When your car is leaking oil, it’s almost like the machine is bleeding. Oil isn’t too dissimilar to blood. Lose enough, and the engine can be severely damaged. Being careless about the oil can end up costing you thousands of dollars in damages, maybe even making a completely new engine necessary.

Oil leaks are caused oftentimes by worn engine gaskets or seals. Depending on the design of your engine, it could also be from an oil line, which transports the liquid from one component to another. The repair involves replacing the defective seal, gasket or line. Sometimes, a leak can signal a bigger problem.

Identifying When Your Car is Leaking Oil

The big question you always need to be asking is how to tell if you have an oil leak or not. In all honesty, some cars (especially older ones) might burn some oil. Because of that fact, you can’t just judge based on the oil level. But you should be checking the oil at least once a month, if not sooner. On vehicles with a lot of miles, checking the oil every time you fill up the fuel tank is ideal.

You have an engine oil leak if you find brown, greasy liquid anywhere you’ve parked it. Even a small leak can be a big deal because it could quickly turn into a much larger one. Depending on the design of your engine, it could drop the oil level just low enough to cause problems with certain components. If your vehicle has a turbocharger, the leak could be from the oil line running to the turbo itself, and a small dribble of oil leaking out might cause serious damage to the turbocharger. In other words, ignoring any size oil leak is a bad idea.

Additives and Oil Leaks

There are a number of additives you can put into your car’s oil to repair leaks. You need to be extremely careful of such products, though, because they could have serious negative effects on your vehicle’s performance. Even if the additive doesn’t hurt your engine, it may not repair the leak.

Finding an Oil Leak

Finding an oil leak can be tricky. Just because the oil likes to pool at one point under the car doesn’t mean the oil is coming out at a spot directly above. It’s entirely possible the oil could be hitting other components such as tie rods, running along them for a while, then falling to the ground. This means you have to do some investigative work to figure out the exact location of the leak. Following the trail of motor oil can lead you to the right spot, unless the oil is hitting a hot component like the exhaust manifold and splashing everywhere.

Sometimes, you may think your car is leaking oil but the problem is actually caused by oil filters that aren’t screwed on all the way. If you change your own oil, always apply some oil to the seal on the filter around the opening, and tighten it as much as possible by hand. If the filter is the source of a leak, you’ll see it’s soaked with oil just by climbing under the car. This is an easy fix.

There’s also the off chance that damage to the oil pan could be the source of a leak. If there’s severe damage, so much oil would be running out you’d probably see the oil pressure warning light before noticing a puddle under the car. A pinhole leak from corrosion, rock damage, etc. might be enough to only leave a small amount of oil under the vehicle. If this is the source, you’ll need to get a new oil pan and swap it out with the old one, which is a pretty straightforward process.

When You’ve Found an Oil Leak

Once you’ve pinpointed the source of an engine oil leak, you can take steps to replace the faulty part that’s the source. Exactly how you go about this really depends on the component, your mechanical skills/experience and what vehicle you drive.

Many oil lines are fairly easy to replace, but some can be tricky. Most gaskets and seals require some advanced skills to replace, because you’ll need to open up part of the engine and replace everything according to the manufacturer’s specifications, including the amount of torque applied to each bolt.

When You Can’t Find an Oil Leak

If your car is leaking oil, it’s important to find and repair the leak as soon as possible to prevent severe long-term damage. In some cases, however, finding or repairing an engine oil leak is too difficult. If you find yourself in that position, it’s time to hand the car off to a professional.

At T3 Atlanta, our technicians have sophisticated training and specialized methods for tracking down and fixing oil leaks. You’ll love the way you’re treated so much, you’ll actually look forward to coming back.

Keeping up with vehicle maintenance is actually a great way to prevent big problems down the road. Back in the day, you had to keep a log in the owner’s manual or use a separate piece of paper, and hope you didn’t forget when you were supposed to do what. Fortunately, today we can manage things much easier with car maintenance apps.

You likely keep your phone, tablet, or other mobile device nearby most of the time. By installing one of these apps, there literally will be no excuse for not taking better care of your car. The old-school paper service logs were hard to use, mostly because you inevitably forgot to enter different items. With your phone or tablet pushing out alerts on a regular basis, it’s basically impossible to forget taking care of your vehicle.

Each of the car maintenance apps listed below is available for both Apple iOS and Android, which covers virtually all of the smartphones in existence today. That means there’s no feeling like you need to buy a new device just to take better care of your ride.

