Oakville Auto Repair

Shock absorbers are a vital component in your car’s suspension system. They keep your car from bouncing excessively by absorbing the road impact. That way, when you drive on bumpy road surfaces, you won’t feel it that much. Shocks can be found near both the front and rear wheels. They have hydraulic fluid to dampen the uneven motions. With a smoother drive, your car is able to hold the center of gravity and help you maintain control of your vehicle in different road conditions. Since the shock absorbers are always working, they can wear down over time. On average, a set of shocks can last you about five to ten years. In other words, they can last anywhere between 50,000 to 100,000 kilometers. Unfortunately, bad road quality, towing, frequent braking, and reckless driving can all wear them down quicker. You can also tell when your shock absorbers are wearing out by looking out for the following signs: Bumpy or rough ride - This is the most obvious sign. If your car feels like it lose ... read more

If you've driven or owned a car for a while, you've most likely noticed that its tires don't last forever. With usage over time, your tires naturally wear down. Sometimes, they can even wear down in various patterns. Here's a quick overview of the different types of tire wear: Cupping: Cupped tires have scoop-like appearances in random spots. This type of uneven wear pattern is typically caused by suspension problems or improper tire inflation. Scalloped: Scalloped tires have raised areas that look wavy. This type of unevenness is often brought about by improper tire inflation. Please be sure to fill up your tires to their appropriate psi. Inner Wear: Inner wear means that there's more wear on the inner side of your tires, and it is commonly found to be linked to alignment problems. To fix this problem, please have your tire alignment checked. Outerwear: Outerwear, as it implies, occurs when the outer edges of the tires wear down quicker than the inside. This ty ... read more

What do all these acronyms mean?ICE – Internal Combustion Engine ( You go to a gas station to fill up) – Most cars HEV – Hybrid Electric Vehicle ( Has a gasoline engine + a battery) – Toyota Prius PHEV – Plug In Hybrid Electric Vehicle ( Gasoline engine with a plug in chargeable battery) – Chev Volt EV – Electric Vehicle ( No gasoline engine, just functions on a battery) Nissan Leaf BEV – Battery Electric Vehicle ( Our industry confusing people, same as EV) Chev Bolt / Nissan Leaf The Basics ICE engine no need to explain. PHEV electric vehicles  also have a combustion engine that can act as a generator, which in turn charges the battery for more range. In this case you have a combustion car that also has a small battery and relatively weak electric motor that can turn the wheels in fully electric mode for a f ... read more

What is Oil Sludge? Oil sludge is a type of gel buildup that can occur in your car's engine due to oxidation and contamination of engine oil. This sludge can block or inhibit oil flow through the engine, which in turn can place huge stress on the radiator and engine cooling system. This weakened oil flow can be accompanied by a loss in oil pressure and fuel efficiency, and can even cause damage to the engine and other components. By performing regular oil changes on your car, you can keep it at top performance and prevent damage to its components. How does Oil Sludge hurt my car? Engine oil, particularly unrefined conventional oil, can gradually oxidize and mix with contaminants to form a gel-like substance that sticks to your engine components. This oxidization typically occurs due to high temperatures and oxygen exposure, usually in areas like the top of the engine, inside of the oil pan, and around the valve cover. Eventually, it can even block the oil screen siphon and preve ... read more

With so many drivers on the road, there is a need for increased safety measures. Thankfully, most cars come with anti-lock brakes, but that's only the beginning. The advent of the Internet over the last twenty-five years or so has called for more sophisticated measures, and now every newer model has some form of built-in computer system equipped with your safety in mind. Take, for example, backup monitors. These help the driver to determine just how much room there is to back up and how safe it is. This especially helps in situations where you may be navigating your way out of a parking lot by backing out. The technology was created with a camera to help you see the traffic behind and let you know when it's safe to continue backing up. Add in the blind spot monitors and not only will you be able to back up safely, but can be alerted if another vehicle is hiding in the lane next to you on the freeway. Advanced cruise control allows your vehicle the advantage of automatically a ... read more

