Archive for July, 2014

A Cool and Smooth Transmission in Little Rock

Thursday, July 31st, 2014

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When it comes to preventive maintenance on our vehicles, most of us Little Rock drivers remember to get our oil changed. But Parkway Automotive services that occur at longer intervals — like transmission service — sometimes get overlooked. Yet transmission service is a vital part of car care for Little Rock car owners. A poorly maintained transmission will diminish fuel efficiency and lead to expensive repairs.

The transmission transfers power from the engine to the drive wheels. When it’s clean and well – lubricated, it gives maximum fuel efficiency. But when it gets dirty or worn down, your gas mileage will suffer. Your transmission relies on transmission fluid to keep everything running well.

Transmission fluid has two jobs: to cool and lubricate the transmission. The transmission operates at high temperatures. It can get 100-150°F degrees hotter inside your transmission than inside your engine. Transmission fluid transfers some of the heat away from the transmission. Transmissions work hard. Their parts need constant lubrication to prevent excessive wear and keep them running smoothly for Little Rock car owners.

The constant shifting and movement of gears inside the transmission cause bits of the gears and clutch material to wear off. These bits of detrimental grit get into the transmission fluid. This grit increases friction inside the transmission and causes even more wear – it’s like liquid sandpaper. Also, the high temperatures inside the transmission cause the transmission fluid to break down over time, making it a less effective lubricant. The fluid can actually become sludgy, which can gradually plug up the maze of passages inside the transmission. Gradually, the transmission loses efficiency and stops operating smoothly. Eventually, the transmission will be damaged or fail altogether.

This is why the transmission fluid must be changed periodically. Your owner’s manual will give you a recommended time schedule for this vital service. Or, you can meet with your honest Parkway Automotive tech. Generally, the interval is around 35,000 miles (55,000 km) or every two years. But the interval for your truck may be shorter or longer.

Of course, if you give your transmission a real workout, you’re going to have to change the fluid more often than the auto manufacturer recommends. If you drive in hot, dusty Arkansas conditions, if you tow a trailer around Little Rock, if you haul heavy loads or if you do a lot of stop-and-go Conway, Arkansas driving, then you need to change transmission fluid more often. Also, if you demand frequent bursts of speed from your engine — especially shooting away from stops — your transmission is working harder and will need more frequent care. Check your owner’s manual for the “severe conditions” service interval.

Transmission fluids vary from vehicle to vehicle, so you’ll also need to check your owner’s manual to know what kind your truck needs, or communicate with your honest Parkway Automotive technician.

At Parkway Automotive in Little Rock, transmission fluid can usually be changed while you wait and is simple and not particularly expensive. Compared to the cost of expensive transmission repairs or a new transmission, it’s downright cheap! So take some good auto advice from the team at Parkway Automotive and take care of your transmission. It will pay you back in improved gas mileage and a longer, smoother ride.

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Maintaining Your Diesel in Conway, Arkansas

Friday, July 25th, 2014

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Diesel engines have been used extensively in Europe and Asia for many years. They haven’t been as common in Conway, Arkansas because of the high sulfur content in our diesel fuel. But the government is now mandating lower sulfur content and, as a result, we are going to see more Little Rock car owners driving diesel-fueled vehicles on the road, especially in passenger cars and SUV’s.

Diesels are popular in Little Rock because they get better gas mileage than gas-powered engines. They also last longer. Modern diesel engines are quiet and powerful. And if you associate diesel engines with black smoke, then you’re not up with the times. That smoke is a thing of the past.

Diesels don’t produce any more pollutants than gasoline engines. The pollution standards for diesel-powered vehicles are as strict in Arkansas as for other vehicles.

Also, diesel engines can run on bio-diesel fuels as well as fossil fuels. Diesel fuel can be produced from vegetable oil or from cellulosic waste like wood chips and sawdust. In Conway, Arkansas, we may soon see bio-diesel produced from algae. These fuel sources will lessen Little Rock drivers’ dependence on fossil fuels and may even become truly renewable and sustainable.

Diesel-powered vehicles perform as well as other passenger vehicles, also. Most Ferndale, Arkansas people don’t notice a difference in driving one or the other. If you haul heavy loads or tow a trailer in Bryant, Arkansas, however, the diesel is a definite improvement.

