Extreme temperatures can affect the way your car performs and jeopardise your safety, regardless of which end of the spectrum you’re on. Some of these small changes in the environment can have serious effects on your vehicle, so we’re taking a closer look at the way hot and cold weather impacts transmissions. MV Auto is here to help you avoid car trouble in every season.

How Cold Weather Affects Cars

Icy evenings and frosty mornings can have adverse effects on your car. Some problem with transmissions are completely unique to winter and others are simply worsened by cold weather.

Contracting Parts

When they are cold, some of your car parts may contract and get smaller. This can lead to loose components, premature wear and tear, and leaks when seals start to shrink.

 

Changes in Transmission Fluid

In the cold, transmission fluid changes its viscosity and gets thicker. When the transmission falls below zero degrees, the transmission fluid becomes too thick and fails to lubricate the parts that it should.

Delayed Overdrive

The computer in your car may delay your overdrive function until the transmission reaches an appropriate temperature. This can impact how comfortable your driving experience is and put pressure on your gears.

Excess Water in the Transmission

It’s never a good thing to find water in your transmission. In cold weather, it can be even more dangerous. If the water freezes in your transmission, it will expand and cause damage to the valve body and case. Cracks in your transmission can’t be repaired and will require a replacement.

Increased Difficulty when Driving

It’s important to adjust how you drive in winter, especially on those freezing mornings. A transmission with additional pressure on it may have difficulty adapting to changes in conditions, so drive slowly, minimise shifting, and avoid excessive idling to help it perform the best it can.

How Hot Weather Affects Cars

Warm weather, hot roads and dry air can take their toll on your car. In the hot summer months in Australia, there are certain things to take into consideration when you’re driving.

Checking Your Tyre Pressure

This is something that should be done all year ‘round; however, it’s even more important during summer. Hot pavement can cause major problems for tyres and even lead to a blowout, especially if your tyres aren’t inflated properly. Make sure you replace your tyres before summer if they are looking worn out.

Shortened Battery Life

Hot weather can shorten your battery’s life, especially if you’re taking long summer road trips! We always recommend that car owners carry a set of jumper cables in case they get stranded, and get a mechanic to check your battery terminals for corrosion.

Changing the Engine Oil

Hot engines need additional lubrication, so make sure you’re ahead of your oil changes before summer hits. Oil starts to deteriorate over time, but this can be avoided if you stay up to date on your log book servicing.

Low Coolant Levels

Keep an eye on your car’s temperature gauge in summer to prevent it from overheating. Low coolant levels can destroy your engine, and this is even more prevalent during the summer months.

Servicing Your Car Will Minimise These Issues

The good news is there’s one sure-fire way to prevent your car from developing problems in both summer and winter. Regular log book servicing gives your mechanic the chance to inspect and repair parts in your car before the issues can get any worse. Book your car in with the team at MV Auto in Perth and we’ll ensure it’s performing at its best.

We’ve heard every excuse under the sun for not getting cars serviced; “I don’t have the budget for it right now”, “I’ve barely driven this year”, or “I’m too busy to take my car in”. The list goes on and on until we see cars in awful states of disrepair and their owners are shocked! In the long run, ignoring your servicing requirements is dangerous and can cost you a lot of money.

In this article, we’re taking a look at some of the risks of not getting your car serviced when it’s recommended.

How Regularly Should A Car Be Serviced?

Regular servicing ensures your car stays reliable and efficient, and it’s the one thing you can take control of to extend your car’s lifespan. The general rule of thumb is to take your car in for a log book service every 6 months or 10,000km – whichever comes first.

When you arrange for regular servicing, a mechanic can check the parts and systems in your vehicle, identify early problems and repair parts before they cause an expensive and time-consuming breakdown.

Not Servicing Your Car is Risky

When you choose not to service your car, you’re putting yourself at risk. You could jeopardise your safety, your way of getting around and your wallet. We’ve put together this list of possible problems to help car owners understand how serious this issue can be.

Excess Oil Sludge in Your Engine

Built-up oil sludge affects your car by inhibiting the flow of oil throughout the engine, polluting the engine and causing massive amounts of damage.

Putting Your Safety on the Line

Mechanical failure can have devastating effects if it happens while you’re driving. Your brakes, steering and suspension are critical to keeping you and your family safe on the road. Without regular servicing, drivers don’t know how safe their vehicle really is and it is only a matter of time before something goes wrong.

