Muffler Repair Gold Coast
Do you want to get the best life out of your car? Most drivers expect more from their engine than moving from point A to B. Unfortunately, our team at Auto King sees exhaust system wear and tear each and every day. And most often? The break down was sped up by the most common, and often preventable, roadside behaviour.
If you’ve swung by our service shop, chances are you live in the Gold Coast or somewhere along the Queensland coastline. While we may enjoy the benefits of the sand and sea, the realities of coastal living can take a heavy toll on your car.
Concerned you may have been hitting the roads a little too hard? Worry not – most drivers own a car with the intention of driving it (so do we). On the bright side, you can jump start protecting your car from the elements by following a few preventative measures (before the situation becomes total chaos). Want to keep your wheels spinning? Give these tips a test run. Trust us, it’s a good idea.
4 Tips to Keep Your Engine Running
- Check for rust – keeping an eye on corrosion
Let’s be honest – we’re mechanics. We’re not as concerned with sticking to ‘this season’s colours’. This means that we still consider patches of ‘copper’, ‘rose gold’, or ‘bronze’ to be warning signs. Spot a spot of rust? This is a sign of corrosion.
Living near the beach has its perks. So does breathing in fresh, salty air – unless you’re an exhaust system. Salt water has a knack for affecting everything from the body of a vehicle to the underside. Go for a walk around your car – maybe even take a peek underneath. See any rust starting to sneak in? Get this addressed ASAP before that spot grows into a section.
- Avoid the stop and go – we’re looking at you, city slickers
While we can’t think of anyone who enjoys the stop and go of city traffic, the effects of being stuck in that morning jam will take a toll on more than just your sanity. Cars that only run for short periods of time never heat up to a temperature that allows condensation to evaporate. Though you might have believed the brief commute would be better for your favourite hatchback, lingering water can lead to rust, engine holes, and leaks. Although we praise the man who designed the intricate exhaust system, the domino effect that results from one part breaking down is a game we’d rather avoid.
- Go for gold (fuel, that is)
We know that most drivers go for the standard, unleaded option at the pump. However, we also know that fewer car owners are aware of the effects poor quality fuel can have on your system. While high traffic stations will have often have enough turnover to keep a fresh supply, low quality fuel can still be found. What are the signs you’ve topped up with something less than premium? Difficulty starting to sluggish performance are a few indicators as is backfiring. Think you filled an almost empty tank with poor petrol? Stop driving and have your tank drained. Your car’s wellbeing may rely on it.
- Be proactive – fix problems when you notice them
Like the human body, your car’s exhaust system is interconnected. While we believe this to be a thing of beauty, it can also mean that when one mechanism fails you could be headed for a total system meltdown. Looking to avoid total destruction? Be proactive. Start taking a walk around your car on a regular basis to look for leaks. Drive around the potholes. And, if or when you do scrape the pavement after pulling out of your driveway, check that the exhaust hanger is still intact. Is it damn near reaching the ground? Get it fixed.
Sound easy? Great – we hope you start putting some of these practices, well, into practice. But if you’re like most drivers, and are more concerned with going from home to work and back again, you may have forgotten to check for rusty patches. Or, just maybe, you didn’t think to “circle around the body of your car checking for wear and tear” when you got home at 10 o’clock last night. We don’t blame you. Your next move? A: get to a mechanic for a quick check in before needing a full blown repair, or, B: keep an eye out for the following signs. See something strange? Get to your local shop – now.
4 Signs You’re On the Road to Break Down
- Poor fuel efficiency – not getting very far?
Price of petrol hasn’t increased? If you’re still filling up for the same amount of money yet only getting a half-life out of your full tank – something’s wrong. And that something is that your car’s fuel efficiency – which is going down.
- Rotten eggs
Nobody likes to hear it, nobody wants to smell it. (Least of all you, when trapped in a traffic jam, at 5pm.) If your car is starting to smell like a summer compost pile, and you didn’t leave last week’s dinner under the seat, do we have to tell you that something is wrong?
- Shaky start – getting started (or not)
Does it take a few tries to ignite your engine? We’re not talking about your morning coffee. If you’re having trouble getting the ol’ engine going (which was, in fact, designed to catch on the very first try) you’re likely doing more damage than good. Get in, start up as best you can, and go off to the garage.
- Engine Light Glows – they designed this feature for a reason
If your model is new enough that the manufacturer’s included the handy ‘Check Engine’ symbol on the dashboard, you’re in luck. This little icon will glow when something is amiss, saving you from guesswork. If you glows, you go. (Go to the mechanic, that is.)
Are you starting to notice some of the above signs? Preventative care can seem frivolous at the time but can also ward off major repairs down the road. And we get it – most people don’t drive their car considering the effects of salt water damage and traffic jams.
Want to check in and ensure that your car and finances will keep rolling forward? Reach out to our team for a service quote that we guarantee to never exceed. Too busy to stop in? Ask about our mobile services and let our team come to you.