So, you may be asking, if diesels are so great, why don’t all Conway, Arkansas drivers drive them? Surely there are disadvantages you haven’t told me about. That’s true. Diesel engines are heavier than gas engines, and they cost more in Arkansas. The better fuel efficiency of the diesel engine is partially offset by the higher purchase price.

Because of higher fuel prices, diesel engines used to be more costly to drive in Conway, Arkansas. But now, with higher volatility in the prices of both gasoline and diesel fuel in Arkansas, that cost difference is less definitive. Whether a diesel or gas engine is more expensive for Little Rock auto owners depends now on the current price of fuel in Arkansas and how many miles you drive.

Consider also that diesel-powered vehicles have a high resale value in the Conway, Arkansas area, and the costs of owning and operating a diesel vs. a gas-powered vehicle in Arkansas becomes a real toss-up.

Preventive auto maintenance for diesel vehicles has also become similar to that of gas-fueled vehicles in recent years. The major difference is that diesels require cleaner fuel, air and oil, so their filters are more expensive in Little Rock than those for gasoline engines. The engine air filter must be changed more frequently as well.

The costs for car care and repairs in Little Rock are similar. Wait, you may be thinking, but you just told me that filters are more expensive and have to be changed more regularly. True, but that is offset by the fact that diesel engines have a much longer lifetime than gasoline engines. So if you are the type of owner who prefers to hang on to a vehicle for a long time, you will be more than rewarded with a diesel engine.

So if you have been looking for Parkway Automotive auto advice on whether to switch to a diesel vehicle or stay with a gas-powered one, then we hope this helps. The answer as to which type of vehicle is better is that it depends on the Little Rock driver and their driving habits. Now that you know the facts, you can make an informed choice based on your own priorities and needs.

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Tire Rotation and Balancing at Parkway Automotive in Little Rock

Monday, July 21st, 2014

Tires do a lot of key work for Little Rock motorists. They transfer engine power and braking forces to the road; they handle steering control; and they cushion all those bumps and jolts while driving around Little Rock. They also support the entire weight of the vehicle, including you and your passengers. With such critical work to do, you want your tires to do their job well. And since replacing tires is fairly pricey, you want them to last as long as possible.

There are three keys to long, even tire wear for Little Rock motorists:

  • Proper tire inflation
  • Proper wheel alignment
  • Regular tire rotation and balancing

The front tires on a car take the brunt of the steering forces. As they push through turns, the shoulders of the front tires wear down more quickly than the rear tires. Rotating front and rear tires allows them to all wear at about the same rate. That’s especially true of front wheel drive vehicles whose front tires steer, and put the power to the road.

SUVs and pick-ups, especially four wheel drives, also tend to wear their tires more unevenly than cars because of their suspension and drivetrain set-up. Your owner’s manual will likely contain a schedule for tire rotation. It’s usually every 5,000 miles or so.

Also, there are different rotation patterns for different vehicles. Parkway Automotive will know which is right for your vehicle. That brings us to wheel balancing. When wheels are balanced, they spin on the axle evenly. When they are out of balance, they wobble a bit. That makes the tires wear unevenly and may transmit a vibration to the car. Your honest Parkway Automotive service specialist puts weights on your wheels to balance them out so that they turn true and smooth.

Tires are a big investment for Little Rock auto owners. They’re key for keeping you safely on the road in Little Rock. The cost for regular rotation and balancing is more than made up in extended tire life. And, can you really put a price on your safety and that of your passengers?

Posted in Tires and Wheels | No Comments »

Straight And True In Little Rock: Wheel Alignment

Friday, July 11th, 2014

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Most Conway, Arkansas folks worry about running out of gas or having a breakdown on the side of the road. That is why we practice preventive maintenance on our vehicles — that and to keep our repair bills down. But one important part of preventive maintenance that may get overlooked by Little Rock auto owners is a periodic alignment inspection.

Poor alignment causes tires to wear rapidly, unevenly or both. This means they will have to be replaced early, and new tires are more costly than an alignment check in Little Rock. Bad alignment can also cause damage to suspension and steering systems, which can be expensive to repair in Conway, Arkansas.

Tire wear on misaligned wheels can also lead to blowouts, which are dangerous, can lead to serious accidents, and can seriously damage your truck. Also, poor alignment itself can be the cause of an accident, since the truck may not steer properly.