Replacing your windshield washer fluid should not be a complicated maintenance task for anyone. Does it matter what kind you use? And can you use water in place of it? We'll get down to the bottom of these burning questions today. To answer the latter question: No, you should not use water when refilling your windshield washer fluid. One common mistake that drivers often make is filling the reservoir with water when they're in a pinch or don't want to bother going to the store. While the water might give you satisfactory results in warmer weather, what about in the cold, freezing winter? That's the problem with water; it will freeze up inside your tank and fluid lines, causing damage to the system altogether. Another problem with using water as your windshield fluid is bacteria. The water in the reservoir can grow microbes and make you sick when you trigger your washers. Therefore, you should never compromise by adding water to refill your washer fluid. Please ensure ... read more

Winter is already officially in full swing in Oakville, ON, and it will outstay its welcome in most provinces and territories. Most of our vehicles will suffer from a long and harsh winter, but this does not have to be the case for you! We've put together this list of winter auto maintenance items that can help protect your vehicle from the bitter cold. 1. Inspect your wiper blades When driving this season, visibility is a must. Wiper blades tend to lose their efficiency out of the blue, leaving you with nasty streaks on your windshield. Besides replacing your windshield wiper blades on time, please be sure to wipe off the debris and grime every so often to keep them clean. It's also crucial that you remember to flip your wipers out when you park your vehicle outside to keep them from freezing against the windshield. 2. Monitor tire pressure Your tires will fluctuate in pressure once the cold comes around, which is why you should frequently check your tires. Low tire pressu ... read more

All automotive vehicles sold in the US are legally required to be equipped with front and side airbags. Although the safety of airbags themselves has been a debated issue since the 1950s, a law known as the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 required the application of inflatable restraints and seatbelt use to lessen fatalities and the effects of crash injuries. So why is it such a contested topic? And what are the pros/cons of airbags?   Airbag Pros Airbags are made to automatically inflate in the event of an intense impact force that would indicate a collision. The bag gets expanded rapidly in the event to protect a driver and passenger by: Adding padded protection around his neck, head, and spine. Decreasing the force impacting a person's head by limiting the extent it can lean forward.  Limit the risk that someone will project through a windshield or be ejected from the vehicle. Victims could easily suffer from fatal injuries such as broken ... read more

Hybrid automobiles have gained a lot of traction over the last decade as people are more conscientious of protecting the planet's resources. With newer technology and developments in the automotive industry, it's important for repair shops like Sil's Complete Auto Care Centre to keep up with industry changes. There's still a lot of false information spread about Hybrid vehicles and their maintenance and repairs. Our team at Sil's Complete Auto Care Centre is well versed with hybrid auto repairs, and we will help you get your vehicle whatever it needs. Let's discuss what's wrong with these misconceptions: Myth #1 – Hybrids need to be plugged in to charge. Hybrids don't need to be plugged in to charge themselves because it's not fully electric. Instead, hybrids charge their batteries by using extra power from their petrol engine and regenerative braking capabilities.  Myth #2 – It's costly to maintain hybrids. This phrase could ... read more

Your tires are the only part of your car that makes contact with the road, making them a major safety feature of your vehicle. Mechanics agree that tire maintenance should be emphasized more often than not. From tire pressure and treadwear, it seems like no one checks on these things as much as they should. There's an ongoing list of rumors about tire care that need to be settled once and for all. We're here to deflate these popular tire myths that just aren't true! Myth #1: You should follow the tire pressure listed on the side of the tire. The air pressure listed on the sidewall of your tire is the maximum amount of air the tire can handle, not what is recommended for your vehicle. For that reason, you should always follow the pressure listed on the sticker on the driver's door jam. If it is not made obvious to you, you can always refer to your owner's manual as well. Myth #2: The Tire-Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) does all the work, so I don't have to ... read more