Diesel engines have been used extensively in Europe and Asia for many years. They haven’t been as common in the St. Peter area because of the high sulfur content in our diesel fuel. But the government is now mandating lower sulfur content and, as a result, we are going to see more St. Peter diesel-fueled vehicles on the road, especially in passenger cars and SUV’s.

Diesels are popular in MN because they get better fuel economy than gas-powered engines. They also last longer. Modern diesel engines are quiet and powerful. And if you associate diesel engines with black smoke, then you’re not up with the times. That smoke is a thing of the past.

Diesels don’t produce any more pollutants than gasoline engines. The pollution standards for diesel-powered vehicles are as strict in MN as for other vehicles.

Also, diesel engines can run on bio-diesel fuels as well as fossil fuels. Diesel fuel can be produced from vegetable oil or from cellulosic waste like wood chips and sawdust. In MN, we may soon see bio-diesel produced from algae. These fuel sources will lessen St. Peter drivers dependence on fossil fuels and may even become truly renewable and sustainable.

Diesel-powered vehicles also perform as well as other passenger vehicles. Most people don’t notice a difference in driving one or the other. If you haul heavy loads or tow a trailer around MN, however, the diesel is a definite improvement.

So, you may be asking, if diesels are so great, why don’t all St. Peter people drive them? Surely there are disadvantages you haven’t told me about. That’s true. Diesel engines are heavier than gas engines, and they cost more in MN. The better fuel economy of the diesel engine is partially offset by the higher purchase price.

Because of higher fuel prices, diesel engines used to be more expensive to drive in St. Peter. But now, with higher volatility in the prices of both gasoline and diesel fuel in MN, that cost difference is less definitive. Whether a diesel or gas engine is more expensive for MN drivers depends now on the current price of fuel and how far you drive.

Consider also that diesel-powered vehicles have a high resale value in the St. Peter area, and the costs of owning and operating a diesel vs. a gas-powered vehicle in MN becomes a real toss-up.

Preventive auto maintenance for diesel vehicles has also become similar to that of gas-fueled vehicles in recent years. The major difference is that diesels require cleaner fuel, air and oil, so their filters are more expensive than those for gasoline engines. The engine air filter must be changed more frequently as well.

The costs for car care and repairs in St. Peter are similar. You may be thinking, wait:  You just told me that filters are more and have to be changed more regularly. True, but that is offset by the fact that diesel engines have a much longer lifetime than gasoline engines. So if you are the type of owner who prefers to hang on to a vehicle for a long time, you will be more than rewarded with a diesel engine.

So if you have been looking for St. Peter auto advice on whether to switch to a diesel vehicle or stay with a gas-powered one, then we hope this helps. The answer as to which type of vehicle is better is that it depends on the driver and their driving habits. Now that you know the facts, you can make an informed choice based on your own priorities and needs.

 Autotronics of St. Peter
111 Jefferson Avenue
St. Peter, MN 56082
507.934.9290
http://autotronicsstpeter.com

Everyone in St. Peter, MN eventually replaces their tires, whether it’s because they’re worn out or they’re just looking for something different. There are so many great tire choices in St. Peter, it can be difficult to sort them out. Let’s group the broad spectrum into several categories that will help in the selection process.

One category is often referred to as “summer tires”. Summer tires are designed to be driven on the road when temperatures are generally above 45 degrees F (7 degrees C). Their tread design is optimized for traction on dry roads around MN and they’re also able to effectively displace water on rainy roads.

So if you live where its summer all year round, these tires will work well for you. If you like maximum performance in warm weather, but still live where it gets cold and snowy, you’ll want to change your summer tires for winter tires as the weather starts to change.

There’s a range of tires within the winter tire category. If you live where there’s a lot of snow and ice, look for the mountain and snowflake icon that signifies a severe snow rating. If you have milder winters and still want a performance component, they make a winter tire for you as well.

For many people, an all-season tire is the answer. You will give up some of the performance at the extreme ends of the summer tire/ winter tire spectrum, but you will find a long wearing tire that gives both good highway performance and winter traction on our St. Peter, MN, roads.

Within the all-season category, there are many choices that your tire advisor at Autotronics of St. Peter can help you evaluate.

Autotronics of St. Peter
111 Jefferson Avenue
St. Peter, MN 56082
507.934.9290
http://autotronicsstpeter.com

When your vehicle breaks down in the St. Peter, MN, area, or just needs some routine service, it can make you a little nervous. Because your vehicle’s so important to your life, you need to be back on the road as soon as possible — with the problem fixed right the first time.

We’ve been checking into some of the training our St. Peter, MN, technicians receive, and we’re very impressed. It’s amazing how much knowledge and skill goes into diagnosing and repairing a modern vehicle. So it’s not like when your uncle worked on his hot rod over the weekend.

Today there are four-cylinder engines around St. Peter that make more power than the V-8’s in luxury cars did 20 years ago. A new V-6 Toyota Camry could beat Sonny Crocket’s Ferrari in a race to 60 mph/97 kph.

Our engines are more and more powerful. And they’re so reliable. This is all due to engineering. But the benefits come to St. Peter drivers at the price of simplicity. Modern cars are so much more complex from a mechanical standpoint that it makes your head spin.

Then there are the electronics. Some vehicles on MN roads have several networked computers controlling most of the engine functions and many other vehicle functions as well. St. Peter drivers take all of this sophistication for granted – but somebody has to fix it when it breaks.

It’s a real challenge for the pros at Autotronics of St. Peter and other St. Peter auto service centers to keep up. It requires a high level of commitment on the part of the auto technician and the service center. In addition to the training, there’s the financial commitment to purchase the diagnostic and repair tools as well.

So where do St. Peter technicians go for training? There are many sources. It’s usually a combination of formal classroom training, training provided in the service center by auto parts and equipment manufacturers, online courses and home study courses. There are many independent certifications available all the way up to Master Technician.

Service centers in St. Peter, MN, have a lot of other resources available.  No one can know everything, so service centers like Autotronics of St. Peter subscribe to data services, technical libraries and even online communities that can help them when they run into a difficult problem.

It’s like those medical diagnosis shows on TV. Here are the symptoms. What’s the diagnosis and treatment? Diagnosis is every bit as much an art as a science. St. Peter drivers want everything to be simple, straightforward and cheap – and sometimes it just isn’t.

So, be more relaxed next time you take your vehicle in. You can trust the professionals at Autotronics of St. Peter. You’re in good hands. The more you know, the more comfortable you can be with your automotive service decisions at Autotronics of St. Peter. 

Autotronics of St. Peter
111 Jefferson Avenue
St. Peter, MN 56082
507.934.9290
http://autotronicsstpeter.com