COLUMBUS AUTO REPAIR

What is a Gasket? To prevent oil leaks and keep oil out of areas it shouldn't be, you need the oil pan gasket, which is what the description states. Material of the oil pan influences the type of gasket in your car. An aluminum pan's gasket is made of some sort of liquid silicone, while the gasket of a pressed steel pan is made of a formed rubber gasket. In order to keep the oil from spilling out, an oil pan gasket seals off the oil pan from the engine block. Expansion and contraction are accommodated due to temperature changes in the gasket seal. Vibrations from the engine are dampened by the gasket, preventing damage. Gasket Types The head gasket and valve gasket are among the gaskets included with your car. Valve covers, like the oil pan, require gaskets to seal correctly. Valve covering gaskets are produced from a substance that conforms the valve cover edges at the cylinder head. As the oil travels through the camshaft, valves, and other parts, this gasket acts as a se ... read more

Proper seasonal maintenance of an automobile can extend its life, increase its resale value, and in some cases, may be required to maintain its warranty status. Essential, easy-to-follow spring checks and maintenance will repeatedly reward owners down the road when conscientiously followed. Under-The-Vehicle Essentials Leaks of motor oil, transmission, brake, and power steering fluids, gasoline, and coolant, as well as unknown leaks, should be addressed. Properly functioning shocks and struts are necessary for the safe handling of any vehicle and need to be inspected each season. A car's entire braking system, including drums, rotors, and brake pads, should be inspected and repaired as needed each spring. Exterior Essentials Safe tires with sufficient tread might be the most important part of any spring maintenance program. Check that tires are properly inflated and show no deformities. Tread depths can be inspected using readily available gauges. Wiper blades should be repla ... read more

The most critical safety system for a motor vehicle is its braking system. Car owners must regularly pay attention to how well their brakes are performing. The items that need attention and care include the brake pads, rotors, calipers, and fluid lines. Out of all the items listed, brake pads are normal wear items since they undergo intense friction and heat to stop your vehicle.    Experts typically recommend replacing brake pads every 50,000 miles, give or take. Driving around with worn brake pads ultimately puts you and other drivers on the road at risk of accidents and injuries. While your brakes may seem like they work "fine," you may start slow, loud, and inefficient braking.  Signs It's Time to Change Your Brake Pads Squeaking or Squealing Noises: When brake pads are worn to the point where they become ineffective, a thin metal strip on the pads will emit a screeching or squealing sound when you apply the brakes. You should take this as a message ... read more

Your car runs on many different fluids: engine oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid/DOT fluid, coolant. But the one fluid that is often overlooked is the power steering fluid. Besides knowing that power steering fluid makes it easier to steer your car, most drivers don't know what kind of maintenance is required to upkeep the fluid and system.  There's way more to power steering than making the steering wheel easier to turn. Industry experts suggest that a periodic power steering fluid change can stop sludge and grit from collecting within the power steering components (rack, pinions, and seals).   How do you know when to swap out your power steering fluid?  Like your other fluids, power steering liquid can get dirty over time. Usually, contaminated fluid will display ineffective symptoms. For the power steering system, in particular, you might hear a moaning sound while steering left or right. Any unusual sounds usually mean that there is insufficient lubri ... read more

Winters in Columbus, OH, can take a toll on everyone's car. The salt from the roads can kick up and do irreversible damage to the car frame, and water-based fluids can freeze if they haven't been monitored. Not only that, but the cold, in general, can heavily strain the car's components. At Luke's Auto Service, we've performed many different kinds of repairs in the winter that could've been prevented by "winterizing". Here are some of the items that you should take care of this season: TIRES When's the last time you checked your tread? If your answer is unsure (or never), there's probably no tread left, meaning you need new tires. Without tread, your tires will not be able to grip the road properly, let alone grip wet or snow-covered roads. Also, the temperature can affect your tire pressure. The colder it gets, the lower your tire pressure becomes, even if you don't leak anywhere. Therefore, it's essential to check on your tire press ... read more