Excess Wear and Additional Damage

Your car could be under too much pressure, speeding up the process of wear and tear. This may not be an issue right now, but you may need expensive car repairs sooner than you would have if you had your car serviced. Unrectified problems can result in significant damage to your vehicle. They can even be the cause of additional and costly problems in other parts of the car.

Poor Fuel Economy

Fuel is expensive enough as it is. When you ignore servicing, your car becomes less fuel-efficient over time and will cost you a lot more money in the long run.

Voiding Your Warranty

It is a condition of new cars that they are serviced regularly and that the owner keeps a complete history of servicing in the log book. If you don’t keep your servicing up to date, you may risk your warranty being voided. This can be an extremely expensive problem if something goes wrong in the future.

Call MV Auto for the Log Book Servicing Perth Relies On

For the best car service Perth has to offer, book your car in with the specialist team at MV Auto. Call us on 0405 811 618 or contact us online.

Ever wondered what’s going on beneath the hood of your car? Most of us use our vehicles as our primary means of transport, and yet so many of us have no idea how they work. To help you get to know the inner workings of your car, we’ve created this basic guide to understanding the anatomy of your engine and the other components under your hood.

Engines Come in Many Shapes and Sizes

There are countless configurations for engines, just as there are countless models of cars. We’re going to use a four-stroke engine as our example for this article. The engine block is the foundation of every engine – it is sometimes referred to as a “cylinder block” due to the large tubes in the structurer. The cylinder is where the engine’s pistons slide up and down and engines with more cylinders are more powerful.

Some of the components you’ll find under the hood (working from left to right) include:

• Radiator reservoir: used for coolant overflow
• Power steering check-and-fill: this is for power steering fluid
• Brake fluid reservoir: used for checking and topping up brake fluid
• Transmission dipstick: fill and check the transmission fluid here
• Air filter: supplies the carburettor with clean air
• Fuse box: this protects the wiring
• Radiator cap: controls the expansion of the coolant
• Engine oil fill cap: used to add oil after you’ve checked it with the dipstick
• Dipstick: a measuring stick used to check the engine oil level
• Air conditioning components: where the refrigerant is used to cool your car
• Battery: supplies electrical current to start the engine
• Serpentine belt: this wraps around and drives the pulleys, including the alternator, power steering pump, water pump, air conditioning compressor, air pump, etc.
• Alternator: generates electrical power and recharges the battery
• Fan shroud: assists with cooling the vehicle

How Does a Car Engine Work?

There are a number of components that work in harmony within your engine to propel your car forward. Your car engine converts fuel into motion, and some newer “hybrid” engines use batteries to assist the process.

Converting fuel is called “internal combustion” where small, controlled explosions generate the power your car needs to move. Creating an explosion in a small space, such as the piston, releases a massive amount of energy as expanded gas. Your car’s engine does this hundreds of times per minute.

The Four-Stroke Combustion Cycle

Car engines use a four-stroke combustion cycle, these strokes are intake, compression, combustion and exhaust.

• Intake – the intake valve opens and the piston moves down, bringing air and gas into the engine.
• Compression – the piston moves up and pushes the air and gas into a smaller space.
• Combustion – the spark plug ignites and explodes the gas, forcing the piston back down.
• Exhaust – the exhaust valve opens to release waste gas created by the explosion. It is cleaned by the catalytic converter and then pushed through the muffler and out of the tailpipe.

Looking after Your Engine Properly

It’s crucial to stay up to date on your car’s log book servicing to protect the engine against potential damage. If you need transmission repair or the log book servicing Perth residents can trust, come to MV Auto. Call us on 0405 811 618 or contact us online.

Cars have come a long way in recent years. Modern advancements in technology have transformed the humble car into a highly advanced and complex piece of machinery. The majority of your car’s functions are controlled by a futuristic computer, often referred to as an Engine Control Unit (ECU). In this article, we’re explaining how your ECU works and what can go wrong.

What Does a Car’s Engine Computer Do?

Just like the computer you have at work or at home, your car’s ECU processes huge amounts of information. Your car’s computer controls almost every function and monitors everything that goes on, sending signals throughout the car and back to itself if something goes wrong.

