May 18, 2012

Trappe Drivers: Is Nitrogen Right for Your Tires?

Filed under: Tires — wynnesexpr793 @ 9:15 pm

Trappe Drivers: Is Nitrogen Right for Your Tires?

Should Trappe drivers use nitrogen in their tires? Air’s air, right? Well it turns out there is a difference. At the heart of the matter is maintaining proper tire inflation. When your SUV tires are properly inflated, they last longer, handle better and more safely and they save money at Trappe gas pumps.

The problem is that tires filled with air can lose a pound and a half of air pressure every month. This just happens as the oxygen in the tire seeps out as you drive around Trappe. So if you don’t check your pressure for a month or two you can be significantly low – low enough to affect handling, shorten tire life and waste money at the fuel pump. Tires filled with nitrogen will take about six months to lose as much pressure as regular air does in a month. So it’s more forgiving of those Trappe drivers who don’t check their pressure every week.

Also, oxygen at higher temperatures – like those inside your tire when you’ve been driving for a while – oxidizes the inside of your tire. Getting the oxygen out of your tire means that it’ll last longer.

So who’s using nitrogen? Let’s start with NASCAR and Indy. These racers like nitrogen’s ability to maintain consistent tire pressure and reduce tire temperatures under very demanding conditions. The U.S. government requires all commercial aircraft to have nitrogen in their tires. NASA and the U.S. Military use nitrogen. The mining industry has been filling those ginormous tires with nitrogen for years. PA Semi-trucks and trailers are starting to use nitrogen extensively. These guys chart everything they do and they invest in the benefits of nitrogen.

The good news is that nitrogen fill doesn’t cost very much or take long at Wynne’s Express Lube in Trappe. It doesn’t affect your tire warranty. If you decide that nitrogen is right for your SUV tires, remember that it’s still important to check your tire pressure regularly. You might have a leak that needs to be fixed. And you can always top your tire off with regular air if you need to.

If you have questions about nitrogen, oil change or brakes, give John Wynne a call at Wynne’s Express Lube in Trappe. We’ve been providing professional automotive services in Trappe for 6 years.

Wynne’s Express Lube
610.489.4050
1635 W. Main Street
Trappe, PA 19426

At Wynne’s Express Lube in Trappe PA (19426) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 610.489.4050. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

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May 11, 2012

Brake Service At Wynne’s Express Lube In Trappe

Filed under: Power Brakes — wynnesexpr793 @ 5:27 pm

Brake Service At Wynne's Express Lube In Trappe

Most Trappe drivers know that braking means slowing or stopping a vehicle. The mechanical aspects of the brakes themselves are just one issue. There’s also the power brake system and brake fluid. And then there are the tires, which are critical to the effectiveness of the brakes.

Let’s step back. A car or truck rolls brand new off the showroom floor at a local Trappe dealer. It has brand new brakes with brand new brake pads. The brake lines and the power assist are filled with fresh fluid and are completely clean inside. And the SUV tires are brand new, with full tread. Naturally, braking power is at its peak performance.
 
Now, as your drive from Trappe to Collegeville and back, the miles start to add up. Most Trappe car owners tend to focus on the brake pads. In the Trappe automotive service community, the pads, and shoes on drum brakes, are called the friction material. That’s because they provide the friction used to stop the SUV. The pads are designed to be effective throughout their useful life – it’s not until they are worn so thin as to be out of spec that they lose stopping effectiveness.

The mechanical parts of the brakes have pistons and springs that get quite a workout while stopping the SUV. Over many miles, these wear and get gummed up. They start to lose effectiveness gradually and could even fail. That’s why a regular brake inspection is important. At Wynne’s Express Lube, we can test the operation of the brakes and see if any parts need cleaning or replacing.

That leads us to brake fluid service at Wynne’s Express Lube. Some of the critical additives in the fluid that lubricate and clean the SUV fluid system are depleted over time. That and moisture building up in the system deteriorate the performance of the brake fluid. Brake fluid replacement at Wynne’s Express Lube includes flushing the brake system to clean out deposits, water and dirt. Then the system is filled up with fresh fluid.

