can also find more road trip tips and other items to make sure you have with you on our Road Trip Tips post.

FREE Roadside Assistance for all of our customers!

If you have been to our shop and have a work order dated any time from 2012, you can receive free roadside assistance (up to $75) through ACDelco. You MUST call the ACDelco number before contacting roadside assistance, so make sure to have that on hand! You can read all the details HERE.

A Few more reminders before leaving on a road trip:

Make sure you have a working flashlight with extra batteries, emergency reflectors, sunglasses and a first aid-kit
Take your driver's license, vehicle registration and auto and medical insurance cards
Carry a spare set of vehicle keys
Plan your route and leave a copy of your itinerary with a relative or neighbor
Bring any special medications and prescription information
Take your doctor's phone number
Take your eyeglass prescription
Bring a cellular phone or a sign that tells passersby to “Call Police” in case of trouble
Have any repairs or vehicle maintenance performed before the trip—see your vehicle's owner's manual for vehicle maintenance schedules.

Connect with us:

On Facebook (and right now we are giving away a family four-pack of tickets to Rocky Mountain Raceway!)
Blog
Website
Follow us on Twitter
View our YouTube channel

Gines Auto Service is located at 4261 So 5415 W in Kearns, UT. We just celebrated 50 years in business!

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

HOW TO: Cook Cookies In Your Car

We are taking a break this week from our regular auto tips to bring you a very important piece of information. It breaks our hearts every time we hear of a child or a pet left in a hot vehicle, even if it's "just for a minute".

Summer is in full swing, and the temperatures are higher than in previous years.

Below is a video of how hot and how fast a car's temperature can go up. In fact, the temperatures get SO hot in a vehicle, that you can even bake cookies in your vehicle! The second video will show you how. It's a fun summer project you can do with your kids, while teaching them how hot a car can get.

Please please think twice and don't leave your children or pets in a hot car! Even a minute can turn into longer without realizing it.

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Difference In Oil Change Prices

Cheap quality oil filters vs good quality oil filters

Many times we hear "The shop down the street only charges ____ for oil changes; why do you charge what you charge?" We have a display in our office that shows you the quality of a good oil filter like the ones we use, versus the "cheap" ones like many other oil change shops use.

Why is it important to use a good quality oil filter that may cost more, compared to a cheap one that costs less?

When paying for an oil change, the old saying "You get what you pay for" applies. If you are paying less, it's most likely because the best filters are not being used.

We recently received a letter from General Motors and ACDelco (READ IT HERE) about the importance of shops using good quality oil filters, not just the cheap ones to save the customers a quick buck. This is something we have known for years, thus being the reason why we only use good quality filters. Read the letter we received, proving yet again that the lowest cost isn't always the best! It may be doing you more harm than good!

A good quality oil filter will last, where a cheaper filter is less durable and can break. The oil filter's job is to remove oil contaminants. It sifts out the solid particles while allowing the oil to flow unrestricted through the engine. When the oil filter becomes "full" or "clogged", the oil and contaminants will flow around the filter. When bypassing occurs, contaminants head straight for the engine where they can eventually cause permanent engine damage. View the video below on the difference.

Don't be afraid to ask!
When it comes to your vehicle, never be afraid to ask your mechanic any question you may have. If your mechanic won't take the time to discuss your questions and concerns with you, then maybe that mechanic isn't worth your money. Knowledge is power, and the more you know, the better informed decisions you can make when it comes to what is best for making your vehicle last.

Come and see the difference

We have a display in our office comparing a good quality filter with a cheap quality filter that costs less. Stop in any time, and we would love to show you why spending a little bit more for each oil change to have the good quality filters is worth it! We are located at 4261 W 5415 S in Kearns, UT. You can call us any time with questions you may have (801) 966-6021.

Connect with us:

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Women's Workshop and Construction UPDATE

WE ARE OPEN during construction!

Twice a year we hold FREE Women's Auto Care Workshops: Knowledge Is Power. The picture to the right was taken today, and is the bay that we hold our workshops in. Due to the construction on 5400 South, we are required to do a small remodel of our shop.

We are still open during construction, but as of right now we do not have a date set yet for the next workshop.

Please stay tuned to our blog and facebook page for updates as we get through this construction, and look forward to setting a date for the next workshop.