Simply enough, the ECU is in control of:

• Regulating the fuel injectors
• Adapting the idle speed
• Controlling the spark plugs
• Monitoring the ignition
• Notifying the driver of an issue (it uses the engine light to do this)
• Deliver electrical commands to the camshaft and transmission

The ECU uses a range of sensors to monitor these functions and transfer information, including the air pressure sensor, air temperature sensor, oxygen sensor, and many more. Its main goal is to ensure your car runs at peak performance with minimal emissions.

Advanced Technology that Improves Daily

Engine computers are amazing in so many ways. They are self-learning devices that are able to adjust to the driving conditions and small habits of the driver. They improve constantly as they make small adjustments to different parts of the engine to match your driving style and the environmental conditions.

Some of these amazing functions include altering how it uses the throttle, performing millions of calculations to decide when to use the spark plug, determining how long the fuel injector stays open, improving fuel economy, and generally improving the car’s performance.

Here’s How an ECU Works

Your ECU depends on a large number of microprocessors (up to 50) that allow it to control every little function in your car. Each year, the number of microprocessors increases as technology advances. Typically, car computers contain a 32-bit, 40MHz processor. This is more advanced than the one inside your laptop.

Some other components in your ECU’s multi-level circuit board include:

• Devices that convert information from analogue to digital, allowing the processor to understand information from the sensors
• Digital outputs that fire the spark plugs, opens and closes the fuel injectors and controls the cooling fan
• Chips that streamline communication between the processor and the individual engine systems

Solving Problems with Car Engine Computers

Regardless of how quickly this technology advances and improves, things go wrong sometimes. Just like in a regular computer, electrical shorts, broken parts, bad inputs, overloaded circuits, and many more issues can occur.

An experienced and highly trained mechanic can take care of these issues for you as they occur, and offer regular maintenance to ensure you aren’t heading towards a breakdown. Book a log book service with the team at MV Auto to keep your car’s computer in perfect condition.

Safe and comfortable driving requires all of the parts of your car to work in harmony with one another. It’s vitally important that your steering wheel aligns perfectly with your wheels so that you can easily control your vehicle’s movements on the road. Misaligned wheels can be caused by a number of factors, so MV Auto is taking a closer look at this issue and the ways we solve it.

Misalignment from Sudden Impact

This is the most common reason for throwing off your tyre alignment, and you should bring your car to a Perth mechanic when you notice problems after:

• Driving over a pothole
• Running into a concrete block that separates carparks
• Hitting the gutter
• Driving too fast over speedbumps
• A minor car accident

It doesn’t take much to throw off your alignment as this is a sensitive component of your car. The larger the impact, the more likely that you’ll have alignment problems and will need to visit the mechanic.

General Wear and Tear

Misalignment doesn’t always come down to a sudden impact. In fact, as your car suffers wear and tear over time, your wheels and tyres can gradually fall out of alignment. It may be worn-down suspension springs that are causing the issue, considering the alignment between your steering wheel and the wheels is dependent on your suspension.

Regular log book servicing will prevent alignment problems because your mechanic will have a chance to replace and repair parts as they start to deteriorate. Your car’s alignment will most likely need to be checked every 6-12 months, so stay up to date on your servicing and you won’t have an issue.

Modifying Your Vehicle’s Height

If you’ve recently changed the height of your car, you’ll need to make sure you haven’t altered your alignment. Your suspension has been designed by the manufacturer to work for the specific height of the car, so altering its height without altering the suspension can throw off your alignment. Simply speak with your mechanic if you have changed, or want to change, your car’s height.

Why Is Alignment So Important?

Aligned wheels are high-performing wheels. Imagine trying to ride a bike with the back wheel pointing at 45 degrees – you’d need to use more power and put additional pressure on the front wheel to get anywhere.

Misaligned wheels can lead to:

• Reduced vehicle performance
• Worn-down tyres
• Unevenly worn tyres
• Difficulty steering – the car may pull to the side
• Expensive repairs in the long term

Book Your Service or Repairs at MV Auto

Book your log book service with the mechanic Perth relies on. Stop looking for “wheel alignment and balancing near me” and bring your car to MV Auto in Perth. Our family-operated team will keep your wheels and tyres in peak performance. Call us on 0405 811 618 or contact us online./

Every component in your car is important. Some parts help to keep you safe while others keep you comfortable. There’s no doubt that the wheels, tyres and suspension in your vehicle are absolutely crucial to getting where you need to go. In this article, MV Auto is breaking down these three aspects of driving so you can understand what’s going on every time you start your car.

