Gig Harbor Auto Repair

No one in Gig Harbor, Washington likes to spend a chunk of change at Gig Harbor gas pumps. Rising Washington fuel prices, however, have spurred Gig Harbor car owners to focus on how to improve their fuel economy. North Americans literally drive billions of miles less each month during times of high fuel prices. But we still need to drive (we are car-loving Americans, after all!), so it makes sense to try and increase our fuel economy however we can. Let's look at a real life example of one of our AutoNetTV producers. He has one of those really big SUVs. Lots of kids and horses to haul around, you know. His family was planning a four day camping trip. Here's what he did to cut his fuel costs: First, he installed a new, high flow engine air filter. Then he had his Gig Harbor service center change his oil, flush his cooling system and service his front and rear differentials along with the transfer case. He also had a fuel system cleanin ... read more

< There are a lot of Gig Harbor people who are due for a differential service, but had never heard of a differential before. With front-wheel drive being so common in Washington these days, the differential is just taken care of during a transmission service, so most Gig Harbor folks don't even have to think about it. And rear-wheel drive differentials don't need to be serviced for years, so it's understandable that it's not something on the top of mind. So it's not uncommon for Gig Harbor people to not know they have a differential let alone know that it needs service. To better understand what a differential does, think about a track at any Washington high school. There are lanes marked off on the track. For the longer distance races, the starting lines are staggered. The starting lines for the outside lanes are ahead of the starting lines for the inside lanes. That's to compensate for the longer length of the outside lanes. Staggering th ... read more

Most people in the Gig Harbor area are aware that automotive manufacturers have recommended service intervals. Following recommended service intervals is very important. The engineers that design our vehicles have tested the various systems and components to meet durability and safety standards. Some of these standards are self-imposed and others, like those for emissions components, are government mandated for the areas around Gig Harbor, Gig Harbor and Gig Harbor in Washington. The maintenance schedules are designed to achieve the standards. Think of the benefits of following recommended intervals as falling into three general categories: Protection, Efficiency and Safety.Protection. Let's start with motor oil. First of all, the engineers recommend a particular weight and type of motor oil for your car, truck, SUV. All of their oil change recommendations assume using the proper motor oil ... read more

Let's talk about deciphering the auto service menu board. Gig Harbor, Washington service centers like Mackert Automotive have a board that lists the routine services they provide. But some people don't know what these services really are unless they ask. Let's go down a typical list, in alphabetical order, starting with air conditioning service. First remember that all of these services are recommended by vehicle manufacturers. They set how often or at how many miles the service should be done. Air conditioning service involves purging the old refrigerant and capturing it for proper disposal. Then fresh refrigerant is installed. The fresh refrigerant will lubricate the system and will also help it cool better. Alignment. Service centers like Mackert Automotive make sure all four wheels are lined up and track with each other. This reduces tire and suspension wear and improves safety and handling. Battery service ... read more