Ferry Blvd Sunoco Service Center

Stratford Drivers: Is Nitrogen Right for Your Tires?

ferrybl984 — Thu, 17 May 2012 18:07:47 +0000

Should Stratford drivers use nitrogen in their tires? Air’s air, right? Well it turns out there is a difference. At the heart of the matter is maintaining proper tire inflation. When your pickup tires are properly inflated, they last longer, handle better and more safely and they save money at Stratford gas pumps.

The problem is that tires filled with air can lose a pound and a half of air pressure every month. This just happens as the oxygen in the tire seeps out as you drive around Stratford. So if you don’t check your pressure for a month or two you can be significantly low – low enough to affect handling, shorten tire life and waste money at the fuel pump. Tires filled with nitrogen will take about six months to lose as much pressure as regular air does in a month. So it’s more forgiving of those Stratford drivers who don’t check their pressure every week.

Also, oxygen at higher temperatures – like those inside your tire when you’ve been driving for a while – oxidizes the inside of your tire. Getting the oxygen out of your tire means that it’ll last longer.

So who’s using nitrogen? Let’s start with NASCAR and Indy. These racers like nitrogen’s ability to maintain consistent tire pressure and reduce tire temperatures under very demanding conditions. The U.S. government requires all commercial aircraft to have nitrogen in their tires. NASA and the U.S. Military use nitrogen. The mining industry has been filling those ginormous tires with nitrogen for years. CT Semi-trucks and trailers are starting to use nitrogen extensively. These guys chart everything they do and they invest in the benefits of nitrogen.

The good news is that nitrogen fill doesn’t cost very much or take long at Ferry Blvd Sunoco Service Center in Stratford. It doesn’t affect your tire warranty. If you decide that nitrogen is right for your pickup tires, remember that it’s still important to check your tire pressure regularly. You might have a leak that needs to be fixed. And you can always top your tire off with regular air if you need to.

If you have questions about nitrogen, cabin air filter or winter preparation, give Dave Crosby a call at Ferry Blvd Sunoco Service Center in Stratford. We’ve been providing professional automotive services in Stratford for 14 years.

Ferry Blvd Sunoco Service Center
203.377.4753
734 Ferry Blvd
Stratford, CT 06614

At Ferry Blvd Sunoco Service Center in Stratford CT (06614) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 203.377.4753. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

Wheel Alignment Service At Ferry Blvd Sunoco Service Center In Stratford

ferrybl984 — Thu, 10 May 2012 16:16:47 +0000

When all of a vehicle’s wheels are lined up exactly with each other, your wheels are in alignment. Hitting a road hazard in Stratford or even just the normal bumps and bounces of everyday CT driving can cause your pickup wheels to be out of alignment. This can lead to expensive premature tire and suspension wear.

Here are some alignment basics from Ferry Blvd Sunoco Service Center:
The first angle is called toe: do the wheels point in towards each other or away from each other at the front of the tire.
The next angle is called camber: do the wheels tip in or out at the top.
And finally, there is castor. Castor measures the angle where the front axles attach to the vehicle.

The ideal alignment for your pickup was designed by its engineers. Ferry Blvd Sunoco Service Center alignment service starts with an inspection of the steering and suspension – so see if anything’s bent, broken or worn out. Then the Ferry Blvd Sunoco Service Center technician will look at tire condition. From there, the pickup is put on an alignment rack and an initial alignment reading is taken. The wheels are then aligned to manufacturer’s specifications.

Your owner’s manual probably has a recommendation for how often your pickup alignment should be checked – usually every couple of years. If you suspect an alignment problem with your pickup, get it checked at Ferry Blvd Sunoco Service Center before you suffer expensive tire or suspension damage.

Give us a call

Ferry Blvd Sunoco Service Center
203.377.4753
734 Ferry Blvd
Stratford, CT 06614

Deciphering The Menu Board At Monroe Service Centers : Part 2

ferrybl984 — Wed, 02 May 2012 21:12:54 +0000

Monroe auto service centers have a menu board that lists the services they provide. Some Monroe auto owners 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.

Ferry Blvd Sunoco Service Center fuel system cleaning: Over time, the pickup 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.

Ferry Blvd Sunoco Service Center headlamp replacement: Halogen and standard headlamps gradually fade. It’s usually good to change them every year or so.

Inspections: Monroe drivers get inspections for many reasons. Maybe they’re leaving Monroe and going on a trip or just want to make sure their pickup’s ready for summer or winter. Maybe they just bought a used car in Monroe 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.

Ferry Blvd Sunoco Service Center oil change – there are several options: Some Monroe 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 in your pickup and may uncover an emerging problem. There may also be options for higher mileage fluids or an upgrade to synthetic oil.

Ferry Blvd Sunoco Service Center PCV valve service: 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.

