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Oil Change (How Often)
Oil is critical to your engine's function. It has 3 major jobs: to lubricate, clean, and cool. The only way to keep oil performing is to have it replaced regularly. Over time, the oil in your engine gets saturated with gasoline that does not burn completely and with exhaust that turns the oil black. This mixture creates acidity and oxidation that can eventually wreak havoc in your engine. Today's automotive engines are low-emission and low-friction engines that require more attention to oil and filter intervals. At Gili's Automotive, we pay attention to the oil grade that is recommend for your engine. Using the wrong grade will damage you engine and your catalytic converter, which are very expensive to fix.
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Tire Rotation
Gili's Automotive recommends rotating your tiles every 6000 miles or every other oil change for passenger cars, and every 3000 miles on SUVs and minivans that are driven in urban and city highway conditions. Regular customers will receive a reminder of their tire rotation schedule when they bring their cars in for service. Our technicians will check your car's tire pressure and inflate the tires to the manufacturer's recommended levels.
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Air Conditioning Service
Have your air conditioning checked for proper operation and Freon charge at least once a year. Freon, the main cooling component of your air conditioner, is difficult to contain in an automotive system. Because your air conditioning system contains many materials that expand and contract at different rates, a minute amount of Freon escapes the system over time. Insufficient Freon can damage the compressor, expansion valve and seals due to lack of lubrication , potentially multiplying the damage to your wallet through costly repairs . Annual Freon checks will keep your air conditioner and defroster running properly.
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Wheel Alignment
Proper vehicle alignment will extend tire life and reduce wear and tear on suspension parts, which saves you money. Wheel alignment involves making precise adjustments to your vehicle's suspension and steering. These adjustments optimize ride, handling, and steering characteristics in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications for maximum performance. Maintaining the factory-specified suspension setting will make your car safer and easier to drive. A misaligned car can suffer accelerated tire wear, poor fuel economy, and excessive wear on other suspension parts, as well as poor handling and steering.
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Brake System Flush
Moisture in your braking system reduces your brake fluid's ability to absorb heat by lowering the boiling point of the fluid. It can also cause rust and sludge to form in the lower points of the hydraulic system. These conditions can, in turn, cause brake fade, pitting at all internal brake hydraulic parts, brake fluid leakage, contamination of friction material... even complete brake failure. Flushing the brake system removes moisture and prevents this harmful process. Antilock systems on modern vehicles require clean systems to operate properly. Damage to most antilock systems cannot be repaired, and a replacement ABS can cost several thousand dollars. Brake fluid flushing is an inexpensive alternative; it will ensure the reliability of your brakes for a long time.
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Cooling System Flush
Having your vehicle's cooling system flushed can help extend the life of your engine radiator water pump hoses and heating system by removing harmful deposits, and by restoring the coolant's pH and freezing points. As your car's engine heats and cools, the engine and the radiator develop deposits. The corresponding pH change in your antifreeze and water mixture can be very corrosive, causing leaks and deposits to spread throughout your engine, radiator, water pump, and other cooling system components. Left unchecked, these deposits can cause cooling system components to fail. Your vehicle will then run hotter, which can shorten the life of your engine and transmission.
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Fuel System Service
Fuel system service introduces solvents into the intake system and through injection systems to reduce and control harmful deposits. These deposits can create numerous problems for your car:
- Valve deposits can cause cold starts, stalling and hesitation.
- Carbon deposits in the combustion chamber can cause power-robbing detonation and engine damage. Carbon control is the key to long engine life.
- Sludge deposits on throttle plates can cause stalling.
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Power Steering Flush Power Steering Flush
Over time and extended exposure to heat, power steering fluid will turn dark and start to break down. This can cause the power steering pump and the rack-and-pinion to clog with sludge and varnish deposits. As varnish deposits build, your car may suffer stiffness, leaks, or complete system failures. Repairing or replacing power steering components can be extremely expensive. A power steering flush service will:
- Safely remove varnish and/or sludge deposits.
- Clean all internal power steering components.
- Remove metals that can corrode your power steering components.
- Thoroughly clean and protect your car's power steering with fresh power steering fluid and conditioners.
- Revitalize the seals and 0-rings in your power steering system.
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Transmission Fluid Flush Transmission Fluid Flush
Like the other fluids in your car, automatic transmission fluid (ATF) suffers from heat, friction, and electrochemical degradation. Your transmission's vital parts can clog with sludge and develop varnish deposits. Most of the fluid doesn't drain into the transmission pan; it collects in the torque converter, valve body and transmission cooler lines. This makes a complete fluid drain impossible. The average transmission service only replaces 25% of the contaminated fluid, leaving behind 75% of the older, contaminated fluid to mix with the new ATF. Unfortunately, mixing new and contaminated fluids can cause sludge and varnish deposits to further clog filters and restrict the flow of transmission fluid. You could experience a serious malfunction, or even complete transmission failure as a result. The key to a good flush is to install a cleaner first that will clean all the components in the transmission, and put all the dirt and varnish in suspension within the old fluid. Only then should the flush be performed with new fluid, and only then should conditioners be installed.
