Automotive News & Information - Frank May Garage

When it comes to your tires, size does matter. So be sure to buy the tire size recommended in your vehicle's owner's manual. Since your speedometer is hooked up to the transmission and the speedometer is calibrated for the revolution of the recommended tire size, a taller or shorter tire will affect the accuracy of your speedometer.

It's the first hot day of the summer. Uncomfortably shifting in your seat, you turn on that long-neglected AC knob, only to discover an unwelcome blast of warm air streaming out from the vents. A bad situation made worse: that's when you turn to us—your air conditioning service and repair headquarters.

Brakes are one of the most important safety features on your vehicle, so it’s crucial that you keep them well maintained and stay on top of any repairs. We have expert technicians who specialize in brake system repairs and our service center is fully equipped with the best diagnostic and maintenance tools. Below are a list of services and repairs that we provide for brakes. So whether you’re having an issue with your brakes or just want to keep up with the maintenance trust an automotive repair business with properly trained expert automotive repair technicians.

First, Simply Drive Safely
Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gas. It can lower your gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds and by 5 percent around town. Sensible driving is also safer for you and others, so you may save more than gas money. Fuel Economy Benefit: 5–33% which equivalent in gasoline savings to $0.18–$1.19/gallon

It doesn’t matter if the car you’re driving is new or old, big or small. There are preventive maintenance steps every vehicle owner can take to make sure their car is as “green” or environmentally friendly as possible, according to the Car Care Council. By following a few simple preventive maintenance steps, you can help protect the environment by improving gas mileage, which in turn saves money at the pump.

Keep your car properly tuned for optimum performance- Regular tune-ups, maintenance and having clean air filters will help your car pollute less and burn less gas. Getting a tune-up can improve gas mileage by an average of 4 percent. Simply changing the car’s air filter can improve efficiency by 10 percent. Fixing a serious maintenance problem, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, can improve gas mileage by as much as 40 percent.

Fall driving can be unpredictable because of weather changes and the end of daylight saving time. We are all driving and enjoying the beautiful fall colors and need to be safe and aware on the roads this fall. Some great tips for safe fall driving include:

Watch out for leaves: Once leaves become wet, they can present slippery and dangerous driving conditions. Be sure to watch for patches of wet leaves on the road or on road lines. Dry leaves can also present a problem to your vehicle. Avoid parking your vehicle near leaf piles to prevent fires that could start from your vehicle's catalytic converter.

With gas prices high, our drivers are asking, "What can I do to improve gas mileage?" Our answer is that there are quite a few standard maintenance tips that will help you increase gas mileage and your vehicle safety.

One of the first things you should check is tire pressure. There is no one size fits all and it is a pretty easy thing to check at home and fix. On the inside of the driver’s door or door jam is a plate that indicates the correct tire pressure. Careful – there might be a different pressure for the front and rear tires. Check them at least once a month.

Care and Maintenance Tips Keep Your Car Running in Top-Notch Condition: We’ve compiled our best expert advice, surprising tricks, and car care tips to prolong the life of your automobile!

1. Be patient during the break-in period: You’ve bought your dream car and now you want to make it last at long as possible in top condition. Here are some things to remember as you pull it out of the dealer’s lot:

During the break-in period, typically the first 1,000 miles (1,600 km), keep your speed under 55 mph (88 kpm) or to the speed recommended by your car’s manufacturer.
Avoid heavy loads on the drive train, such as towing trailers, and loading the roof rack or trunk with heavy construction materials.
Do not allow your new car to idle for long periods — this is good advice for the life of your car, but especially during breakin. The oil pressure generated by doing so may not be sending oil to every part of your engine.
Use only light to medium acceleration, keeping the engine rpms below 3,000 for the first few hours of driving.