MyCarFax

Check out the MyCarFax app. It can help you track the maintenance needs of up to five vehicles at a time, which is great for households with multiple drivers. Adding a vehicle can be done by entering the VIN or license plate number. If you prefer an easier method, you can also scan the bar code next to the VIN. This app tracks not only upcoming maintenance items needed such as tire rotations and oil changes, but also open recalls.

When you take your vehicle to a service shop, the maintenance log is updated automatically, so there’s no having to type in all of the information manually. The big advantage of this app is that it draws on the 12 billion records available through the CarFax database. Another unique aspect is that it can recommend local service shops, showing user ratings, so if you’re in an unfamiliar region you can make a more educated decision.

AutoCare

Also available for Android and Apple users is AutoCare. Although it’s not free, the app can help you manage multiple vehicles with customizable service reminders, making it a useful auto maintenance app. The ability to customize alerts is actually a truly great feature, because say if you use synthetic oil and can stretch out oil changes further, the app will accommodate that instead of bugging you to change the oil too early.

AutoSprite

For the financially-minded, AutoSprite is an ideal car maintenance app. Like other options, it helps track when your vehicles need servicing and exactly what kind, providing easy-to-read reminders. You can use the app to even book an appointment at a compatible service center.

Where this option really shines is that it allows you to see a list of expenses you’ve paid during a defined period of time for vehicle maintenance, making it easier to track trends. It also can help with shopping for good insurance rates, something you can do periodically to save money.

RepairPal

Not only can you track vehicle maintenance records and needs with RepairPal, you can also be better prepared to fix your car. Everyone knows that accidents and unexpected thing happen in life, but this app helps you take it in stride with a one-touch option for roadside assistance. You can also use it to locate a quality local mechanic, plus it provides fair pricing for different jobs so you don’t end up paying too much.

T3 Atlanta

In case you aren’t aware, every vehicle comes with a maintenance schedule. It’s created by the manufacturer and shows when certain items need to be checked and possibly fixed. The schedule can include items such as changing the oil, swapping out an air filter, or inspecting shock boots. Vehicle manufacturers set specific times that the various items should be check over.

While it might seem like a simple thing, keeping the maintenance schedule on a car actually provides a huge benefit. Automakers know the vehicles they designed and built incredibly well. When it’s time to address the various items on the schedule at the designated times, come to T3 Atlanta. You can avoid maintenance problems down the road, saving money and grief with big repairs.

With windshield wipers, you barely need to think. All it takes is turning a switch or flipping a stalk on the steering column, and they just work. While many drivers feel they don’t need to know more about wipers, the truth is that such knowledge will help you spot potential problems early, which in turn can help save you money on bigger and more complex repairs.

Windshield Wipers: How They Work

The wipers are powered by an electric motor, which is hidden from view underneath the dash of your car. Also included in the setup is a worm gear reduction, which has the ability to increase the torque output from the motor by as much as 50 times, or reduce it by 50 times. That’s how you’re able to select so many settings for your wipers, from slow to incredibly fast.

Connected to the gear reduction is a linkage, which is what actually moves the wipers back and forth across the windshield. A short cam is the piece that’s attached to the motor’s output shaft. As it spins while the motor runs, a long rod attached to the other end of the cam shifts back and forth. Attached to the other end of the long rod is a short rod, which is what turns the wiper blade on one side of the car (usually the driver’s side). Another long rod connects to the other wiper.

The actual wiper arms are attached to the ends of the linkages with a single bolt. On modern cars, that bolt is covered with a cap made of plastic or sometimes metal. This keeps snow, ice, salt and other debris out of the connection, avoiding corrosion as the car ages. This is the first thing to check if one or both of the wipers is flopping while operating, or won’t move at all. If tightening the bolt doesn’t do the trick, then the problem is with the linkages or the electric motor itself.

There’s also an electronic sensor that detects whenever the wipers are sitting down. In the event you switch off the wipers when they’re still in the up position, this sensor keeps the power on until the wipers are folded down, completely out of your line of sight. It’s this same sensor that makes it so the wipers stay at the bottom of the windshield between swipes when you’re using the intermittent setting. Obviously, if your wipers don’t sit at the bottom of the windshield when you turn them off, this sensor is likely broken.

