We’ve found a use for that jar of pennies in your kitchen! Just joking… but a penny is a great consistent way to “just check” your tires for wear.

Tread depth is typically measured in 1/32″ increments. Using a recent Canadian penny (the Queen is not wearing a crown) you can quickly and easily check the tread depth yourself.

With the Queen facing you, insert the penny into the tread hair first. Repeat this by placing the coin into several treads across the tire from each side and the middle. Take the lowest reading as the overall tread depth.

The top of her head is approximately 4/32″ of tread depth. If you can see her entire head it is time to find some new Tires!

Quick and Easy!!

Ready to start shopping for tires? Good timing, cause our parts department is selling tires at 99¢ over cost!

For those of us with Quarters jangling in our pockets, the same measurement can be taken using the the moose head (does he have a name?) put him in the tread nose first and if you can see his muzzle it’s time to start looking for new tires!!

Filed under: Interesting, Maintenance, Safety, Tires on October 29th, 2011
No Comments »

Filed under: Events, Maintenance, Nanaimo, Service, Specials, Tires, Video on April 1st, 2011
No Comments »

When your vehicle rolls off of the assembly line, the fuel system is clean. The combustion chamber, plenum and throttle body are free from fuel deposits, and the result is a well running vehicle. It gets the fuel economy it was designed to get. It has the performance it’s supposed to have and the exhaust emissions are as low as they can be.

So what happens? Gasoline is what happens!

Gasoline is a hydrocarbon fuel and when a hydrocarbon fuel is burned, one of the by products is carbon. Carbon deposits form on the combustion chamber walls, the back of the exhaust valves and on top of the piston crown. The throttle body and plenum are also effected. All this is not good for the vehicle or it’s owner.

The deposits rob a vehicle of its performance, but more importantly of its fuel economy. By removing these deposits, your vehicle will perform and run like new. Fuel economy will be restored.

(Left to Right) Before and after of both the Piston Crown and the Intake Valve.

The human body and the engine in your car have a lot in common. Both need air to operate properly.

When the Throttle Body (nostrils) of the vehicle, the Plenum (sinus) or the Combustion Chamber (lungs) are congested from fuel related deposits, the engine does not operate properly. Performance is compromised. Fuel efficiency decreases and exhaust emissions increase.

Our Fuel System Cleaning Service cleans the respiratory system of your vehicle. Restores the performance, reduces exhaust emissions, but more importantly, helps maintain the fuel economy your vehicle was designed to get. Book an appointment online or call our service appointment desk at 250-758-7388.

Filed under: Maintenance, Service on March 31st, 2011
No Comments »

A great story from Village 900 Radio’s Blog. The Ace-It program is one of the ways that BC’s colleges support students is through transition or dual credit programs created through partnerships with local school districts. These programs help to prepare secondary students for post-secondary education by offering relevant programming that moves students in to the workplace faster and with the necessary skills.

“I’m so glad I did ACE-IT instead of just regular grade 12 – I’m doing something I love,” she says. “I wanted to come to school every day.” In grade 10, Victoria participated in a trades co-op program, earning credits by completing a three-week work placement at Steve Marshall Ford, changing oil and learning what she could from the veteran mechanics in the shop.

Filed under: Ford, Good News, Maintenance, Nanaimo, Service on December 10th, 2010
No Comments »

Tire rotation and brake checks are supposed to happen every 10,000 km, and while every vehicle is unique, I’ll share what happened to my vehicle (please excuse the dirt, I had just come from camping). My tire rotation was spontaneous because I need my tires repaired, normally while you have your regular maintenance completed the shop would rotate your tires. While everything is being changed, rotated and checked, it’s also being noted in your Multi Point Inspection (by a BCAA approved shop).

Once my rear tire was pulled off, my rear brakes were checked. The cover comes off first, you can see it below my truck on the hoist. Then the technician starts to shine lights and check these little boot things (where he’s pointing is a rubberish boot) for leaks! Free of leaks, he moves on.

He wiggled, jostled and shone more lights and all around made me feel like my rear brakes were thoroughly tested and very safe before giving them the “All Good”.

Then my front tires were moved to where the rear tires were, almost done this tire rotation and repair, and my front brakes were accessible for their check up.

Uh oh!

I tried taking a picture of how little pad I had left, but I’m not sure if you can see it. See that little 2mm indent between the holding cage? That’s bad. On the inspection sheet I got a “Yellow-Red” and a recommendation to get them repaired, as soon as possible.

I can only imagine the bad things that could happen if I couldn’t stop.

The tire rotation continued including balancing of the tires that needed repairs and all my tires had new spots on my truck!

Want to check out more about my tire repairs?

Are you ready to book your service? Is there anything else you’d like to see done in our shop?

Filed under: Brakes, Maintenance, Service, Tires on July 21st, 2010
1 Comment »