Memphis Auto Repair

Remember snow tires? They were basically just regular tires with big, knobby lugs to get them through deep snow. They were loud and rode hard, and Memphis drivers couldn't wait to get them off the car. Then along came television advertisements for “all-season” radials. Tennessee drivers ran out and bought some and we thought we were done with snow tires forever.Tires have come a long way since then. Modern winter tires sold in the Memphis area are much better designed for the wide range of conditions that come with Tennessee winter weather. They are made with a rubber compound that helps them stay flexible in cold weather. Regular tires become hard and stiff at Memphis temperatures below 45°F (7° C) which reduces their traction. That's a concern in winter, especially with snowy or wet conditions. But it also means that Memphis drivers are better off with winter tires in cold weather even when it's dry.The tread design on winter tires has been improved to move snow ... read more

The median age for cars in the Memphis, Tennessee area was over nine years. And two-thirds had over 75,000 miles. At Allen's Automotive Center we hear reports that those numbers continue to rise. If you have a high-mileage vehicle in the Memphis area, bring it into Allen's Automotive Center for high-mileage maintenance.1195 WINFIELD AVE.Memphis, Tennessee 38116901-332-3279 Many people in Tennessee are keeping their vehicles longer. The economy has influenced that, but the fact that modern vehicles are more durable and reliable means that owning a high mileage vehicle doesn't have to be a painful experience.Local car owners in Memphis with over 100,000 miles on their vehicles often ask which service intervals they should follow. Let's start with the special needs of the older vehicle...The reality is that time and mileage will take its toll. The engine and transmission will have more sludge. The fuel, steering and brake systems will have gum and varnish ... read more

Today in the Allen's Automotive Center auto care blog, we're going to talk to Memphis drivers about oil change intervals. It seems that as engine technology advances, oil change intervals become longer for Allen's Automotive Center customers. For example, recently four of the world's largest vehicle manufacturer's shortened the published intervals for several of their engine models. They originally published intervals that extended out to a much as 8,000 miles (13,000 kilometers).In real world Memphis driving, the oil started to sludge up before the recommended change interval. Oil sludge is a thick jelly-like substance: quite literally petroleum jelly – like Vaseline. This goop was clogging vehicle small engine passages so the oil wouldn't flow to some parts of the engine. This resulted in engine damage. We see it too often at Allen's Automotive Center in Memphis.The vehicle manufacturers began to offer an extended warranty to cover sludge damage. But there was ... read more