Gig Harbor Auto Repair

Anyone that drives a car in Gig Harbor knows that engines get hot when they run. But did you know that engines need to be cooled to keep running? Heat inside an engine can cause the metal parts to expand, which can seize up an engine and make it stop running. It can even ruin the entire engine! Good car care requires keeping your car, truck, SUV cooling system in good condition. A vehicle's cooling system circulates water and antifreeze (coolant) through the engine where it absorbs heat. It then flows to the radiator where the water and antifreeze are cooled by the air that flows over the radiator. Then it circulates back into the car, truck, SUV's engine to absorb more heat. Why shouldn't Gig Harbor drivers just use water? Because water boils at temperatures that are often reached inside of an engine. Steam won't cool your car, truck, SUV engine and is hard to contain within the cooling system. The antifreeze keeps the water from boi ... read more

One Gig Harbor automotive service issue that doesn't get much attention is driveline service. Drivelines don't get talked about very much around Gig Harbor, but they're very critical. First let's define what the driveline is: Taking a small step back, the power plant is comprised of the engine and transmission. The driveline starts there and includes all of the components that transfer power from the transmission to the wheels. That's not really a lot of components, but they handle the full force of the engine. Without the driveline you're not moving. So Gig Harbor drivers need to take good care of it. The driveline components differ depending on whether your vehicle has front wheel drive, rear wheel drive, all wheel drive or four wheel drive. For purposes of our discussion, we're going to have to oversimplify a bit. Let's start with front wheel drive. The point where the transmission stops and the driveline begins ... read more

When you get an oil change, it's always a safe bet to just use the type of oil the car maker recommends. But sometimes we're asked if we'd like conventional or synthetic motor oil. We glance at the price tags on the two options and choose the cheaper one. But in this case, the more expensive oil might be the better bargain for Gig Harbor drivers. Conventional oil is made from petroleum. Its molecules form long hydrocarbon chains. Synthetic motor oil is either more highly refined petroleum or completely man-made. Its molecules are more uniform. This provides critical advantages over conventional motor oil. First of all, the molecular structure of synthetic motor oil makes it more slippery than conventional oil so it lubricates better. This translates to better wear protection for Gig Harbor car owners, cooler operating temperatures, more engine power and increased fuel economy. Further, synthetic oil is more heat-resistant than convention ... read more

Power steering is standard on nearly every car and truck in Gig Harbor, Washington these days. Now there are some exotic, new types of power steering systems, but for the most part, the general setup is a pump that's driven by a belt powered by the engine. The pump generates power that assists car owners as they steer their car, truck, SUV around Gig Harbor, Washington. Power steering systems use hoses to move pressurized fluid back and forth. These hoses can develop leaks so it's a good idea to have your Gig Harbor service professional inspect them at every oil change. A check of the power steering fluid level is on the list for every full service oil change at Mackert Automotive because low fluid can damage the power steering pump. And the fluid needs to be compatible with the hoses and seals, so it's important to use the correct type - just ask your service professional at Mackert Automotive. In addition to providing boost, the flui ... read more