It's April & The Heat Is On! Is Your Air Conditioning Ready For the Long HOT Summer

It's April & The Heat Is On! Is Your Air Conditioning Ready For the Long HOT Summer?

When it’s hot outside, one of the last places you want to be is sitting in traffic without a properly functioning air conditioning (A/C) system. To help avoid this uncomfortable situation, we recommend having your A/C system checked annually to make sure it is functioning at its peak performance level when the temperatures are soaring.

Making sure your A/C system is working properly will give you the peace of mind knowing that your vehicle will keep you cool and safe when you hit the road this summer Not only are high temperatures harmful to the body with prolonged exposure, but they can provide unnecessary wear and tear on a vehicle.

A vehicle’s heating, ventilating and air conditioning system (HVAC) keeps the interior cabin comfortable in any season by providing the right temperature and humidity level. Typical A/C service consists of the following steps:

Service technician visually inspects hoses, lines, seals and other components for leaks as well as inspect the drive belt for cracks or damage.

Technician checks pressures to test operation, refrigerant charge and outlet temperatures.

If the system is found to be low on refrigerant, a leak test is performed to find the source of the leak. Keep in mind that if your vehicle is leaking refrigerant, it is damaging the ozone layer.

Refrigerant may be added if necessary to “top off” the system.

A technician may also check for evidence of refrigerant cross-contamination, which is the mixing of refrigerants.

A/C service should also include a check of the compressor’s drive belt and tension.

Make sure to have your Air Conditioning checked so you and your family can enjoy this summer heat.  Trips to the beach will be more relaxing, you won't have to hear you kids complaining its too hot!

Pamela McLaughlin
Community Service Station of Madison Inc.
346 Main Street Madison NJ 07940
973-377-9774 & 973-966-0853
www.community-service-station-of-Madison-inc.com
Follow us on twitter @comsvssta

Driving with a check engine light can kill your catalytic converter!

Catalytic Converter Killers
There is no way to rejuvenate a contaminated converter, replacement is the only repair option! Replacing a converters can be extreemly expensive! They varry in prices from $300 up to about $2000 and I am sure there are more expensive ones out there.  Most cars today have up to 4 catalytic converters which can be an enormous expense that can be prevented.  If your engine light is on you should get it checked out ASAP!

Ignoring Check Engine Lights:
So many drivers have seen the engine light pop up after you refueled and by now you know that it's due to the fuel cap not being tightened enough.  You tighten the fuel cap and hope the light will go out sooner or later.  The truth is that as they drive, they could be damaging their catalytic converter.

Worn Out Spark Plugs:
Worn out spark plugs can cause multiple cylinder misfires.  The misfires can damage the catalyst.

Vacuum Leaks:
A vacuum leak is unmetered air entering the combustion chamber.  This can make the vehicle run lean and increase exhaust gas temperatures.  The extreme increase in temperatures can damage the converters.  Most vehicles can compensate for minor vacuum leaks by adding extra fuel but the fuel injectors can only compensate so much.

If your vehicle has a vacuum leak your engine light will be on.  Take your car to a repair shop immediately.  You will not only save your catalytic converter you will see an improvement in your gas mileage, which means more money in your pocket now and years to come.

Bad Oxygen Sensors:

If an oxygen sensor can not measure the oxygen present in the exhaust gases, it can not ensure the right amount of oxygen is present so the converter can burn off hydrocarbons (which are terrible for the environment) Bad oxygen sensors can kill converters.

Have you been to that repair shop who told you don't worry about the engine light, it's, on for the oxygen sensors?  They are wrong, you need to worry, not replacing the oxygen sensors will only lead to you wasting money during the life of your vehicle.  You will be wasting gas and killing your catalytic converter.  Have your engine light checked today, to avoid more expensive repairs down the road.

Leaking Fuel Injectors:

Converter failure is most often when excessive amounts of raw fuel comes into contact with the catalyst and "burns" in the converter instead of in the engine.  The high quantity  of fuel generates temperatures well in excess of the capacity of the conveyer, causing meltdown of the ceramic.  The melted ceramic could block the exhaust path, leading to a significant loss of engine power.  Visibly there would be a discoloration of the converter shell.

