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

Call me a Boomer, but we're here to give Millennials some Car Care Advice .... There's that older but still popular meme of Homer Simpsons's dad clinching his fists in the air titled "Old Man Yells at Cloud" and of course we have the currently trending social media meme with the "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" reality TV star, screaming and pointing at an angry, hissing cat sitting over a table and plate of vegetables. So what does this all mean exactly? Millennials really know their memes and while we try to find a way to avoid being called a Boomer, we really want to talk you about the importance of being a car owner and the responsibilities that come along with it. In a study conducted by Car Rentals an (Expedia company) they interviewed 1,000 Americans regarding car care issues and discovered 46% millennials can't jump start a car, while 67% Americans ages ... read more

For part IV of our vehicle fluids series we will like to discuss brake fluid. And, we're gonna just jump right into it!! The brake lines in your vehicle are filled with a hydraulic fluid known as brake fluid. When you depress the brake pedal, the fluid filled lines transfer force to activate the vehicle's braking system, which aids in the movement of the brake pads at the wheels. Brake fluid also acts as a lubricant and an anti-corrosion fluid that will make sure your brake system is working at its' best. Brake fluid is made up of a mixture of varying glycols, which are derived from a mixture of non-petroleum and other alcohol based fluids. There are other higher end fluids that are silicone based. These particular high end fluids should not be mixed with other types of brake fluid and that is why it is important to understand the differences between types of brake fluid. Brake fluid will get hot at times and needs to have a high boiling point. Do to the fact that brak ... read more

Internal combustion engines, such as the one in your vehicle, necessitates the removal of excess heat. Therefore, the engine has a cooling system that requires coolant, which is a heat transfer fluid. Coolant also prevents freezing and protection from corrosion. When your engine is operating it can convert only about one third of the energy originating from the combustion of fuel into assisting to move the vehicle. Two thirds of this is converted into heat while another one third is released through the exhaust, which leaves the rest of this energy within the engine block. The engine block is then in need of coolant to absorb this heat and as the coolant absorbs the heat it then transports it through the radiator and sends it to dissipate into the environment. Due to this process, the engine is able to be fully efficient and operational. Coolant is sometimes known as anti-freeze and vice versa. Both are really just generic terms used to describe a fluid that can remove heat fr ... read more

Every vehicle is so intricately designed and has thousand of little parts that play many different roles that allow the vehicle to perform the way that it does. The transmission plays a huge role in the performance of your vehicle. Simply put, the transmission works to transfer the power from the engine to the wheels so that it can move forward. Of course, it is way more complicated than that, but we can just stick to the basics. There are four types of transmissions: Manual, Automatic, Continuously Variable Transmission, Semi-Automatic and Dual clutch Transmissions. All moving parts require lubrication and that goes for the transmission, as well. The fluid will protect and clean metal surfaces, extend rotational speed and temperature ranges. It also provides the proper viscosity, it prevents foam build up and the oxidation of the fluid, which extends the life of the fluid. Transmission fluid improves the cooling ability and reduces high temperatures and will condition gaskets so ... read more