Most drivers only know what their battery looks like and how it works. However, a vehicle battery isn't the only aspect of your vehicle's charging system you should know about. The alternator plays just as crucial of a role in starting your car, if not more than your battery.   The alternator is a device strapped to the engine that runs off your engine belt. The alternator rotates while the engine is running. It transforms that mechanical energy into electrical energy to power all of your car's significant electric features, including its lights, the radio, power windows, and more.   All vehicle batteries have a total charge capacity of approximately 12 volts, which is more than enough to start your engine. But while your motor is working, your alternator is putting out additional voltage (occasionally up to 15 volts) to meet the demands of your other electronic-powered accessories. When an alternator stops working, not only will these functions stop working ... read more

With more and more advancements in the automotive industry, the more sensors there will be placed in cars. Sensors are simply attachments that communicate with your vehicle's internal computer. Without them, you simply would have no warning if something is going wrong with your car.   The downside of sensors is that they're not perfect. They can sometimes fail or even give you false information. It's not common for them to malfunction, but when they do, you'll need to fix it pronto. Certain vehicles have more sensors than others, and different manufacturers will make slight adjustments to their sensor tech to their newer models. These are the most common sensors that exist in today's cars: Oxygen (O2) Sensor: The oxygen sensor exists within the exhaust system and is responsible for measuring the oxygen levels present in your exhaust fumes. It tells the vehicle's computer system when there is a dangerous level of emissions. Engine Speed Sensor: This mech ... read more

A new season is around the corner: Fall. Before you know it, the leaves will change to warm hues, and the temperatures are going to drop. Just because summer is coming to an end doesn't mean the fun road adventures have to end too. There are many enjoyable activities you can do this fall with your loved ones. All you need to do is a happy and healthy vehicle to take you where you need to make it happen. Below are our top 5 fun fall activities!    1) Go to an Apple Orchard Apple picking is an autumnal classic. If you live within reach of an apple orchard, make a day of it. Some places sell you bushels of apples, while others even let you pick your own. You'll enjoy the fresh air and crisp apples. Pro tip: You can use these fresh apples to bake a delicious apple pie!   2) Carve a Pumpkin In addition to an apple orchard, you can look for a nearby pumpkin farm. The best part is that you can bring home some pumpkins to carve and decorate your home.   3) T ... read more

Your vehicle's timing belt is an indispensable part of the engine because of its function. It is reliable for synchronizing and regulating the rotation of the crankshaft and camshaft. Without this operation, the engine valves would not open and close at the proper times for performance. The timing belt has rubbery "teeth" to provide consistent coordination. If the timing is wrong, it could be harmful to your engine.    What Causes Timing Belts to Fail? There are various ways that a timing belt can fail. These include: Stripped teeth Unraveling of the belt's fiber cores Belt breakage (fairly uncommon) Too tight or too loose of a belt What Are the Signs of Timing Belt Failure? Several symptoms may indicate that your timing belt needs replacement. Here's what to look for: Ticking or clicking sounds coming from the engine Visual signs of belt damage—cracks and/or glazing Engine runs rough Slow engine starts or a failure to start engine Oil ... read more

Coolant is a mixture of water and antifreeze that helps prevent damage to your engine. It is usually green or red-colored, and its chemical composition keeps your engine from overheating. As you can already imagine, checking the level is essential, especially now that it's summer. Thankfully, checking your coolant level is an easy task that most of us can do.   First and foremost, you must make sure the engine is cooled down. In other words, you should never remove the radiator cap when the engine is hot. At least let it sit for a few hours after driving. Otherwise, hot coolant can spray out, causing burns. It's also an excellent idea to refer to your owner's manual during this process.   Usually, there is one low and one high marking on the side of the overflow container connected to the cooling system. The markings will tell you if there is enough coolant in the engine, as the coolant meniscus should be between the two marks. The container usually has a brig ... read more