Gig Harbor Auto Repair

Pop quiz: What is a cabin air filter? Clever you, it's C. A cabin air filter cleans the outside air before it comes into the passenger compartment of your car. It filters out common Gig Harbor air particles like dust, pollen, spores, bacteria, pollutants, exhaust gas, odors and even sparrows. These high tech filters can block particles larger than 3 microns. By contrast, a grain of sand is about 200 microns. Not all Gig Harbor motorists have cabin air filters. They are fairly new on the scene. Last check, about forty percent of new vehicles sold in Gig Harbor come with cabin air filters, but the number is growing every year. Cabin air filters make driving a lot more pleasant. Your car can be a haven during our Gig Harbor allergy season with very little dust and pollen getting into the cabin. Of course, like all filters, the cabin air filter eventually gets clogged. When this happens, your heating and air conditioning flow can become restricted. The filter ca ... read more

You may know that most automotive failures in Gig Harbor Washington are tire related, but do you know the second most common cause for vehicle failure? Nope, it's not teenagers. It is the coolant system. But, if you take good care of your coolant system, it will take good care of you. A car's engine creates a lot of heat - so much heat, that if it is not properly cooled, the engine can lock up, resulting in massive damage and repair bills. But when everything is working right, your engine operates at the proper temperature and all is well. Without antifreeze in your cooling system, the water could freeze and cause engine damage. This could be very expensive, not to mention inconvenient. The right mix of water and antifreeze protects the engine against damage from freezing and overheating. Antifreeze also protects the coolant system against corrosion that could cause the system to fail. The thing to remember is this ... read more

At Mackert Automotive we love doughnuts. So let's pretend you have three doughnuts right in front of you for today's discussion about upsizing wheels and tires. Hey, don't eat them now - your going to need them later. Many Gig Harbor motorists want to accessorize their car - you know, make it theirs. One of the easiest ways to get a custom look is to get some new wheels. There are thousands of wheel designs at Port Orchard area tire shops to get you the look you want. And for many Port Orchard car owners, that look includes bigger wheels. It used to be that cars came from the factory with 15 or 16 inch wheels. Now 16, 17 and even 18 inchers are standard. And the factories are offering optional wheel packages up to 20 inches or more. So let's talk about what to consider when you want to upsize your wheels. It's not exactly a DIY project, so you need to know a thing or two before you get started. The most important term to kno ... read more

ost Gig Harbor drivers want to save on gas and seek our advice on improving fuel economy. At Mackert Automotive, we are frequently asked, however, if it is really worth the extra effort. Just how much money can Gig Harbor, WA car owners actually save? The US government has a website dedicated to helping us use less fuel. It presents the cost savings in a way Gig Harbor motorists can relate to and is relevant for all vehicles. Let me give you an example: Having your car engine properly tuned, can save up to 4%. If you're paying three-fifty for a gallon of gas, you could save fourteen cents a gallon. In today's Mackert Automotive article, we're focusing on the things you can do to improve your carfuel economy driving around Washington. We'll tell you the potential savings per gallon of gas at three dollars and fifty cents, and we'll show a chart tha ... read more