Alexandria Auto Repair

With the current stay-at-home orders, our customers' cars may be sitting in driveways and garages for days or weeks at a time. In order to keep your car in good shape, it's important to start your car at least once a week and keep up with routine car care to help prevent potential maintenance issues. When starting your car weekly, let it run for at least five minutes. (If you car is in a garage, be sure to open the door first.) Alternatively, taking your car for a short drive can also help with other maintenance issues: Battery – Today’s vehicles have several computers that are always in operation, so if a car sits too long without recharging, the battery could die within a couple of weeks.  Tires – Checking the tire pressure frequently is more important if the car is parked for long periods of time. Vehicles that sit idle too long can develop flat spots, so taking a brief drive every once in a while will help prevent ... read more

Here at Yates Express Lube, we obviously complete a lot of oil changes. With that, we also field a lot of great questions about oil changes from our customers. Here are the most common questions – and their answers – that we get on a regular basis. Why should I get an oil change? The answer to this question may seem obvious, but oil lubricates the moving parts of the engine enabling it to work properly and avoid damage. However, over time, that oil becomes dirty and breaks down becoming less effective. Regularly oil changes can ensure your car is working as efficiently as possible and helps prevent costly repairs. When should I change my oil? Although opinions on this vary, the best answer is to check your vehicle’s owner’s manual. It will tell you how often you should change your oil for your car’s specific make and model. Additionally, some vehicles have sensor that illuminates on the dashboard that indicate whe ... read more