Windshield Wiper Blades

Most people know a thing or two about wiper blades, because they’re parts that have to be replaced on a pretty regular basis. Basically, they’re made of rubber, with metal strips that help them maintain a constant shape. This is so the thin rubber edge that sits against the windshield swipes off water evenly. As the rubber ages, it starts to chip and crack, causing the wipers to leave streaks. Sometimes this streaking is caused by dirt buildup on the wipers, which is why it’s a good idea to clean them when washing your car.

Having your car sit out in the hot sun during the daytime in the summer, or out in the bitter cold of the winter night can accelerate the aging of the wiper blades. In other words, garaging your car as often as possible will extend the life, saving you money. The most common problem with wipers comes from not replacing the blades as they age out.

The windshield wiper fluid helps with clearing debris off the windshield, like when there are a lot of bugs in the air. Little nozzles that sit on the hood, or at the edge between the hood and bottom of the windshield, actually spray the fluid out. From time to time these nozzles can become partially or completely clogged by dirt, salt or other debris. If that happens, you can clear it yourself by inserting a thin needle into the nozzle. Also, if it snows or there’s ice on your car, you have to clear that completely from the nozzles for them to work properly.

T3 Atlanta Can Replace Windshield Wipers

Wiper problems can be serious, since they affect your ability to see the road and other vehicles. The trained technicians at T3 Atlanta can quickly take care of any situation, ensuring you stay safe and happy.

Without a transmission, vehicles literally wouldn’t go anywhere. Since you can’t really see the transmission in your car, it’s often misunderstood. Knowledge is power, and knowing how your transmission works will help you maintain it better.  

How Do Transmissions Work?

You likely know that there are two main types of transmissions: manual and automatic. Without getting too technical, there are several gears fixed on two shafts. As the car is shifted into different gears by the driver or a computer, the gears from one shaft engage with the ones on the other.

In manual transmissions, drivers must push down the clutch pedal to break the connection between the engine and transmission. The gears can then be moved, then the driver releases the clutch pedal and the connection is established again. It’s essentially the same process with an automatic, only the computer uses a torque converter instead of a clutch, at least in most setups.

Dual-clutches sit somewhere in the middle between manuals and automatics.  Continuously variable transmissions (CVTs) have been increasing in popularity recently, and they eliminate individual gears completely.

Toyota Recommended Transmission Service

Toyota recommends specific service schedules for its vehicles, and that includes making sure the transmission is maintained. In general, you should have the clutch components inspected and the transmission fluid replaced every 30,000 miles. Doing this will help avoid larger problems later. The service schedule for individual Toyota models can vary, so it’s always a good idea to consult the owner’s manual or speak with a trained technician.

Signs of Transmission Trouble

There are many signs that your transmission needs to be looked at. One is if it just won’t go into gear. This can include the stick on a manual not moving, or an automatic skipping a certain gear. Several potential problems could trigger this, including low transmission fluid, the wrong fluid being used and even maladjustments for the clutch linkage or shifter cables.

Another common problem is slipping gears. That means the car starts to travel or is even going down the road, but the transmission slips, making the engine race while slowing down your momentum. This is a potentially dangerous situation. You need to have the car checked over ASAP, because several issues could be the culprit.

Sometimes transmissions make noise. If that happens when it’s in neutral, there are a few possible causes. Low fluid or the wrong type can cause some bumping sounds. If the transmission is particularly noisy, it could be from serious mechanical damage, such as worn bearings or gears. If the problem includes grinding or shaking, that can be from a worn clutch, maladjustments or other worn components.

Finding bright red, sticky fluid where your car’s been parked indicated a transmission fluid leak. The source could be in one of a number of locations. A technician can usually pinpoint it fairly quickly with the vehicle on a lift. From there, it’s just a matter of figuring out the best way to patch the leak, which may or may not involve replacing some parts.

If you smell burning coming from the transmission, that’s not something to ignore. It could indicate that there’s a problem with overheating. As the fluid burns, it can’t lubricate the gears and other components properly. The problem can be triggered by dirty fluid that needs to be swapped out, or a leak caused by a bad seal.

Vehicles with a manual transmission can experience a dragging clutch. You push on the clutch pedal, but the engine and transmission are still connected, and the transmission makes a horrendous grinding noise. Often the problem is with too much slack in the linkage between the pedal and the clutch disc.

Despite the name, your check engine light coming on can indicate a problem with the transmission. Modern vehicles have sensors that trigger the warning, like unusual vibrations you can’t even feel. When you see the check engine light turn on, it’s best to bring the car in and have the code read, avoiding bigger problems later.

