Save Your Engine By Maintaining Your Fuel Injectors

A mechanic utilizing a tablet during auto repairs.

Mechanic Working On A Car

Are you burning through tanks of gas faster than you used to? Finding it harder to speed up to get around the nice old lady going 35mph on the highway? Having issues with your engine sputtering when you slow down? When was the last time you had your fuel injectors looked at? Keeping your fuel injection system well-maintained is one of the keys to better fuel performance for your car and a longer life for your engine.

Why Do Fuel Injectors Matter?

Your car’s fuel injection system consists of two primary parts: the fuel injectors and the fuel pump. The fuel pump sends pressurized fuel from the gas tank to the car’s engine bay. The injectors then distribute the fuel to different cylinders within the engine as a fine spray. Your spark plugs ignite the spray from the injectors, powering your car.

Computers control modern fuel injection systems, replacing the manual carburetors found in most cars built before 1990. Carburetors required time to warm-up before the car was ready to drive. Modern systems improve upon this performance by allowing cars to start up right away without needing this warm-up period, even in cold weather.

Fuel injection systems also improve the fuel efficiency of your car. A well-maintained system limits the amount of gas needed to power the car, giving you better mileage for every tank of gas. They also make less noise than old carburetor-powered engines and lead to less engine maintenance as your car parts last longer in this type of system.

Fuel Injection Maintenance

There are two primary ways to clean and maintain fuel injection systems:

On-Car Cleaning

These are a less-intensive way of cleaning injection systems. Nothing is taken apart or removed; instead, cleaners are introduced to remove contaminants from the system.

  • Method 1: Additives get poured directly into the fuel tank. They flow through the fuel system, eventually reaching the injectors and working to remove impurities.
  • Method 2: A pressurized canister of injector cleaner gets attached to the car’s fuel rail. The engine runs off of the cleaner instead of the fuel, giving the injectors a more thorough cleaning.

Off-Car Cleaning

The injectors get removed from your car entirely and cleaned with special ultrasonic tools. They’re then tested to ensure that the flow rate and spray pattern are within acceptable limits. Technicians also check for possible leaks before putting the injectors back into your car.

Fuel Injector Wear And Tear

You suck in dirt and other contaminants every time you drive your car. Over time, those contaminants get into your engine. When too much of it gets pulled into your injector and fuel pump, your car begins experiencing problems including:

  • A lack of acceleration when you step on your gas pedal
  • You start burning through gas faster every time you fill up
  • There’s a noticeable unevenness when you let your engine idle

Continued failure to maintain your car’s fuel injection system often leads to major damage to your engine, costing you a lot of money in repairs.

Check Your Fuel Injectors Today at Ace Auto in West Jordan, Utah

Think you might have an issue with your car’s fuel injection system? Contact Ace Auto in West Jordan, Utah today and schedule a review of your injection system. We’ll make sure your engine runs as efficiently as possible. Give our master mechanics a call today at 801-447-1693 for a free quote on your next service!

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5 Warning Signs Your Car Needs a New Timing Belt

Man Looking Troubled Under the Cars Hood

Man Looking Troubled Under the Cars Hood

Prevention is the Best Solution

Your vehicle's mileage is the best indicator a new timing belt is needed. Most of us don't even think about it until there's a problem, but there are warning signs for a bad timing belt that you shouldn't ignore. Most commonly you will notice symptoms while trying to start your car or if it's making funny noises and acting-up while running. Since vehicle manufacturers provide specific mileage for timing belt replacement, and prevention is the best solution. If you already suspect your car needs a new timing belt, have it checked before time runs out.

Check Your Owner's Manual

Because the timing belt is responsible for turning your engine's cam and crankshaft in sync, it is subject to incredible exertion and typically needs to be replaced within 60,000 - 100,000 miles, depending on the manufacturer's recommendation. Check your owner's manual for exact mileage recommendations on your specific vehicle. There are only a few warning indicators that can help you diagnose a weak or loose timing belt, but there are no obvious clues to indicate a worn belt that may be close to snapping.