The tires are what connect the SUV to the road. The stopping force is ultimately dependent on the traction provided by the tires. The better they grip the road, the quicker you’ll stop as you drive around Trappe.

For questions about brakes, brake pads, oil change, brakes, or tires, talk to Wynne’s Express Lube  manager John Wynne.

Give us a call

Wynne’s Express Lube
610.489.4050
1635 W. Main Street
Trappe, PA 19426

At Wynne’s Express Lube in Trappe PA (19426) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 610.489.4050. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

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May 2, 2012

Deciphering The Menu Board At Wynne’s Express Lube: F to W

Filed under: Making Your Vehicle Last — wynnesexpr793 @ 5:12 pm

Deciphering The Menu Board At Wynne's Express Lube F to W

You may not be familiar with all of the items on Wynne’s Express Lube’s menu board so here is a quick description of some of the typical services that might be listed. Remember, the board is there for reference; speak to your Wynne’s Express Lube Service Adviser about other possible needs or services.

Wynne’s Express Lube Fuel System Cleaning: Over time, the fuel system gets gum and varnish built up. A fuel system cleaning at Wynne’s Express Lube gets rid of that and cleans out the fuel injectors. Saves gas as you drive around Trappe and on Collegeville freeways, by the way.

Wynne’s Express Lube Headlamp Replacement: Halogen and standard headlamps gradually fade. When one burns out, replace both so they’ll have the same brightness. Also, if your headlamp lenses are yellowed or cloudy, you can have them professionally restored to like new-condition. As your honest Wynne’s Express Lube advisor for information.

Wynne’s Express Lube Inspections: Trappe drivers get inspections for many reasons. Maybe they’re going on a trip or just want to make sure their vehicle’s ready for summer or winter in Trappe. Maybe they just bought a used car and want to give it the once over. An inspection at Wynne’s Express Lube may reveal some things that are broken or are getting close to having a problem.

Wynne’s Express Lube Oil Change Service – there are several options: Some Trappe auto service centers offer just an oil change and new filter as an option. Most will also check and top off all of your other fluids and do a quick visual inspection with a full service oil change. There may also be options for higher mileage fluids or an upgrade to synthetic oil.

Wynne’s Express Lube PCV Valve Service: PCV stands for Positive Crankcase Ventilation valve. It’s a little part that releases pressure from the engine. It can get gummed up and that can lead to engine damage. Just needs to be changed now and then.

Wynne’s Express Lube Power Steering Service: Often overlooked. Your Wynne’s Express Lube technician will evacuate the old fluid, clean out the system and replace it with clean fluid. Keeps the system running well for a long time.

Wynne’s Express Lube Serpentine Belt Replacement: That’s the belt that powers the engine’s accessories like the alternator, air conditioner, power steering and brakes. You’ll want to replace the serpentine belt at Wynne’s Express Lube before it breaks or wears down too much, because that’ll lead to other problems.

Wynne’s Express Lube Shocks and Struts Replacement: This starts with an inspection of the suspension components. Shocks last a long time and wear out slowly, so many Trappe motorists don’t notice when it’s time to change them. If they’re worn or leaking, they need to be replaced.

Wynne’s Express Lube Transmission Service: This involves removing the transmission fluid and replacing it with clean fluid. It’s like an oil change for your transmission.

Wynne’s Express Lube Tire Rotation and Wheel Balancing: The tires are rotated from front to back using the recommended rotation pattern. This helps tires wear more evenly. Wheels need to be balanced from time to time to keep them turning without any wobble or bounce. Helps the ride and saves tire wear as you drive around Trappe.