T3 Atlanta For Transmission Serivce

If you hear the transmission whining or humming, that can spell trouble. At the first sign of these unusual sounds, you need to have the transmission checked over. The same goes for transmissions that don’t engage immediately after you push on the accelerator pedal.

When you experience any of the above symptoms, that’s the time to contact T3 Atlanta or stop by for an inspection. Our highly trained, professional technicians can quickly and accurately diagnose the problem.  

For most people vehicle braking systems are a mystery. They step on a pedal, and the things under the wheels slow down the forward (or backward) momentum. It’s something few think about too much, until there’s a problem. By knowing a thing or two about how brakes work, you can actually spot potential problems early, which in turn reduces the size of the repair bill.

How Do Modern Brake Systems Work?

Modern brake systems actually use hydraulics. The force you apply on the pedal is transmitted to the actual brakes through a special fluid. If you open up the hood on your vehicle, you can check the brake fluid reservoir to see if it’s low. Too little fluid means the brakes won’t work as well, so it’s critical to monitor the level on a regular basis (usually once a month is sufficient).

Of course, the brake system is actually set up to multiply the force you apply with your foot. After all, it would be pretty difficult to use sheer physical strength to stop the progression of a 4,000-plus pound vehicle traveling 65 mph. The actual pedal is designed as a lever, which multiplies the force you exert. The hydraulic force also multiplies your effort, routing through the brake lines and a master cylinder before winding its way to the wheels.

If you look at cars with fairly large gaps between the wheel spokes, you can see the brake disc underneath. When the hydraulic force is applied through the system, it squeezes a caliper that sits over one part of the disc. Attached to the caliper are brake pads, which are soft enough to not damage the discs. They create friction, slowing down the vehicle.

When everything is working fine, your car will slow down predictably time and again. There are some signs of trouble you should always be on the lookout for, because having your brakes go out or even work in a diminished way is never an enjoyable experience.

Brake Fade

You might notice that it’s necessary to push down on the brake pedal further than usual to get the car to slow down or stop. This is called brake fade, and it can happen gradually, so you might not even realize what’s going on for some time. When you do, that’s a sign that something could be wrong. The brake fluid might be low, making it necessary to push the pedal further, the brake pads could be worn down, or both.

Check Your Brake Fluid Levels

Checking the brake fluid is easy enough to do by yourself, if you’re so inclined, or our technicians can look over all your fluids at once to be safe. They also can read the thickness of your brake pads quickly, telling you if they need to be replaced, or are getting close to the point that they will need to be swapped in the near future.

One possible reason for low brake fluid is a leak. It could be present anywhere in the system, which runs throughout the undercarriage. Tracking down a leak can be tricky for someone who doesn’t have the right equipment, experience or training, which is where our techs come in. Ignoring the problem can make it worse, putting you and anyone riding in the car at risk.

Turn Down Your Music and Listen To Your Brakes

You should regularly turn down your music and maybe even roll down the windows while driving. Pay attention to any noise coming from the wheels when you apply the brakes. A squealing sound might be the indicator or a metal shim in the pads. Its job is to warn you when the pads have become thin enough they need to be changed. Hearing the squealing once in a while can be normal, thanks to temporary rust or road debris buildup, but if you notice it regularly that’s a sign to have the brakes checked.

Grinding and Growling Sounds

Grinding or growling when you push on the brake pedal is even worse. This can indicate the pads are completely worn, with the discs and calipers rubbing against each other. If that’s the case, you might need new discs and pads.

Brake Pedal Vibrations

Vibrations when you push on the brake pedal can indicate that you need new discs. The heat generated by braking can warp the metal. It’s possible the sensation is from unbalanced tires or other symptoms, which is why it’s a good idea to have a tech look at the car.

Pulling To One Side

Finally, your car might pull to one side or the other when you brake. This can be from the pads wearing unevenly, which might indicate other problems that should be addressed immediately. The problem can also be triggered by debris in the brake fluid, making it necessary to have the system drained and refilled.

T3 Atlanta For Brake Maintenance and Repairs

If you have concerns about your brakes, or any other part of your car, remember that T3 Atlanta is here to help. Our technicians are highly trained professionals that can quickly and accurately pinpoint the cause of problems, saving you time and money. Contact us today or stop by so we can get started.