Archive for June, 2014

Coolant Service at Parkway Automotive

Friday, June 27th, 2014

Little Rock motorists’ cars have to operate in a wide range of Arkansas temperatures which requires our engine coolant to be able to perform ‘no matter what’. Think for a moment about the environment where the coolant does its thing. Very hot, high pressure, corrosive…

And all the while, it has to protect the components of the cooling system from corrosion. These components are made from steel and aluminum, plastics and rubber. The coolant has to be formulated to protect against corrosion for all of these different materials. That’s why car makers recommend different types of anti-freeze for our Little Rock, Arkansas vehicles.

There are several different ‘families’ of anti-freeze available to us here in Little Rock, Arkansas. Your owners’ manual will tell you what kind you should use. Of course, the automotive professionals at  Parkway Automotive will know the right kind for your car.

It’s key to stay on top of this because coolant system failure is the most common mechanical problem people have here in Little Rock, Arkansas. Regular service at Parkway Automotive needs to be done to avoid failures and also to keep your warranty in place.

While the specifics of the service required may vary from vehicle to vehicle, your honest Parkway Automotive service specialist will know what to do. You’ll be advised to replace the coolant at specified intervals.

Some vehicle manufacturers recommend periodic coolant system flushes. A flush adds a cleaning step to the fluid replacement process. Again, check to see what your Little Rock service specialist recommends.

Someday, you may have to deal with an overheating problem, so you need to know what to do if your coolant temperature warning light comes on or your temperature gauge is in the hot zone.

Now, overheating can be very expensive. Little Rock car owners can literally melt down their engine and have to replace the whole thing. So don’t ignore warning signs.

First turn off the air conditioner. This will lower engine temperature right away. Next, crank up your heater to maximum heat and run the fan at high speed. You might need to roll down the windows, but this will take a lot of heat off the engine.

Pull over as soon as you can safely do so
, especially if you are stuck in slow-moving traffic, and shut the car off. It may take as much as 45 minutes for the engine to cool to the point that it’s safe to operate the car again.

If you need to add water or antifreeze, be sure to wait until the car cools down. Opening the radiator cap or even the overflow bottle when the coolant is hot and under pressure may result in serious burns.

After the engine has cooled for 45 minutes or so, look to see if the coolant is low in the overflow tank. If so, you can cover the overflow tank cap with a large cloth and open the lid. Then start the engine and pour in some water or antifreeze. Pouring it in when the car is running will circulate the new, cool fluid with the warmer fluid in the engine and avoid engine damage.

Of course, overheating is a serious problem and you need to get it fixed right away. Parkway Automotive can make sure the coolant is right before you drive home.

Those spring and winter inspections really come in handy when they head off a cooling system problem. And don’t forget that severe service driving conditions, like towing or hot, dusty driving around Little Rock, Arkansas, mean that you’ll need to service your coolant more frequently.

At AutoNetTV, we suggest that you have Parkway Automotive inspect your coolant system to find small problems before they become big, and to change belts and hoses before they fail. After all, we don’t want you to lose your cool out there in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Parkway Automotive: Why Replace Your Engine Air Filter?

Friday, June 20th, 2014

Your browser does not support video

Just as our bodies need clean air to function properly, your truck engine needs clean air to operate efficiently. Let’s go egghead for a minute. For every gallon of gas we burn driving on Arkansas highways, twenty pounds of carbon dioxide comes out the tailpipe. Question: how can a gallon of gas that weighs a little over six pounds produce twenty pounds of carbon dioxide?

The answer is that the carbon comes from the gasoline, but the oxygen comes from the air. You see, it takes about twelve thousand gallons of air to burn a gallon of gas in your engine. Clearly, your truck needs a lot of air to keep going in Cabot, Arkansas. A lot of clean air is best.

Parkway Automotive: Why Replace Your Engine Air Filter?You’ve seen the pictures of people in Japan wearing face masks. They want some kind of filter to keep unwanted pollution and germs out of their lungs. Well, your truck also works better when its internals are clean. When your truck air filter’s dirty, it simply can’t trap any more dirt, so the pollutants just pass through into your air intake system. From there it can clog your fuel injectors and even get into the motor itself. Not surprisingly, burning dust and pollen in your truck engine does you no good.

So, we’re talking potential damage for Conway, Arkansas drivers. But another big thing is wasted fuel. Your truck engine management computer tries to mix the correct amount of air in with the fuel. If the filter’s clogged, there isn’t enough air for the optimal fuel to air mix and that really messes with gas mileage.

