Austin's Best Choice for Auto Repair

Maintenance Schedule So you know that you need to get your vehicle's oil changed regularly, but how do you know exactly when? Here are a few ways to determine when it's time to visit Austin's Automotive Specialists in Leander, Texas for your next oil change service! Check Your Owner's Manual When your vehicle was made, the manufacturers understood everything about it. They know what is needed to keep it running at its best and have included that information in your owner's manual. You can find their recommended maintenance schedule inside with intervals for oil changes. This information serves as a general guideline for service, but since individual driving habits vary between individuals, it can't account for situations that may require more frequent oil changes. For example, if you drive more than the average person, your vehicle will need oil changes sooner. Use Your Vehicle's Monitoring System Newer vehicles come equipped with computers that track and measure the car's condition. T ... read more

Why You Need This Service If there's one thing you need to do for your vehicle, it's changing the motor oil. Cars aren't designed to run without clean motor oil and if it's left to circulate through the engine beyond its ideal timeline, serious damage can occur. Luckily for drivers in Round Rock, Texas, Austin's Automotive Specialists can perform oil changes to keep all kinds of vehicles healthy. We're sharing four key reasons why you need to get your vehicle's motor oil changed! Lubrication Motor oil contains helpful additives that lubricate engine components and prevent damage from friction and overheating. It helps parts move smoothly and efficiently, but these additives don't last forever. Once they wear out, the motor oil doesn't serve its purpose to lubricate parts and the vehicle is susceptible to damage from the heat of excess friction. Contamination Have you ever noticed that dirt and debris always find a way into your vehicle? The debris ends up in the engine and can cause bu ... read more

It can be tricky trying to figure out the right motor oil for your car or truck for when you want to do an oil change in South Austin, TX. The best place to start is by checking your car's or truck's manual. The first thing you need to note is the suggested oil weight. Then the next step involves choosing a good motor oil brand. American Petroleum Institute Standards Check the bottle of motor oil to see if it has a starburst symbol. This symbol will indicate that the oil has been tested and has met the API—American Petroleum Standards. There should also be a 2-character service designation on the label. Your final step is to choose an oil with a suitable viscosity for your vehicle. Choosing Oil Viscosity Motor oil in your engine will thin as it heats up, and thicken as it cools. This is why you need to choose an oil that functions well in either type of environment. A 10W-30 oil will have less viscosity when cold or hot tha ... read more

Perhaps one of the most annoying aspects of driving is when that check engine light comes on. Some vehicles have separate lights for common issues so you can investigate the issue and correct it, without a trip to the mechanics. But for other cars, the check engine light can be generic. Sometimes it may even turn on or off, making it even more frustrating. Here are just some of the things that can go wrong, and that should be checked out quickly: Failure in the Mass Airflow Sensor The mass airflow sensor will alert your vehicle's computer to add the correct amount of fuel based on the amount of air that's flowing through to the engine. If the sensor is faulty, emissions can increase. This means that your car has the potential for stalling potentially at unsafe times. This sensor can fail due to an improperly installed air filter, or one that's never been replaced. It's important to replace your air filter at least once per year as this will help keep the sensor from failing. Spark Plug ... read more

An oil change may look simple in videos or instructions, but there's actually a bit more to it than you think. Many business people don't like the potential for getting oil spills on their clothing or on their vehicles. Many HOAs and apartment buildings also don't allow owners to change their vehicle's oil due to the potential for spillage. Even if you choose to visit Austin's Automotive Specialists in Round Rock to do your oil change, it's still beneficial to know how one is done.Buy Your Supplies & Warm Up Your Engine You'll need oil that's suitable for the make and model of your vehicle, as well as an oil filter. It's also much simpler to do your oil change when your vehicle's engine has been warmed up for two or three minutes. This enables the oil to flow out of the engine much easier. Turn off your engine after this point so that the oil isn't too hot. Find the Drain Plug Refer to your car's manual and find the drain plug. This looks like a large nut or plug that needs to be u ... read more