The transmission fluid flush service is an important step in the prevention of major transmission repair or replacement work. The flush service cleans and protects your transmission with fresh ATF and conditioners that "turbo charge" your ATF and revitalize seals and 0-rings. This service also removes metals that slowly deteriorate your transmission system's internal components.
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Spark Plug Wires, Distributor Cap and Rotor Replacement
Replacing your spark plug wires, distributor cap, and rotor can be a relatively simple deterrent against potentially expensive wear and tear. Plan to replace your spark plug wires after 60,000 miles. For distributor ignitions, the distributor cap and rotor also need to be replaced. Electrical components under the hood are exposed to moisture, oil, grease, and high temperature over time. The resulting breakdown of the spark plug wires, distributor cap, rotor, and insulation can attract electricity because they create an easier path to ground. Worn spark plugs also raise the car's voltage requirements, which can force the ignition module and coil to produce ever-higher voltages and operate at higher temperatures. This cycle can cause ignition components to fail, and can lead to a variety of problems during driving. Diagnosis can be challenging, time-consuming, and expensive, because problems will vary due to changes in temperature, heat, and moisture. If you have already experienced an ignition module or computer failure after 60,000 miles and haven't replaced your spark plugs wires, distributor cap and rotor, the problem is likely to repeat itself... leading to the costly replacement of your car's ignition module or computer.
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Complete Computerized Engine Analysis
Since 1970, the cost of electrical components in the average car has jumped by over six thousand percent . This cost continues to grow as our cars become more and more sophisticated. Vehicle computers operate the air conditioning, radio, air bags, alarm system, anti-lock braking system, instrument panels, automatic transmission, emission controls, engine controls, traction controls, ride controls, and cruise control, windows, mirrors, power door locks, windshield wipers... and the list goes on. Today's cars have a complete network of computers with "can" mulitiplexing wiring, and even fiber optic cabling. Because it is critical for service providers to remain "up-to-date" on all of these computer systems, at Gili's, continuing e ducation is a part of every day. Computer parts in the engine are easily damaged by improper installation or testing, and they are very sensitive to voltage overloads. A tiny voltage spike can ruin an entire component. A complete computerized engine analysis at Gili's Automotive can save you money by correctly diagnosing engine problems the first time. Always be sure to choose a shop that has experienced ASE Certified Master Technicians, the latest computerized diagnostic equipment, and a computerized information system. A provider who diagnoses your vehicle without proper training or the right diagnostic equipment can make mistakes that potentially cost you hundreds or thousands of dollars in unnecessary repairs.
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Electrical System Analysis (How Often)
Your car needs a steady supply of voltage because it uses highly sophisticated electronics. Voltage is supplied by the electrical system, which consists of a starting system and a charging system:
- Your starting system has a starter motor, starter solenoid, starter relay, neutral safety switch and ignition switch. A faulty starter may or may not be responsible for a car's failure to crank. The charging system may actually be the culprit of low battery power.
- The charging system keeps the battery charged. It consists of an alternator, voltage regulator and the belt that drives the alternator. A battery can go bad for several reasons: overcharging, electrical drain from a short or from undercharging due to a bad drive belt, bad voltage regulator, bad alternator, old age, or sulfated battery. A charging system that overcharges the battery and electrical system can cause serious damage to highly sensitive electronics.
If your car's voltage supply is not steady, your car may develop computer malfunctions (engine stalling or poor performance, "check engine" light comes on, malfunctions in computerized climate control, ride control and ABS brake control, etc.) Electrical problems can cost you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in damage and repairs. An electrical analysis performed by a qualified Gili's Automotive professional with the right equipment and our up-to-date information system will produce an accurate diagnosis up front that can save you money. Always use an ASE-certified professional to perform an electrical analysis. A service provider that uses equipment improperly or uses the wrong equipment can damage your car's sensitive electronics.
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Manufacturer's Recommended Maintenance (How Often)
Automobile manufacturers recommend that you have several types of maintenance performed at specific intervals to replace spark plugs, PCV valves, fuel filters, etc. They also recommend checking certain elements of engine operation (such as ignition timing, idle speed, and other emission controls) for proper operation or adjustment at periodic intervals.
At Gili's Automotive, we remove the hassle of deciphering what service your car needs and when to have it performed. Our customers can check their car's service record online through My Car to see its service history and future maintenance recommendations. Gili's Automotive bases your customized scheduled maintenance program on both the manufacturer's suggested schedule, and on the most rigorous standards of the automotive industry.
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