As gas prices continue to rise, you may be thinking about making your next car a hybrid. While it’s difficult to argue with the fuel savings, hybrid vehicles have their own set of maintenance requirements that differ from gas-powered vehicles. If you’re considering a new, more energy efficient set of wheels, here’s what you need to know.
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What to do to keep your fuel intake valves from becoming this
Once confined to diesel and high end gas vehicles, direct injection engines have gone mainstream in recent years. Offering noticeable improvements to fuel efficiency, this high performance system comes with a downside the average driver doesn’t know about: intake valve gunk.
Technically the remnants of oxidized fuel, this build up is easy to manage with regular maintenance. Unfortunately, most vehicle owners aren’t made aware of the additional needs of their GDI engine – at least, not until they roll into the local service shop with the ‘check engine’ light on. Read More
Your vehicle’s headlights let you see and be seen. But making sure your lights are on and working is only half the battle. Weather, location, brightness and time of day all have an effect on safety and visibility, and how you use your lights will greatly affect how effective they function.
In Canada, headlights come with three settings – daytime, low beam and high beam. Each mode offers its own set of pros and cons depending on environmental conditions, so knowing when to switch between them can help make your car ride safer. Read More
Congratulations to Gavin Larson, who entered the draw for our Spring-Summer Maintenance Special and won an iRobot Roomba. Enjoy your clean floors, Gavin!
Our Fall-Winter Service Special contest is still on. Book now and enter to win a Nest Learning Thermostat!
Winter’s just around the corner here in Victoria, and while the west (wet?) coast may escape a traditional Canadian winter, BC drivers aren’t exempt from the hazards of cold weather. Whether it’s a struggling engine or a surprise ice patch, dropping temperatures mean extra challenges for car owners everywhere.
Fortunately some simple care can go a long way in keeping your vehicle running smoothly this winter. Here are some of our favourite cold weather maintenance tips for cars! Read More
One of the most difficult conversations we can have with our elderly parents is about driving. Cars bring us independence in daily life, and the thought of having to give that up is frightening. However the prospect of seeing our loved ones in an accident can be equally upsetting. If you’ve recently become concerned about the driving habits of a parent or think it may be time for them give up driving altogether, here are some ways to bring up the topic before the unthinkable happens.
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You’re running late. Thermos in one hand, fingers digging frantically for keys with the other. Maybe, everything will be okay, you tell yourself. Maybe all the lights will be green this time. You look up at your vehicle and your heart immediately sinks.
Not again.
We’ve all experienced the pain of a foggy windshield in the fall and winter months. Dropping temperatures combined with damp weather make for the perfect storm to sabotage your commute. Fortunately, there are ways to win out against these early morning surprises. Read on for our tips! Read More
For most people, autumn’s arrival means digging out the wool sweaters, scarves and warm, sugary pumpkin-based drinks. At Searles, we like to prep for fall in our way – usually by putting on our extra-warm our coveralls and giving our vehicles a head to toe inspection.
Cooler temperatures, fading daylight and wet roads can all impact driving habits, so it’s important to give your vehicle the proper seasonal upkeep it needs to ensure your safety on the road. Read on for our fall maintenance tips! Read More
With the hot weather rolling in, we get quite a few questions surrounding air conditioners here at Searles. Air conditioning is a precious summer commodity, as anyone who has done a hot summer drive without AC will tell you. Even in the cooler parts of Canada, it’s rare to find a vehicle without this feature. Still this old invention’s popularity hasn’t stopped some very interesting strategies from popping up around AC, fuel efficiency and engines.
Here at Searles, we take a look at some of the myths surrounding AC and put them on ice!
The Searle’s Blog recently ranked as #27 on Feedspot’s Top 100 Auto Repair Blogs. Way to go team, and huge thank you to our strong community of customers that have provided their ongoing support over the years!
