How often should I have my brake fluid serviced? Depending on your vehicle and the manufacturer's recommended intervals, there tends to be a wide range of recommendations for the best time to service your brake fluid. How often you change your brake fluid depends on your driving amount and braking patterns. It is always helpful to have your mechanic check your brake fluid each oil change. These frequent checks will allow you to keep tabs on the brake fluid levels and receive feedback from your trusted mechanic on when to service your brake fluid. It is typical to see a need to change the brake fluid every 2-5 years or every 30,000 miles. At Sallas Auto Repair, we check all fluid levels with each oil change and give the recommendations needed, so you don't run into any "surprises" on the road. Why do I pick a brake fluid exchange over a regular brake service? When driving, brakes are one of the most critical components of ... read more
AAA members have just that -a plan! Actually AAA has 3 plans you can choose from that are $58, $84 or $110 per year. When you are on the side of the road there is a good chance you will need a tow truck. The average tow bill runs about $85. You could spend that for a yearly membership that includes a whole list of roadside benefits and discounts. Secondly, A well-maintained vehicle not only last longer, it also retains more of its resale value, helps avoid roadside breakdowns and costly repairs. “It’s tempting to avoid car maintenance, but that’s not a financially sound method to manage the big investment you’ve made in your vehicle,” notes Tony Molla, VP of communications for the nonprofit National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). “Surveys of our certified technicians show that a well-maintained vehicle lasts longer, retains more of its resale value, pollutes less, and gets better mileage than one tha ... read more
Motor oil is the shield of your engine! Regular oil changes can be one of the most significant ways to extend the life of your vehicle. Period. Oil keeps your engine running smoothly and keeps crucial engine components running cool by transferring heat away but it also cleans the inside of your engine of deposits and debris. To understand the importance of regular oil changes, we have compiled a list of the top five reasons to have an oil change: 1. Oil Stress Because of high operating temperatures, oil experiences a thermal breakdown. The thermal breakdown wears on the oils additives and lubrication. When the lubrication wears down, parts of the engine may begin to rub against each other causing dysfunction and a shorter life span for your engine. 2. Combustion Gunk Combustion gunk can do major damage to your engine and makes your car run less efficiently. Gunk occurs when there are corrosive byproducts that build up in yo ... read more
Out-of-town breakdowns can leave you in a panic on not knowing what to do. Here is a short list of things that may help you out. 1. Google "Roadside Assistance" for the area you are in. RA can help with jump starts, changing a tire, and other services that can be handled on the side of the road. They can also help keep you safe with their presence. They can also call for a tow or direct you to a close shop. 2. Look for a AAA Approved Auto Repair Shop. Even if you are not a AAA member it still helps to do business with a AAA Shop. AAA Shops have to go through an approval process and keep a 97% Customer Satisfaction rating to stay approved. 3. Sallas Auto has a Nationwide Warranty, so if something has failed that we have serviced, look for a NAPA Approved Facility. Show them your receipt for services completed at Sallas Auto Repair. The warranty covers parts and labor on qualifying repairs for 24 Months/24,000 miles ... read more
Winter is right around the corner…So this means… Cold temps makes it harder for your engine to start Rain, snow and ice will limit traction Cold temps to cause windshields to fog up and reduce visibility WE MUST PREPARE BECAUSE we all can’t move SOUTH can we… But…with proper winterization of your vehicle you can be more prepared to take on the harsh winter weather. 10 Simple Steps To Winterize 1. Tires – What condition are your tires in? Low Tread Depth on tires will increase your chances of hydro-planning or sliding on ice and snow. Also, if your tires are Old Tires (over 7 years old) they will harden and crack and again will not work as well and will have a better chance ... read more
Ouch. That what all of us think each time we fill up our gas tanks these days. With gas prices skyrocketing, many of our grand travel dreams over Spring Break have turned into “stay-cation” plans around the town. As you begin making plans for Spring Break, here are a few ideas for those of you looking for some FUN around Kansas City! 1. Go Visit Nikita! If you’ve not yet been to the Kansas City Zoo to visit the new polar bear, you must go! Kansas City’s now got its new own Arctic animal, Nikita the polar bear, in a new exhibit featured year-round. 2. Eat at the Train Restaurant A long-time favorite of many families and children around Kansas City, Fritz’s Railroad Restaurant makes a great stop when visiting the Crown Center shops and attractions. You’ll order your food, sit down at a booth, and when your food is ready, a motorized toy train system running throughout the ceiling of the restaurant will drop down your food to your table. Kids even leave with conductor hats! 3. Puppet ... read more
Sometimes the unthinkable happens in the Kansas City metro. A terrible accident and those involved aren’t able to provide rescuers with emergency contact information. You have people in the Kansas City & Overland Park are who you’ll want to be contacted to arrange help, give consent to treatment, and inform paramedics of medical conditions, allergies or medications. Too often, our MO/KS police and rescue workers must sift through pockets, glove compartments, wallets, purses and cell phone directories for clues – often wasting precious time. A brilliantly simple solution is now spreading around the globe: ICE. ICE – standing for In Case of Emergency, is a way to identify emergency contacts in your cell phone directory. Simply put ‘ICE’ before a contact name in your cell phone, like ‘ICE – Dad’, ‘ICE – Nancy’, or ‘ICE – Doctor Roberts’. Rescuers will be able to quickly identify your emergency contacts, saving valuabl ... read more
Your car is important to you and keeping it running is vital to your lifestyle. That’s why you should have it serviced regularly. And even though it may just be routine maintenance, you want it done right. It’s also very important to Sallas Auto Repair to keep you happy and on the road. You might be surprised at the amount of money service centers like Sallas Auto Repair spend every year to make sure their technicians are properly trained. Sallas Auto Repair offers a variety of car care services to many kinds of vehicles. We need to be up to date on the latest techniques and parts so that we can care for your car properly.Sallas Auto Repair subscribes to data services that list the high quality parts and fluids recommended by your manufacturer. And each service has a checklist of standard procedures. Technicians at Sallas Auto Repair follow these procedures so we can safely deliver a consistent level of high-quality service. Some services require the use of specialized equipment. Te ... read more
Your vehicle manufacturer publishes two auto maintenance schedules. The regular schedule and the severe service schedule. It’d be wrong for us to tell you that everyone in Kansas City always needs to follow the severe service schedule – but its wishful thinking to say that the regular schedule is always good enough for your vehicle. Contact Sallas Auto Repair to learn more about Severe Service Requirements for your auto. At Sallas Auto Repair we’ll give you the definitions and explain the issues, and you can be the judge. Most manufactures list the following as severe conditions: Most of your trips are less than four miles. Most of your trips are less than 10 miles and outside temperatures are below freezing. The engine is at low speed most of the time – not on the highway. You operate your vehicle in dusty areas. You regularly tow a trailer or carry heavy loads. Driving in very hot or very cold weather. So think about your typical week. Do you live a block from ... read more
Caring for your car allows you to go the extra mile with the vehicle that you have bought. However, you will also need to make sure that you have the products and services that fit best for your budget and for the health of your vehicle. If you are getting an oil change, then you will also want to look at the synthetic and conventional oil so you can continue on the road that fits best. Oil Change: Conventional Oil Typically, when one gets an oil change, they are interested in getting the best for their budget. The conventional oil that you receive typically is cheaper than synthetic oil. However, this isn’t necessarily the best with your oil change. The synthetic oil burns three times as slowly as conventional oil, making the change more effective with your needs. You will want to add up both the price and how often you would need to get an oil change. Oil Change: Synthetic Oil The oil change that you decide to get also uses diff ... read more