The Invention of the Wheel

Most people understand the physics behind how the wheel works, so we’re not going to bore you with unnecessary details. What you may not know is how your wheels are powered, and this comes down to the driveshaft that connects the engine to the wheels. The drive shaft turns as the combustion engine burns gasoline, sending power to the rear axle and wheels.

The wheels and tyres work in harmony to move the car forward. Without tyres, the wheels would still rapidly turn but they wouldn’t be able to grip the road, so they would just damage themselves and the asphalt as they spun.

What are Tyres Made Of?

There are a few components that go into making a tyre, including:

• An inner lining made of air-tight rubber
• A sidewall that keeps the tyre rigid and absorbs road bumps to make your drive more comfortable
• The apex – this minimises distortion of the beads of rubber and reduce the chances of damage by impact
• The tread – this is the part that grips the road and offers stability
• Beading – this is a length of wire with a rubber core that fixes the tyre to the rim of the wheel
• A belt of steel wire or fabric – this goes within the wall of the tyre that faces downwards and ensures the widest area of tread is touching the road at all times
• Shoulder – disperses heat generated by the tyre touching the road
• Carcass – an inner mesh of cord that supports the weight of the tyre and spreads the impact
• Chafer – stops the inner tyre from touching the wheel rim (metal on metal is a bad mix)

The Problem with Misaligned Wheels

The most common issue with wheels and tyres is misalignment. Driving on bad roads, hitting curbs and general wear and tear can lead to misalignment, and this accelerates uneven wear on your tyres. Tyres are expensive, and regular tyre alignment is a cost-effective method of expanding the lifespan of your investment!

Your vehicle will drive smoother and continue pointing in the right direction if you keep up with your maintenance requirements! So, stop looking for “wheel alignment and balancing near me” and bring your car to MV Auto in Perth. Our family-operated team will keep your car in peak performance. Call us on 0405 811 618 or contact us online.

When you buy a brand-new vehicle, you’re expecting reliability and longevity. This is a fair assumption, especially considering how much a new car can cost these days. Unfortunately, there’s no telling when a car is going to run into problems or how quickly they experience wear and tear. In this article, we’re exploring why it’s important to have your new car serviced regularly.

6 Months or 10,000km – Whichever Comes First

The golden rule of servicing a car is ‘every 6 months or 10,000kms – whichever comes first’. You should have a little sticker on the windscreen of your car that explains when you’re expected to return. It will have the number of kilometres or a certain month, and it’s a good idea to follow that advice!

Even if you’re not driving your car enough to reach the 10,000km, it’s very important to have your car serviced twice a year because the fluids in your car need to be checked and replaced at certain intervals. Engine oil can deteriorate as it comes into contact with moisture.

Don’t Void Your Warranty

New cars aren’t immune to faults and failures; however, they are protected by excellent warranties and guarantees. Think of the number of recalls you hear about on the news – manufacturers make mistakes sometimes./

If you’ve noticed something is wrong with your car after the first year and you’ve been putting off the first service, you might find that your warranty is void. Without a warranty, you’re responsible for paying for every expensive repair your car needs, even if it’s not your fault.

Find Problems before They Become Expensive

Parts for new cars are advancing in technology at an amazing rate, and with that comes added expense. If you need a specific new part for your car, especially in the engine computer, you could be looking at a large bill that may have been avoided by servicing and maintenance.

When you service your new vehicle regularly, your mechanic will be able to see when certain parts are looking a little worse for wear and potentially save you from massive outlays in the future.

Log Book Servicing by a Trusted Mechanic

We can’t overstate the importance of having a regular mechanic that you can trust and rely on. Professional and experienced mechanics will ensure your vehicle is roadworthy, and they will have open and honest discussions about what your car needs.

When you buy a new car, it might be worth paying a visit to your mechanic and ensuring everything is in order so you have a record of the condition of your vehicle.

The Car Mechanic Perth Needs

For the best car service Perth has to offer, book your car in with the expert team at MV Auto. Our mechanics can keep your new car running like a dream. Call us on 0405 811 618 or contact us online.

There are a few different types of auto services available when you go to the mechanic. The main one that you should become familiar with is the “log book” service. A log book service is the minimum requirements you need to meet in order to extend the lifespan of your vehicle and keep your warranty intact.

We’re taking a look at how spending the money on a log book service today will save you money and time in the future.

What Happens in a Log Book Service?

