Posted on 4/28/2022
With inflation on the rise, you may be thinking of ways to save money or cut costs. Using your car for long work commutes or frequent smaller trips can really make an impact on your wallet. You might be interested to know that you can save yourself a few dollars and increase your gas mileage with these 5 tips on fuel efficiency. Maintain Your Tires One of the most simple ways to increase fuel efficiency, by up to 8 cents per gallon, is to make sure your tires are at the correct inflation. Improperly inflated tires reduce your gas mileage but also cause tire damage, further costing you in the long-term in more frequent replacements. Use a High-Quality Motor Oil For Your Car You can save up to 5 cents per gallon by checking your vehicle manufacturer and using the thinnest-viscosity of motor oil to suit. If a professional auto repairer is servicing your vehicle, they will know which oil is recommended. Empty the Trunk You may not think that having your trunk full makes any differenc ... read more
Posted on 3/28/2022
Your brakes are the most important part of your vehicle's safety features. So when your brakes feel spongy or soft, figuring out the cause and getting it fixed is imperative. #1 — Brake Fluid Issues One potential cause for this is either old brake fluid or low levels due to a leak. This could be a simple fix, so you should get it checked out by a professional. #2 — Air in Your Brake Lines One of the most common causes is air in your brake lines. Air in your brake line can often stop brake fluid from flowing through the system properly. Leading to that spongy feeling you noticed. #3 — Issues With Your Brake Caliper Your brake calipers are a part of your disc brake's system. They clamp down the brake pads to help stop your vehicle, and when these go bad, it can make your entire brake system inefficient. If you hear loud squeaking or your car pulls to one side, this might be your issue. Get it checked out as soon as possible because this could lead to a cos ... read more
Posted on 2/28/2022
As a reputable tire shop in Gurnee, IL, you bet we get a ton of questions about tires. One of the most popular ones we get is, "can you mix tires?". When replacing one or a pair of tires, you should always try to buy ones that are as close as possible to the existing ones on your vehicle. A matching tire with the same tread pattern, materials, and size is needed to ensure optimal performance. We strongly advise against mismatching tires unless your automaker recommends it. Some drivers use tires with different tread patterns, produced by other manufacturers, various sizes, and even different purposes (all-season vs. summer tires). Because each tire serves different purposes and has varying handling capabilities, you should match your tires. If you use mismatched tires, your automobile can falter with its handling and braking, which can be extremely dangerous. Furthermore, rocking different tires can cause some to wear sooner than others. And uneven wear usua ... read more
Posted on 1/26/2022
It is that time of the year in Gurnee, IL, where temperatures are consistently below freezing. As you prepare to winterize your home, remember that your car can be heavily affected as well. We recommend that you do whatever it takes to prevent the ugly impacts of cold weather on vehicles. Here are some of the challenges your car may face this season! Corrosion The most corrosion-prone parts of your car include the brakes and the undercarriage. These parts are sensitive to corrosion because they are metallic and have frequent exposure to salted roads. Please have these parts thoroughly checked throughout or at the end of the season to avoid leaks and other damages. Tire Pressure The extreme cold can also cause your tire pressure to drop in the winter. The low temperature causes the air to contract inside the tire, leading to underinflation. However, the tire pressure could possibly increase back to normal after your car warms up. To be better safe than sorry, we recommend regularly ... read more
Posted on 12/21/2021
If your tires are wearing out faster than you anticipated or the tread wear varies from tire to tire, then it can be a sign of several different issues. The good news is that you can fix these wrongdoings with proper automotive maintenance and car care. Here are some of the most prevalent causes of premature tire wear: Wheel Misalignment If your wheel alignment is off, meaning they point at incorrect angles, then the wheels and tires on your car will take on different levels of stress whenever you drive. To prevent this from happening, you need to check your alignment as part of your regular vehicle maintenance routine and get them realigned as soon as they're needed. Missed Tire Rotations If you fail to rotate your tires regularly, alongside your oil changes, then they will not last as long as they're intended to. Rotating tires help them even out the wear, as your front tires naturally wear out faster than your rear. Poor Driving Habits Your personal driving habits can ... read more