One or more wheels on your truck can be knocked out of alignment by running over a curb or a pothole on a bumpy Little Rock street. An accident, even a minor one, that involves a wheel on your car can lead to misalignment. The small bumps and bangs of everyday Ferndale, Arkansas driving can also gradually put your wheels out of alignment.

If you have had wheel damage to your truck, or if you suspect that your wheels are out of alignment, you should get your alignment checked NOW. Any Parkway Automotive service professional will give you that piece of auto advice. But good car care suggests that you also get your alignment inspected on a regular basis. At Parkway Automotive in Little Rock, we can take care of that for you.

Your owner’s manual or Parkway Automotive service professional can give you a suggestion on how often your alignment should be checked. If it doesn’t, then once a year is a good rule of thumb. However, if you drive a lot and especially if you drive on rough surfaces a lot, then you may want to consider a diagnostic examination more often. Ask your honest service professional for a recommendation.

If your truck is out of alignment, one or more of the wheels is not tracking correctly and will “pull” against the others. Thus, one sign of poor alignment is that your truck pulls to one side when you drive around Conway, Arkansas. Also, if you are driving a straight path and your steering wheel is off-center, that usually indicates an alignment problem.

Little Rock auto owners should also check the wear on their tires. If they seem to be wearing out too quickly, or if you notice that a tire is wearing on one side more than the other, you should get your alignment checked.

When you get a diagnostic examination, your vehicle will be put on a rack and all the parts of the steering and suspension systems will be inspected for wear or damage. The alignment of the tires will be charted and compared to the original factory settings. If no repairs are needed on the steering or suspension systems, the wheels will then be adjusted to bring them back into alignment.

This may seem like a lot of bother for Bryant, Arkansas auto owners, but it’s a lot less trouble than a blowout or an accident. The old adage is good auto advice for all Little Rock residents: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

So keep on driving, and keep all four tires on the road.

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Parkway Automotive Helps You Decipher The Menu Board: Part 2

Wednesday, July 2nd, 2014

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Little Rock service centers have a menu board that lists the services they provide. Some Little Rock drivers may not be familiar with all of the items on the board so here is a quick description of some of the typical services that might be listed.

Parkway Automotive fuel system cleaning: Over time, the truck fuel system gets gum and varnish built up. A fuel system cleaning gets rid of that and cleans out the fuel injectors. Saves gas, by the way.

Parkway Automotive headlamp replacement: Halogen and standard headlamps gradually fade. It’s usually good to change them every year or so.

Parkway Automotive inspections: Little Rock drivers get inspections for many reasons. Maybe they’re going on a trip or just want to make sure their vehicle’s ready for Arkansas summer or winter. Maybe they just bought a used truck and want to give it the once over. An inspection may reveal some things that are broken or are getting close to having a problem.

Parkway Automotive oil change: – there are several options: Some Little Rock centers offer just an oil change and new filter as an option. Most will also check and top off all of your other fluids and do a quick visual inspection with a full service oil change. In my way of thinking, the full service option is best because it makes sure you have adequate fluids and may uncover an emerging problem. There may also be options for higher mileage fluids or an upgrade to synthetic oil.

Parkway Automotive PCV valve replacement in Little Rock: PCV stands for Positive Crankcase Ventilation valve. It’s a little part that releases pressure from the engine. It can get gummed up and that can lead to engine damage. Just needs to be changed now and then.

Parkway Automotive power steering service: Often overlooked. Your honest Parkway Automotive technician will evacuate the old fluid, clean out the system and replace it with clean fluid. Keeps the truck system running well for a long time.

Parkway Automotive serpentine belt service: That’s the belt that powers the truck engine’s accessories like the alternator, air conditioner, power steering and brakes. You’ll want to replace the serpentine belt before it breaks, because that’ll shut you down.

Parkway Automotive shocks and struts: This starts with an inspection of the suspension components. Shocks last a long time and wear out slowly, so many Little Rock people don’t notice when it’s time to change them. If they’re worn or leaking, they need to be replaced.

Parkway Automotive transmission service: This involves removing the transmission fluid and replacing it with clean fluid. It’s like an oil change for your transmission.

Parkway Automotive tire rotation and wheel balancing: The tires are rotated from front to back using the recommended rotation pattern. This helps tires wear more evenly. Wheels need to be balanced from time to time to keep them turning without any wobble or bounce. Helps the ride and saves tire wear.

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