A log book service should be performed on your vehicle every 10,000kms so that the car can be inspected exactly how the manufacturer intended. Your mechanic will be able to carry out all safety checks, measures, replacements and repairs in exact accordance with the log book.

Your mechanic will complete a 40-point check of your vehicle, replace the engine oil and ensure there are no minor issues that could become a larger problem in the future.

The Benefits of Regular Servicing

Taking a proactive approach to vehicle maintenance will keep your car in the best possible condition. A mechanic will be able to inspect your vehicle and do little repairs wherever necessary, preventing small issues from turning into major damage. Some of the major benefits of regular servicing include:

Lower Repair Costs

Maintenance is usually far cheaper than repair work. The easiest way to avoid having to pay huge amounts for complicated repairs is to catch the problems before they get too far. Maintaining your vehicle will reduce the costs of future repairs while also extending your car’s lifespan.

Keeping Your Warranty Intact

In the case of an unforeseen issue with your car, you may need to make a claim against your warranty. In order to do this, you will need a complete record of the car’s history and all of the maintenance reports in your log book. If you don’t have these reports or if it’s clear that you haven’t been servicing your vehicle when it’s recommended, your warranty may be void.

Selling Your Vehicle for a Higher Price

One of the things a potential buyer is looking for when shopping for a used car is a complete log book that shows how well you’ve looked after your vehicle. You’ll be able to get the best possible price for your vehicle’s make, model and year if you can prove to the buyer that you have maintained your car and kept it in fantastic condition.

MV Auto Offers the Log Book Service Perth Relies On

If you’re searching for the best log book servicing in Perth, make an appointment with MV Auto. Our team has the equipment and expertise to perform log book servicing on any make and model of vehicle. Call us on 0405 811 618 or contact us online.

You’re probably sick of hearing it now but the old saying, “prevention is better than a cure” is extremely true when it comes to maintaining your vehicle. A log book service is the absolute minimum requirement to extend the life of your car and keep your warranty intact. In this article, the team at MV Auto is exploring what happens during a log book service.

Your Best Method of Car Maintenance

A log book service is a proactive approach to keeping your car in the best possible condition. Letting a mechanic inspect your vehicle and do little repairs here and there will keep the car running smoothly and efficiently, preventing small issues from turning into major damage.

The tasks involved in a log book service are carefully designed to be completed at specific intervals. Each car is issued with a log book from the manufacturer. This book explains when certain maintenance jobs need to be done. We recommend keeping your log book in your glove box so you know where it is at all time.

The Stages of a Log Book Service

A log book service should be performed on your vehicle every 10,000kms so that the car can be inspected exactly how the manufacturer intended. Your mechanic will be able to carry out all safety checks, measures, replacements and repairs in exact accordance with the log book.

One of the most important aspects is that your oil is changed every 6 months because even without travelling the full 10,000kms, your engine oil can deteriorate over time.

A log book service involves a 40-point inspection, which includes:

• Wiper blades
• Washer fluid
• Horn
• Mirrors
• Dash indicator lights
• Headlights
• Parking lights
• Turn signals
• Brake lights & fluid
• License plate lights
• Reverse lights
• Engine oil
• Transmission fluid
• Hose condition
• The tension of the belts
• Battery holder & hold-down
• Battery cables
• Battery charge indicator colour
• Fluid leaks
• Exhaust system
• Drive line
• Alternator
• Air conditioning
• Power steering
• Anti-freeze
• Air pump
• Water pump
• Serpentine
• Heater inlet & outlet
• Bypass hose
• Upper & lower radiator
• Power steering
• Vacuum hose
• Fuel hose
• Air filter
• PCV valve & hose
• Fresh air duct/hose
• Radiator cooling fan(s)
• Tyre tread depth
• Tyre pressure

How Long Does a Log Book Service Take?

There is no definite answer to this question as it depends on the make and model of your car and how busy the mechanic is. As a rough guide, our log book service in Perth will take between 2 and 4 hours but it’s best to check with your mechanic when you drop your car in.

At MV Auto, our mechanics usually work on one vehicle until all of the required checks are complete; however, if your car requires additional repairs or new parts, this can affect how long the process takes.

The Car Mechanic Perth Relies On

If you’re looking for an experienced and professional team of mechanics in Perth, speak to MV Auto. Book your log book service in with us to ensure your car goes the distance. Call us on 0405 811 618 or contact us online.