It's About Time to Replace Your Timing Belt

Since the timing belt is absolutely essential to the safe operation of your vehicle, please have an experienced mechanic inspect it if you think something is wrong. Listed below are five signs to be aware of that may help determine if it's about time to replace your timing belt:

  • What's That Sound? - One sound that you need to be aware of is a high-pitched screech or whirring when you first start your car and/or when you're idling or accelerating. The next is a ticking coming from inside the engine itself. These are both possible indicators that the timing belt is malfunctioning.
  • Between 2000 - 4000 RPM - An engine that starts acting up when you reach between 2000 - 4000 RPM could be failing to function normally because the timing belt is loose or breaking down from wear and tear. This may cause the belt to 'slip' while accelerating.
  • Heavy Exhaust Fumes - If you notice more smoke and fumes than normal coming from the exhaust, this could be another indication that your timing belt is overdue for a replacement. The engine running with a malfunctioning belt can cause excessive exhaust fumes.
  • Engine Will Not Turn Over - When you try to start your car, can hear the starter motor but the engine will not turn over in addition to any of the above warning signs - it is quite possible that damage has been done to the engine as a result of a broken or snapped timing belt.
  • Car Stops Working Abruptly - This is the worst-case scenario that can leave you stranded with major engine damage. Because of the obvious danger, you will know immediately if your car stops running abruptly, that you need to have a full inspection of all running components including the timing belt.

If you're not sure about your timing belt or if you think there may be a problem, let our expert mechanics at Ace Auto Repair in West Jordan, Utah check things out for you. Don’t let time run out, contact us today for a FREE Repair Quote.

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When It's Important to Get an Anti-Freeze Flush

A mechanic is pouring water into a car in the snow for auto repair.

Adding Antifreeze - Antifreeze Flush Services in West Jordan, Utah

When is it time to get your anti-freeze flushed? If you're a new car owner, perhaps you don't know what an anti-freeze flush is. Let me explain. An anti-freeze flush is the same as a cooling system flush, and it really is good for your vehicle. It removes rust, dirt, sludge, and dirty coolant from your radiator, water hoses, water pump, and all your engine's cooling passages. And, of course, a coolant flush is helpful, too. It's a flush that adds cleaner to the coolant system, in order to remove sediment and rust. Then, the system is flushed thoroughly, and new anti-freeze is added to your car. 

What is Anti-Freeze?

Coolant, a 50/50 mix of anti-freeze and water, flushes out your car's cooling system and is definitely part of a regular maintenance for your car. It prevents your engine from getting too hot. This, in turn, means you won't be sitting on the edge of the road waiting for a tow truck! If you only drain your radiator or fill it, you won't be getting to the crux of the problem, though. You'll definitely need to do a complete flush to get to the core of your problem, and this is necessary to prevent your car from getting way too hot and breaking down on you.

When Its Important To Have An Antifreeze Flush?

Anti-freeze is a product that flows through your coolant system and keeps your engine and cooling services in your car at the right temperature. If your anti-freeze gets too low or too dirty, it can be one of the main overheating engine causes, which is just about the last thing you want. If your engine overheats in today's world, it's sure to lead to a huge meltdown, and you're sure to have to spend your hard-earned money on expensive repairs to get your car back to normal. If your coolant isn't changed regularly, there will be several signs that you can look for, to make sure you get your coolant checked out:

  • Low coolant warning light
  • Engine temperature gauge is red zoned
  • Low coolant levels, if you check yourself
  • Steam leaking from under your hood
  • Overheating engine
  • Cold air coming out of your heating vents (instead of hot air)

If you notice any of these things, it's super-important to get your anti-freeze flushed, or at least come have your vehicle checked out by one of our mechanics at Ace Auto Repair in West Jordan Utah. You want to make sure you avoid, at all costs, the meltdown that can occur when your coolant levels get dirty or low. You will save yourself money if you get your coolant checked and refreshed regularly, and you're sure to avoid the same kinds of things that you hear about from folks you know who've spent ALL their money repairing their vehicle.

How Often Do You Need To Change Your Coolant?

If you're wondering, just by chance, how often you need to change your anti-freeze, here are some tips. If you have the owner's manual to your car, you can start by looking at it, but sometimes, the easiest thing to do is just to check under your hood and look at your coolant levels. You can easily see if you need to get more coolant. If your coolant levels are less than desirable, it will look brown and a lot less clear. If your coolant levels are desperate level, then it will be really sludgy. You'll know then that you need to change it as soon as you can, and getting a coolant system flush is by far the best way to go to make sure your vehicle is ready to be up and running safely again.

Let Ace Auto Repair Handle Your Cooling System with an Antifreeze Flush

At Ace Auto Repair, we have been rated the #1 auto mechanic in West Jordan Utah and would love to take care of your coolant flush for you.

If your car is showing signs of needing the Anti-Freeze flushed, stop by Ace Auto Repair in West Jordan, Utah for a free repair quote. Feel free to give us a call at (801) 803-6016 for any questions!

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