Rockland & Rockport Auto Repair

These days, cars are getting better gas mileage than ever before. You don’t even have to buy a hybrid anymore to own a vehicle averaging 30 or 40 MPG. Many car owners notice that after a while, their MPG starts to wane. It’s easy to brush this off if you are still getting decent mileage, but this decrease in performance is often a symptom of bigger issues with your vehicle.    These are the most common reasons for a decrease in gas mileage: Bad Fuel Injectors: Fuel injectors are what puts fuel in your engine. If your fuel injectors are leaking or dirty, less fuel is making it to the engine, leading to a decrease in performance and gas mileage.   Using the A/C Too Often: If you live in a milder climate, consider turning off the A/C and rolling down your windows instead. Having your A/C on wastes a lot of fuel on powering the system. At higher speeds, however, be sure to roll up your windows, as leaving them down creates drag.   Your Driving Habits: If yo ... read more

Few things are more inconvenient than a flat tire on your way to work or an important event. No one ever expects it to happen, but people get flats and find themselves stranded every day of the year for various reasons. These are a few of the top reasons people find themselves with a flat:   Extreme Temperature: If you’ve ever experienced a steep drop in temperature overnight, you may have noticed the “low pressure” light on your dash the morning after. For every 10 degrees Fahrenheit the temperature changes, your tires gain or lose 1 pound of pressure per square inch. When the temperature suddenly drops, your tires lose pressure. When the temperature escalates quickly, your tire pressure increases. Sometimes, in extreme heat, your tire pressure will expand beyond what your tires can handle, causing a failure in tire integrity. Flat Tire Repair & Maintenance   Leaking Valve Stem: The valve stem on your tire is the valve that opens to allow you to fill yo ... read more