In fact, replacing a dirty air filter at Parkway Automotive in Little Rock can improve your fuel economy by up to ten percent. At today’s Cabot, Arkansas fuel prices, you should be able to pay for a new air filter before your next oil change.

The verdict: When your truck engine air filter needs to be replaced; it needs to be replaced. How often depends entirely on the level of air pollution where you drive in Arkansas. A simple visual inspection at Parkway Automotive will tell you when you need a new engine air filter.

When you look at the air filter on your furnace at home and see it’s all clogged up with dust and dirt, you don’t hesitate to replace it. When your Parkway Automotive service advisor shows you your nasty engine air filter, you now know why you should go ahead and replace it.

Fuel Saving Tip: Slow Down Around Little Rock

Thursday, June 12th, 2014

There’s not much we can do about the price of gas in Little Rock Arkansas, but we do quite a bit about how much we use as we’re driving on our Little Rock streets.

Our driving habits can dramatically affect our fuel economy.

Slow Down In Little Rock for Fuel Economy The first thing we can do is watch the ‘go-pedal’. Hard acceleration just sucks the gas. Gently leave stop lights and plan lane changes so you don’t need to floor it. That can save you hundreds of dollars a year.

Go a little slower on the freeway to Conway, Arkansas. Once you’re going more than sixty-five miles an hour your fuel economy starts to drop dramatically. Leave early so you don’t need to rush to be on time. And cruise control is your friend – steady speed uses less gas.

Plan errands ahead. Make fewer trips by combining errands.

Hey at current gas prices, a lead-foot might as well be a gold foot.

Parkway Automotive
708 Kirk Road
Little Rock, Arkansas 72223
501-821-6111

What To Do In Case Of An Accident in Conway, Arkansas

Wednesday, June 4th, 2014

Screeching tires, crunching metal – it’s an accident! If you’ve ever been in a car accident in Little Rock, even a minor one, you know how upsetting it can be. It’s hard to think straight and know what to do.

Let’s review what Little Rock drivers should do in case of an accident:

When an accident occurs, you should always stop. Leaving the scene of an accident in Little Rock is considered a crime – even if it’s not your fault. And hit and run penalties are fairly severe, possibly resulting in steep fines, loss of your Arkansas driver’s license or even jail time.

Your jurisdiction may require that you try to help someone who is injured by calling for help or performing first aid if you are able. Warn other Bryant, Arkansas and Ferndale, Arkansas motorists by putting out flares, using your flashers or lifting your hood. Call Conway, Arkansas emergency services as soon as possible. Tell the operator if medical or fire help is needed.

Little Rock car owners should always file a police report. It’s tempting for Little Rock car owners to skip this if everything seems to be ok. But without a police report, the other guy can say whatever he wants about the accident later, and you’ll not have an objective report to help defend yourself. Discuss the accident only with the police. Emotions are strong after an accident and we naturally want to talk about it – don’t. Never admit fault or guilt to anyone including the Little Rock police officer. Sometimes we may feel at fault, but in the eyes of the law, the other guy is responsible.

Truthfully give the officer the facts: such as “I was going thirty miles an hour” not “I wasn’t speeding”. Remember, anything you say to the officer or anyone else can be used against you. Also get the officer’s name and ID number and ask where you can get a copy of the accident report.

Get the facts on the driver and owner of the other vehicle:

  • Name
  • Address
  • Phone number
  • Date of birth
  • Driver’s license number and expiration
  • Insurance information

Also take down a description of the other Little Rock vehicle, license plate and vehicle identification number. Most Arkansas auto insurance companies don’t record license plate numbers, so the VIN number is the best way to track a vehicle in Arkansas.

Ask witnesses, including passengers, to wait for the police. If they can’t wait, ask for contact information and request that they write a brief description of what they saw. If someone refuses to leave their name, write down their license plate number so the police can track them down later if necessary. Always call your insurance agent or your insurance company. Call or see a physician if you think you may have been injured. For vehicle repairs, call Parkway Automotive at 501-821-6111

Contact Parkway Automotive to learn more about what do do in case of an auto accident.
You can find us at:
708 Kirk Road
Little Rock, Arkansas 72223
Or call us at 501-821-6111

Parkway Automotive and AutoNetTV hope that you never have to use this information and wish you happy Little Rock travels.