Thanks for your patience! We are anticipating and looking forward to the next workshop just as much as you are! :)

Thursday, May 10, 2012

KSL A-List Banquet

Thanks again to everybody who voted to make us the #1 Auto Repair Shop in Salt Lake City! We were able to attend a banquet last Thursday with other KSL A-List winners.

Monday, May 7, 2012

ENTER TO WIN Rocky Mountain Raceway Tickets!

Racing season is officially under way, and there's no better way to spend a spring or summer evening under the stars alongside the race track!

Thanks to Rachael with Rocky Mountain Raceway, Gines Auto Service has some FREE tickets to give away!

We also have some pocket schedules for the 2012 racing season. Stop by our shop and pick one up for free, while supplies last! We are located at 4261 W 5415 S in Kearns. If you need directions, call us at (801) 966-6021.

Go to our Facebook page and enter to win! You MUST fill out the entry form under ENTER TO WIN to be entered into this drawing! Just "liking" the page will not get you entered...go to the page, like it, and click on Enter To Win!

Here's what you need to know:

Because this contest will be held on our facebook page, you must "like" Gines Auto Service on Facebook to be able to enter to win. Then click on Enter To Win and fill out the entry form.
Over the next four weeks, we will be giving away three family four-pack general admission tickets to Rocky Mountain Raceway.

Can be used for any weekly race event in the 2012 season except for: 5/12, 5/26, 5/28, 6/29, 6/30, 7/7, 7/21, 7/28, 8/11, 8/12, 8/25, 9/3, or 9/29.
Tickets expire and must be used before September 28th 2012.

The winners of the family four-pack of tickets will be chosen on the following dates:

Tuesday May 22nd, 2012 - Congrats to Julie White!
Tuesday May 29th, 2012 - Congrats to Jakell Meckley!
Tuesday June 5th, 2012 - Congrats to Roeshell Siler!

Winner must pick up their family four-pack of tickets from Gines Auto Service during regular business hours.
All entries will remain in the database until the final winner has been chosen on Tuesday June 5th. You do not need to enter each week.
Please visit the Rocky Mountain Raceway website for schedule and special circumstances (rain outs, map and directions, etc.)

EXTRA ENTRIES are given for:

Liking RMR on Facebook
Following RMR on Twitter
Subscribing to the Gines Auto Service blog
Following Gines Auto Service on Twitter
Share this with friends! Each person that mentions your name when entering will earn you an extra entry!

Connect With Rocky Mountain Raceway:

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Gines Auto Service Named #1 Best Auto Repair!

Gines Auto Service was just named "Best Auto Repair" by KSL City Voters! Thank you to everybody who voted!

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Gines Service Helps Save The Environment

At Gines Auto Service, we recognize the importance of "being green" and helping to clean up our planet.

Energy Logic Furnace purchased a few years ago

In 1992, we purchased a furnace that is powered by used oil. By burning used oil instead of disposing of it, we are saving on gas and eliminating the use of oil disposal.

Because this type of furnace was such a success in our shop, we purchased another one a few years ago. We now run two different furnaces to heat our shop, and help clean up the environment, by burning used oil.

Purchased in 1992

Every gallon of waste oil contains 140,000 BTUs of energy. That's the same amount of energy that the oil had before it was used. Waste-oil heating conserves nonrenewable energy sources, such as natural gas, heating oil, propane or coal-generated electricity. Waste-oil heating systems consume very little energy, between 1,650 and 2,200 watts – that's about the same amount of energy needed to run a toaster or hair dryer. By finding smart, efficient ways to reuse waste oil, we're taking less away from this planet we call home.

The EPA has approved the use of used oil heaters for businesses under its Used Oil Regulations. Enacted by the EPA, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, CFR Title 40, defines used oil and the explicit guidelines that must be followed in order to safely burn used oil for energy. In Regulation 279, CFR Title 40, EPA provides guidelines for the equipment that can be used for burning used oil. Each state has its own Used Oil Regulations and should be considered when purchasing a used oil heating system. Most have rules very similar to the Federal rules with some small variations. They are not allowed in California.

You can read more about our used oil furnace on the Energy Logic website.

How can YOU celebrate Earth Day?

I have compiled a list of Earth Day Activities and Events going on today. You can view the list on my blog on Today's Mama.