Give us a call

Wynne’s Express Lube
610.489.4050
1635 W. Main Street
Trappe, PA 19426

At Wynne’s Express Lube in Trappe PA (19426) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 610.489.4050. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

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April 27, 2012

Cooling System Service At Wynne’s Express Lube

Filed under: Cooling System — wynnesexpr793 @ 9:08 pm

Cooling System Service At Wynne's Express Lube

Your SUV cooling system’s job is to keep your engine cool. Coolant (also called antifreeze) mixed with water flows through your engine and absorbs heat. The mixture then flows out to the radiator where it’s cooled by air flowing over the radiator. From there the cooled mix circulates back through the SUV engine to absorb more heat.

Coolant, or antifreeze, is specially formulated to keep your engine safe in a wide range of environmental and operating temperatures in Trappe.

Without coolant, the SUV’s metal engine parts would expand so much that the engine would seize up and stop running.  Expensive parts could be broken or warp so badly they would have to be replaced at Wynne’s Express Lube in Trappe. It could even be so bad that the whole engine is ruined and has to be replaced.

Also, if it’s freezing outside in Trappe, the water in your engine could freeze while your vehicle is sitting out in the PA cold. This is why you check coolant levels frequently and have your cooling system inspected for leaks. Also your manufacturer has a maintenance requirement for draining and replacing your coolant. These recommendations can vary widely, so check your Trappe owner’s manual or ask your service advisor at Wynne’s Express Lube in Trappe.

The reason you need to change the coolant is that it has additives in it to protect the cooling system. As you can imagine, with all the heat, the cooling system’s a pretty harsh environment. The additives keep the fluid from becoming corrosive and damaging the radiator and other Trappe cooling system components. Over time, the additives are depleted and the coolant just has to be replaced. A simple pH test can measure the coolant’s acidity.

You may have noticed that there are different colors of antifreeze at Wynne’s Express Lube: it is very important that you use the correct type.  The different coolant types are different colors so you don’t mix them up.  Manufacturers use different materials to make the cooling system, and they require different types of antifreeze to protect them.

So check with your honest Wynne’s Express Lube service advisor or owner’s manual for the right kind because using the wrong coolant can void the warranty for your SUV cooling system.

Ask us about tires, brakes and alignment.

Give us a call

Wynne’s Express Lube
610.489.4050
1635 W. Main Street
Trappe, PA 19426

At Wynne’s Express Lube in Trappe PA (19426) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 610.489.4050. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

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April 20, 2012

Viva la Differential At Wynne’s Express Lube

Filed under: Differential Service — wynnesexpr793 @ 4:44 pm

Viva la Differential At Wynne's Express Lube

With front-wheel drive being so common in Trappe these days, the differential is just taken care of during a transmission service, so most Trappe folks don’t even have to think about it. And most rear-wheel drive SUV differentials don’t need to be serviced for many miles, so it’s understandable that it’s not something on the top of mind. So it’s not uncommon for PA 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 high school track. 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 the starting lines means that each runner has the same distance to run.

The differential compensates for the difference in speeds on drive wheels between the inside wheel and the outside wheel in a turn, because they have to travel together through slightly different distances.

Many SUV differentials do a lot of work and require very heavy duty parts. And those parts need protection. The differential fluid lubricates the gears in the differential and keeps them cool. The fluid eventually gets dirty and worn down. Some kinds of differentials require special additives that break down over time. So manufacturers and Wynne’s Express Lube technicians recommend intervals for replacing your differential fluid.

Your Wynne’s Express Lube service technician will drain the used fluid and check it out for metal bits, which could be a sign of excessive wear on the gears. He’ll then replace the fluid and install the additives if necessary.

Trappe four wheel drive SUVs need special attention to their differentials because they have a differential on both the front and rear axles that work at different times and sometimes under heavy loads – so they may need to be serviced at Wynne’s Express Lube at different intervals.

Your Trappe service advisor can look up the manufacturer’s recommended service interval or you can check your SUV owner’s manual.

Give us a call

Wynne’s Express Lube
610.489.4050
1635 W. Main Street
Trappe, PA 19426

At Wynne’s Express Lube in Trappe PA (19426) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 610.489.4050. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

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