Posted on 11/23/2021
When you buy new car tires you are likely to wonder how long the tires will last? Driving on the tires as they are in good condition and the tread is at least 2/32 of an inch deep, can go from a few years to up to 6 years Some may get even a few more years, but factors other than tire wear come into play; the condition of the rubber needs to be closely watched for natural deterioration. While the manufacture’s warranty is a good basis for how long the tires last, the life of tires is influenced by other factors as well. As a starting point, and taking the manufacturer warranty, simply divide the warranted mileage by the number of miles you drive each year. On average, cars are driven 14,000-15,000 miles a year. So, with a little math, a 60,000 mile warranted set of tires should last 4 or more years. This is pretty straightforward. Obviously, the number of years you end up calculating will change based on your annual mileage and the tires you actually purchase. Factors In ... read more
Posted on 11/18/2021
A vehicle relies on many different essential fluids to function, and naturally, it can leak. Some fluid leaks require more immediate attention than others; nonetheless, you need to locate them and figure out what kind of leak you have as soon as possible. First, you should never panic at the first sign of a leak. If you're unsure what to do, you can also reach out to the pros at D. Wells Automotive, and our team can help you identify the kind of leak it is. If you want to ease your worries before making a trip to the auto repair shop, here's a quick guide to profile the different kinds of fluid leaks that can occur with your vehicle: Oil Oil is commonly a brown or black color, and it will usually puddle up underneath where you park. Engine oil leaks can happen for several reasons: damaged oil pan, clogged filter, damaged seals, etc. Coolant or Radiator Fluid Coolant leaks are mostly vibrant in color due to the appearance of antifreeze. It's also more likely to hap ... read more
Posted on 11/18/2021
As you are likely hearing, from many industries, there are shortages of products across consumer and industrial goods. Auto tires are no exception. We started hearing about the possibility of a shortage starting in 2020. In early 2021, it was apparent that tires were going to be hit with a shortage. The reasons are both common and unique. Logistics: transporting tires On the domestic side of things, logistics have been the biggest challenge in the supply chain across categories. Shipping Tires We’ve seen the news. Ports along the west coast have cargo ships waiting at sea to be unloaded. With the impact of COVID, staffing at ports remains low and the pace of unloading ships is still dragging. Despite the recent developments of round-the-clock operations, the backlog remains daunting. Ground Transportation The trucking industry has been struggling with a shortage of drivers seemingly forever. Being a trucker is not an easy occupation, and companies have been struggling to ke ... read more
Posted on 10/7/2021
It's October, which means Halloween is merely weeks away! Regardless of if you are a parent yourself or not, you still have a responsibility to keep everyone in your community safe. You will be seeing many pedestrians on this spooky October night, and most of them will be children. Here are some of our safe driving tips for all motorists for Halloween! Reduce Your Speed – The most important takeaway from this blog is to remember to reduce your speed. The children will be filled with excitement (and sugar), so they may run around and walk out from multiple directions. Avoid Major Distractions (Phone, Eating/Drinking, etc.) - You should divert 100 percent of your attention to the road. That means silence your phone to avoid any possible disturbances. Your hands should also be free and on the steering wheel. Don't Skip a Stopped Vehicle in a Neighborhood – If you see an idling car (with its light on) on the street, there's a good chance they are loading or unloa ... read more
Posted on 9/15/2021
As responsible vehicle owners, we must consistently inspect our car's systems and fluids to keep our vehicle in good health. A sign as alarming as spewing smoke can be very worrying. However, you can quickly diagnose the condition of your car by paying close attention to the color of the smoke itself and using the rest of your senses. WHITE SMOKE If your exhaust releases white smoke, it's oftentimes just water vapor. This is especially common on cold mornings or cold days. White gases are produced by condensation and naturally accumulate in the exhaust system. However, in rare cases, whitish-gray smoke may suggest that you have a blown head gasket or coolant entering the combustion chamber. The only way to distinguish the problem is by visiting our expert team at D. Wells Automotive Service for an accurate examination. BLUE OR GRAY SMOKE There is more than one reason to worry if your exhaust is discharging blue or gray exhaust smoke. These colors ... read more