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Category Archives: Maintenance

Maintenance for High Mileage Vehicles in Memphis, Tennessee

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

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Maintenance

Gas Savings in Memphis: Sharpen Your Pencil

High gas prices in Memphis increase the cost of living for Tennessee drivers. You've probably budgeted a certain amount for vehicle related expenses. Increased fuel costs now consume a larger portion of our incomes, causing some Memphis vehicle owners to skimp in other areas – like scheduled maintenance.According to Tennessee news reports and automotive industry studies, this is becoming increasingly more common. In fact, nine out of ten personal vehicles on the road have at least one maintenance or repair item that hasn't been done. Some of these items pose serious safety risks. Others are just more likely to make it more expensive to drive. In this area, we can take a lesson from professional Memphis vehicle owners. I'm talking about fleet owners and operators. You know, Memphis folks like the trucking companies and delivery services. Because their livelihood depends on it, they have gott ... read more

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Maintenance

The Easy Way to Save Cash in Memphis

The hottest Tennessee news story may be different every day, but there's one topic that seems to come up over and over again – the price of gas in Memphis. If you feel like most of your paycheck goes into your gas tank, this post is for you. Here are several basic things people in Memphis can do to greatly reduce their gas consumption, save money, and help the environment. You can really improve your fuel economy by how you drive – but first, here's a review of things you can do for your vehicle that'll save gas no matter how you drive.The first one for Memphis drivers is keeping tires properly inflated. That can save 2 miles per gallon/.85 km per liter. Driving on low tires is like driving through sand – your car just has to work harder. Most Memphis service centers will fill up your tires for free, so just ask Allen's Automotive Center. Also, make a habit of checking your tire pressure whenever you fill up. Many Memphis gas stations have an air ... read more

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Maintenance

Fall and Spring Checkup in Memphis

When I was a kid, my dad always made sure he took the cars in for Spring and Fall checkups. I was telling a friend that it's about time to get into Allen's Automotive Center for a checkup and he said that he read on the internet that modern cars don't need seasonal service.My friend is (technically) right about some things, but from a practical standpoint, a seasonal check up still makes sense.Back when my dad was teaching me about how to take care of the family vehicle, most of them used a different weight of oil in the winter and in the summer. But most of today's modern engines run the same oil year round. High-tech engines and high-tech motor oils are better able to handle the seasonal changes.Your owner's manual or Memphis service advisor at Allen's Automotive Center can tell you the right oil to use.Of course, you're concerned about the coolant or antifreeze. You don't want to overheat in the Tennessee summe ... read more

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Maintenance

Looking Down the Road - Headlamps

If you've ever been driving around Memphis and had a headlamp go out, you've probably just wanted to replace the bad bulb. If your car uses halogen headlamps, they dim over time. So if you just put in one, they won't have the same brightness, which can be distracting and will affect your field of vision.To have your headlights inspected, visit us at Allen's Automotive Center. We're at 1195 WINFIELD AVE. in Memphis, Tennessee 38116. Or give us a call at 901-332-3279.Experts at Allen's Automotive Center recommend replacing your halogen headlamps every year. It's easy to remember if you do it when Daylight Saving Time changes in the fall. That way you'll have bright headlamps for those long Tennessee winter nights.There are other types of headlamps in addition to halogen. There are the old standard bulbs that have been around for decades. These are OK, but you can usually upgrade to halogen. They cost a little more but you can't believe the difference. If ... read more

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Maintenance

Following Recommended Intervals for Your vehicle

If you're reading this article in Memphis, Tennessee, then you probably care about your vehicle and how it runs. Even though you care, there is still that moment of dread when your professional service advisor at Allen's Automotive Center tells you the manufacturer recommends some additional service. Your heart beats a little faster, your blood pressure rises. You worry about spending more money than you had planned. And you worry that if you say "no," you might be harming your vehicle or risking your family's safety. At the risk of sounding like your dad, you really should have done your homework. Service recommendations are in your owner's manual. But it is not like you want to keep your vehicle auto maintenance schedule on your nightstand for bedtime reading.Vehicles are complicated machines and it takes some effort for Memphis residents to keep them running well. That is why they have maintenance schedules that explain how to keep your vehicle performing ... read more

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Maintenance

Economics of Maintenance for Memphis Auto Owners

Buying a new car in Memphis is always a big financial decision. The allure of that new car smell is powerful, to be sure. But what if your current car is still in good shape? How do you decide?People in Memphis who've been used to driving a new car every three to five years may be having second thoughts in this economy. For many, the question is, how does the certainty of a new car payment stack up against uncertain repairs for a car that may be out of warranty?For purposes of our discussion, let's assume you live right here in Memphis and have a five year old vehicle. It's now paid off. If you keep it, you fear that there'll be some repairs over the next five years, but you really don't know what to expect. For help we turned to maintenance and repair information for cars and trucks. With this data, they project likely service and repair costs for a particular make and model. They're able to use manufacturer's maintenance ... read more

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Maintenance

Allen's Automotive Center Helps You Decipher the Menu Board: Part 2

Tennessee service centers have a menu board that lists the services they provide. Some Memphis drivers may not be familiar with all of the items on the board so here is a quick description of some of the typical services that might be listed.Allen's Automotive Center fuel system cleaning: Over time, the vehicle fuel system gets gum and varnish built up. A fuel system cleaning gets rid of that and cleans out the fuel injectors. Saves gas, by the way.Allen's Automotive Center headlamp replacement: Halogen and standard headlamps gradually fade. It's usually good to change them every year or so.Allen's Automotive Center inspections: Memphis drivers get inspections for many reasons. Maybe they're going on a trip or just want to make sure their vehicle's ready for a Tennessee summer or winter. Maybe they just bought a used vehicle and want to give it the once over. An inspection may reveal some things that ar ... read more

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Maintenance

Keep Your Memphis Car Breathing Free: Engine Air Filter

Hey Memphis - this is something really amazing: Your vehicle uses 12,000 times as much air as fuel when you drive it. All of that air has to be filtered to keep your engine clean.That's like 100 gallons (380 liters) of air every block! The engine air filter is just another example of a very important but inexpensive part that has to do a tremendous amount of work. And when it works, everything goes well. But, when it doesn't, well, it can lead to problems. Of course, your vehicle manufacturer recommends how often to change your air filter. But like most service intervals, where and how you drive your vehicle in Tennessee affects when your filter needs to be changed.Dusty conditions around Memphis or polluted city driving means you'll need to change your filter more often. Our trained professionals at Allen's Automotive Center can check your filter for you. In fact, it's often a routine part of an oil change.When you think about it, a clogged a ... read more

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Maintenance

Training Received by Technicians in Memphis, Tennessee

When your vehicle breaks down in the Memphis, Tennessee, area, or just needs some routine service, it can make you a little nervous. Because your vehicle's so important to your life, you need to be back on the road as soon as possible — with the problem fixed right the first time.We've been checking into some of the training our Memphis, Tennessee, technicians receive, and we're very impressed. It's amazing how much knowledge and skill goes into diagnosing and repairing a modern vehicle. So it's not like when your uncle worked on his hot rod over the weekend.Today there are four-cylinder engines around Memphis that make more power than the V-8's in luxury cars did 20 years ago. A new V-6 Toyota Camry could beat Sonny Crocket's Ferrari in a race to 60 mph/97 kph.Our engines are more and more powerful. And they're so reliable. This is all due to engineering. But the benefits come to Memphis drivers at the price of simplicity. Modern cars are so much more comple ... read more

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Maintenance
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