Austin's Best Choice for Auto Repair

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

It's important to understand what to expect from your next auto tuneup appointment. The better you can communicate the issues and problems of your vehicle to your mechanic, the greater the chances they can find the problems in a timely manner, and get them fixed for a reasonable cost. Here are a few tips to help you get through that sometimes stressful but necessary tuneup appointment. Regular Tuneups Should Be Scheduled If there is anything suspicious happening with your vehicle, don't tune it out, get it tuned up. This can be anything that is making your vehicle perform differently then before. It's also important that you have routine maintenance checks to keep your vehicle in optimum order. A service technician may even find problems with your vehicle that you weren't aware of. Be On Time for Your Tuneup Appointment It's important to be respectful of everyone's time. You've been booked in for a time and date, so it's important to arrive at that time. Failure to show up can result i ... read more

We take our vehicle's brakes for granted until they fail. Hopefully if that happens everyone has stayed safe. But it can be a major annoyance to have your vehicle break down when you're on your way to a big meeting or a special family event. It's important to pay attention to your car and be aware of the most common signs that your brakes can be failing. Ideally, they should be checked every six months. Poor Braking Performance If you're finding that it's hard to stop your vehicle, then your brakes could be failing. You may feel your vehicle trying to pull off to the left or right sides of the road when slowing down, despite a straight stretch and no wind. You may even experience the loss of the brake pedal which can cause great alarm, particularly when brakes are required for safety on the road. You may even feel the brake pedal vibrating. There may be excessive drag felt during acceleration. Unusual Sounds When Braking Often squealing or grinding sounds may be heard during braking if ... read more