Category Archives: Service

A mechanic is pouring oil into a funnel

The 7 Deadly Sins of Car Maintenance

Are You Guilty of Any??

Keeping your car in top shape is essential to ensuring that it runs smoothly and has a long life. Here are the seven deadly sins of car maintenance to avoid:

  1. Neglecting regular maintenance. Perform regular maintenance tasks, such as oil changes, tire rotations, and spark plug replacements.
  2. Skipping detailing. Get your car detailed regularly to remove dirt, salt, and grime buildup that can lead to corrosion and discoloration.
  3. Driving on empty. Fill up your tank as soon as possible when the gas gauge indicates that you’re low on gas.
  4. Ignoring warning lights. Take your car to a mechanic to have any warning lights checked out as soon as possible.
  5. Overloading the vehicle. Stay within the maximum weight limit of your vehicle to avoid damaging the suspension and other components.
  6. Improper tire inflation. Check your tire pressure regularly and inflate them to the correct level.
  7. Neglecting to change air filters. Change your air filter regularly to keep your engine and air conditioning system running smoothly.

Skipping regular maintenance tasks and ignoring warnings can be costly. Watch for these seven deadly sins of car maintenance, and help keep your vehicle running smoothly for years to come. If you ever need assistance with maintaining your car, stop by Fellah Auto Group’s Service Department, where one of our skilled technicians will help you get back on the road in no time.

A man inspecting a damaged vehicle

Difference between Fuel Grades (Octane)

When filling up your car’s gas tank, you’re presented with different options for fuel octane grades. But what do these different grades mean, and how do they affect your car?

Let’s start with the basics: octane is a measure of a fuel’s ability to resist “knocking” or “pinging” during combustion, caused by the air/fuel mixture detonating prematurely in the engine. The higher the octane number, the more compression the fuel can withstand before detonating.

The most common octane grades you’ll see at the pump are 87 (regular), 89 (mid-grade), and 91-93 (premium).

Regular gasoline, also known as 87 octane, is the most common and least expensive option. It’s suitable for most cars on the road today, but it may not provide the best performance or fuel economy. This type of fuel is also called “Regular Unleaded” or “87 octane”

Mid-grade gasoline, also known as 89 octane, is a step up from regular gasoline. It’s designed to provide better performance and fuel economy than regular gasoline. Some cars may require this type of fuel, but most modern vehicles can run on regular gasoline without any problems.

Premium gasoline, also known as 91-93 octane, is the highest octane fuel available. It’s designed for high-performance and luxury vehicles that require higher compression ratios. These cars are engineered to run on higher octane fuel, which can provide better performance and fuel economy. Some vehicles may require premium gasoline to run properly, but for most vehicles, it’s an unnecessary expense.

E85 fuel is a great alternative to gasoline, composed of 51-85% ethanol. Benefits include improved engine performance, reduced emissions, and a cleaner burn. It’s also affordable, typically costing less than other fuel options. E85 is popular in racing as it runs cooler than gasoline. This type of fuel typically requires a custom tune.

Higher octane fuel won’t improve performance or fuel economy; it may even decrease performance and increase fuel consumption. Check your vehicle’s owner manual to know what type of fuel it requires.