Gardena Auto Repair

Winter Holiday Travel Road Safety Tips It's the time of year where your mind starts to wander off into good times relaxing, present shopping and getaways, and if you're planning a road trip getaway this Christmas, even if you're in Southern California these are things you need to mindful of, especially if you plan on heading to colder climates or even the snow, so in the spirit of the holidays, here are Shige's "Winter Holiday Travel Road Safety Tips" CHECK LIST! ENGINE OIL Check your owners manual for winter oil viscosity recommendations. In the winter oil viscosity is going to be thinner as cold temperatures cause the oil to thicken, it could get so thick the engine will not run properly. Getting stuck in the snow is never ideal! BATTERY In colder temperatures the engine is harder to turn which can shorten your battery's life. Get your battery tested or better yet get it teste ... read more

SO WHAT THIS BLUE STUFF ANYWAY? Corrosion on your battery cables is a nuisance and can cause problems for your vehicle. It can damage quite a bit more than just your battery cables. Unfortunately, it can affect your electrical wiring, air conditioner lines and more. But, where does this stuff come from and why is it blue? The white substance you see on the picture on the left is lead sulfate or anhydrous copper sulfate. The blue coloring comes about when the anhydrous copper is exposed to moisture. It is typically experienced with copper connectors. The corrosion is generated by hydrogen gas that is released from the sulfuric acid inside the battery. A corrosive environment is then created as the gasses react to the atmosphere. Moisture and salts accelerate this process, which means those of us living in the South Bay need to be more mindful of our car battery connectors. Typically you will find the corrosion on t ... read more