Cool Running In St. Peter

Unless you live in Death Valley, you really don’t hear much any more about cars overheating. That’s because cooling systems in vehicles have been much improved. That doesn’t mean you can’t overheat your minivan engine, though. Without proper preventive maintenance, you could still find yourself on the side of the interstate in St. Peter waiting for your minivan engine to cool down.

When you service your cooling system at Autotronics of ST Peter, your tech will check the condition of the coolant. It can become corrosive over time, which can damage a radiator — leading to an overheated engine. Changing the coolant periodically is good car care. Your minivan owner’s manual can give you guidelines on how often to replace it.

If your engine overheated, your knowledgeable service advisor will also check your coolant system for leaks. Check the minivan radiator for cracks and the radiator hoses for leaks. He’ll also check your water pump. They don’t need to be replaced on a regular schedule, but they do need an inspection regularly. They can and do wear out.

The water pump is a critical component of your minivan cooling system. It pumps the coolant to keep it circulating through the engine. The coolant is cooled in the radiator, then it travels through the engine, where it absorbs heat, then it returns to the radiator, where it releases the heat. And so on. But a water pump is something of a misnomer. The fluid pumped through your minivan cooling system is not just water. It also contains coolant, which is actually poisonous. You should never consider your radiator as an emergency water supply.

There are many types of coolant. It varies from vehicle to vehicle, and using the wrong kind could damage your engine. Your technician will know which kind your vehicle’s manufacturer recommends. The team of automotive professionals at Autotronics of ST Peter is always a good source for auto advice. We’ve been providing quality automotive services at our convenient location in St. Peter for 13 years.

Keeping your cooling system in good repair will help keep your engine running well, and keep you out of the Cleveland repair shop. This means that a regular cooling system inspection should be on your schedule for routine preventive maintenance of your vehicle. Your owner’s manual will tell you how often you need to do this. It varies depending on what kind of car you drive, what type of driving you do and where you live in MN.

At Autotronics of ST Peter, we help you keep your cool which will keep you in the driving lane.

Cool Running in St. Peter

Unless you live in Death Valley, you really don’t hear much any more about cars overheating. That’s because cooling systems in vehicles have been much improved. That doesn’t mean you can’t overheat your vehicle engine, though. Without proper preventive maintenance, you could still find yourself on the side of the road in St. Peter waiting for your vehicle engine to cool down.

When you service your cooling system at Autotronics of St. Peter, your technician will check the condition of the coolant. It can become corrosive over time, which can damage a radiator — leading to an overheated engine. Changing the coolant periodically is good vehicle care. Your vehicle owner’s manual can give you guidelines on how often to replace it.

If your engine overheated, your friendly and knowledgeable service advisor will also check your coolant system for leaks. Check the vehicle radiator for cracks and the radiator hoses for leaks. He’ll also check your water pump. They don’t need to be replaced on a regular schedule, but they do need checked regularly. They can and do wear out.

The water pump is a critical component of your vehicle cooling system. It pumps the coolant to keep it circulating through the engine. The coolant is cooled in the radiator, then it travels through the engine, where it absorbs heat, then it returns to the radiator, where it releases the heat. And so on. But a water pump is something of a misnomer. The fluid pumped through your vehicle cooling system is not just water. It also contains coolant, which is actually poisonous. You should never consider your radiator as an emergency water supply.

There are many types of coolant. It varies from vehicle to vehicle, and using the wrong kind could damage your engine. Your service advisor will know which kind your vehicle’s manufacturer recommends. The team of automotive professionals at Autotronics of St. Peter is always a good source for auto advice. We’ve been providing quality automotive services at our convenient location in St. Peter for years.

At Autotronics of St. Peter, we help you keep your cool which will keep you in the driving lane.

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

Maintaining Your Diesel in Cleveland

Diesel engines have been used extensively in Europe and Asia for many years. They haven’t been as common in Cleveland 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 motorists driving diesel-fueled vehicles on the road, especially in passenger cars and SUV’s.

Diesels are popular in St. Peter because they get better MPG 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 Cleveland, we may soon see bio-diesel produced from algae. These fuel sources will lessen St. Peter auto owners’ dependence on fossil fuels and may even become truly renewable and sustainable.

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

So, you may be asking, if diesels are so great, why don’t all Cleveland motorists 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 efficiency 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 Cleveland. 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 St. Peter drivers depends now on the current price of fuel in MN and how many miles you drive.

Consider also that diesel-powered vehicles have a high resale value in the Cleveland 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 in St. Peter 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. Wait, you may be thinking, but you just told me that filters are more costly 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 Autotronics of 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 St. Peter driver and their driving habits. Now that you know the facts, you can make an informed choice based on your own priorities and needs.