Once again if there is something wrong with your fuel injectors your check engine light will come on & there will be a significant decrease in gas mileage.  Your first stop when you're engine light comes on should be to a local auto repair shop so they can diagnose the engine light.  If any reason you pick up your car after the repair was made and your engine light comes back on.  Go back and demand that they repair your vehicle correctly.

Leaking Head Gaskets
A head gasket leak could be so minor it may not even cause the engine to overheat, but it could kill the converter.  Any coolant from a leaking head gasket can kill a converter in a short period of time.  Coolants contain phosphate, silicates and other additives to prevent corrosion, but they can block and contaminate the precious metals of the converter.  Your mechanic should preform a cooling system leak down test before replacing a suspect converter to avoid damage to the newly installed converter.

Misfires
If a misfire is allowed to go on for too long, it can kill a converter by increasing the temperature of the exhaust gasses or adding unburned fuel.  Thermal or overheating damage occurs when a cylinder misfire causes excessive amounts of unburned gasoline and oxygen to enter the converter.  The catalyst begins to function at 550 F and begins to loose efficiency at 1800 F.  Temperatures above 2500 F will melt the ceramic inside the converter and damage the precious metals.

Leaking o-rings or Valve Seals
If engine oil is making it past the rings or valves and making its way into the combustion chamber, it will damage the converter eventually.  Engine oil contains sulfur, silicon, zinc, and prosperous that can bind the precious metals of the converters biscuits.  These chemicals prevent the converter from braking down unburned hydrocarbons.  If the platinum, palladium and rhodium catalysts inside the converter become coated with any other elements it can prevent them from triggering the chemical reactions that are necessary to clean up the exhaust.  The efficiency of the catalyst drops way down or ceases altogether, causing an increase of emissions out the tailpipe.
 
Pamela McLaughlin
Community Service Station of Madison Inc.
www.community-service-station-of-madison-inc.com
346 Main Street Madison, NJ 07940
973-377-9774 & 973-966-0853
communitysvsstation@hotmail.com

Getting the most MPG out of your vehicle!

With today's fuel prices, rising everyday with no sign of relief, everyone is looking for the cheapest gas station even if its 10 miles out of the way! Don't waste your time driving out of the way to save pennies on gasoline it's not worth it.  If you find gas 5¢ cheaper a few miles away and you get 10 gallons of gas you saved a total of 50¢ which is not worth the 40¢ you spent per mile to drive there.  You are better off buying from a station that is convenient for you.

Turn the car off while idling! A car burns a significant amount of gas while idling, you could keep your tank full much longer if you just turn the engine off!  It's also better for the environment & will keep us breathing cleaner air.  So why not save some gas and stay a little bit healthier!

This is a total no-brainer. Check your tire pressures regularly - make it part of your sunday routine or something. All motoring sites and magazines tell you the same thing and that's for a reason. If your tire pressures are low, you will be increasing the rolling resistance of the tire on the road and that will be robbing your fuel efficiency - your gas mileage will be down. So make sure they're up to manufacturer recommended values (at the very least) and watch your mpg get a little better.  There are still a few gas stations that offer free air which can also save some money! 

Out of sight, out of mind. Your air filter is what protects your engine from ingesting all the dust, dirt and crap in the air. If it's doing its job well, it will clog up, much like the bag of a vacuum cleaner. Once it clogs up, your engine has a harder time sucking air through it. To compensate for the reduced airflow, the engine management system will richen up the mixture, using more petrol to keep the engine running smoothly. Replace your air filter once a year and you'll guarantee better gas mileage. This is one of the easiest ones to do yourself too. Go out to your local parts store and look through their catalog to find the right filter. It will normally be a simple matter of some plastic or metal clips to get the airbox apart and then you can replace the old duffer with the new filter. Or if you are not 

sure you can conquer this task on your own stop by any auto repair shop I am sure they will inspect your filter for free. If replacement is needed they can do it in no time at all!

Spark plugs.....if your car has 30,000 miles spark,plugs should be changed, fresh plugs are not covered in carbon deposits and will improve MPG a bit.  

Follow these tips and you should be able to improve your mpg.  Better fuel economy = more money in your bank account.  You should be able to see at least a 20% improvement in MPG if not more, depending on the vehicle.  Which means extra money in your bank account and less of a carbon foot print on the environment! 

Visit our website http://www.community-service-station-of-Madison-inc.com