Ferry Blvd Sunoco Service Center power steering service: Often overlooked. The Monroe auto technician will evacuate the old fluid, clean out the system and replace it with clean fluid. Keeps the system running well for a long time.

Serpentine belt: That’s the belt that powers the pickup’s 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.

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

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

Tire rotation and wheel balancing: The pickup 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 for Monroe car owners.

Air Conditioning Maintenance At Ferry Blvd Sunoco Service Center In Stratford

ferrybl984 — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 20:12:28 +0000

Most Stratford area car owners don’t service their air conditioning until after it fails. Maintaining your pickup air conditioning system means that you always have enough refrigerant to properly do the job. Small leaks in the air conditioning system allow the refrigerant to escape and the system can’t cool the air as well.

Along with the refrigerant, a special oil circulates in the system. The oil lubricates air conditioning components, and keeps the seals resilient. Low refrigerant and lubricating oil means that the air conditioning parts will wear out prematurely, and we all know that air conditioning repairs can be costly in Ansonia.

Air conditioning service at Ferry Blvd Sunoco Service Center in Stratford starts with a visual inspection of the components for signs of damage or leaks. The compressor is driven by a belt from the engine, most often the serpentine belt, so it’s inspected for cracks or wear.

The air conditioning compressor and other components are checked for proper operation by your Ferry Blvd Sunoco Service Center service advisor. Then comes the leak test. If a leak is detected, often in a hose or connection, it’s repaired and the pickup system is retested. Your Ferry Blvd Sunoco Service Center technician will also perform a temperature drop test.

If needed, the old refrigerant is evacuated and the system is recharged with clean, fresh refrigerant. A final test insures that the air conditioner is working, and you’re on your way.

How often this should be done at Ferry Blvd Sunoco Service Center varies from vehicle to vehicle. Your pickup owner’s manual will have the manufacturer’s recommendation and, of course, your knowledgeable Ferry Blvd Sunoco Service Center service advisor can tell you. It’s typically every two years.

Give us a call

Ferry Blvd Sunoco Service Center
734 Ferry Blvd
Stratford, CT 06614

Cooling System Service At Ferry Blvd Sunoco Service Center

ferrybl984 — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 19:06:01 +0000

Your pickup cooling system’s job is to keep your engine cool. Coolant (also called antifreeze) mixed with water flows through your engine and absorbs heat. The mixture then flows out to the radiator where it’s cooled by air flowing over the radiator. From there the cooled mix circulates back through the pickup engine to absorb more heat.

Coolant, or antifreeze, is specially formulated to keep your engine safe in a wide range of environmental and operating temperatures in Stratford.

Without coolant, the pickup’s metal engine parts would expand so much that the engine would seize up and stop running. Expensive parts could be broken or warp so badly they would have to be replaced at Ferry Blvd Sunoco Service Center in Stratford. It could even be so bad that the whole engine is ruined and has to be replaced.

Also, if it’s freezing outside in Stratford, the water in your engine could freeze while your vehicle is sitting out in the CT cold. This is why you check coolant levels frequently and have your cooling system inspected for leaks. Also your manufacturer has a maintenance requirement for draining and replacing your coolant. These recommendations can vary widely, so check your Stratford owner’s manual or ask your service advisor at Ferry Blvd Sunoco Service Center in Stratford.

The reason you need to change the coolant is that it has additives in it to protect the cooling system. As you can imagine, with all the heat, the cooling system’s a pretty harsh environment. The additives keep the fluid from becoming corrosive and damaging the radiator and other Stratford cooling system components. Over time, the additives are depleted and the coolant just has to be replaced. A simple pH test can measure the coolant’s acidity.

You may have noticed that there are different colors of antifreeze at Ferry Blvd Sunoco Service Center: it is very important that you use the correct type. The different coolant types are different colors so you don’t mix them up. Manufacturers use different materials to make the cooling system, and they require different types of antifreeze to protect them.

So check with your knowledgeable Ferry Blvd Sunoco Service Center service advisor or owner’s manual for the right kind because using the wrong coolant can void the warranty for your pickup cooling system.

Ask us about chassis lubrication, winter preparation and fuel filter.

Give us a call

Ferry Blvd Sunoco Service Center
203.377.4753
734 Ferry Blvd
Stratford, CT 06614

PCV Valve Replacement At Ferry Blvd Sunoco Service Center

ferrybl984 — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 16:18:07 +0000

Today’s Milford car care article focuses on PCV valve replacement. The PCV valve is a little, inexpensive part that does a big job for your pickup. PCV stands for Positive Crankcase Ventilation.

The crankcase is the bottom area of the engine that holds the oil. When the pickup engine’s running, fuel is burned to generate power. Most of the exhaust from combustion goes out through the exhaust system. But some exhaust blows by the pistons and goes into the lower engine, or crankcase.

These hot gases are about seventy percent unburned fuel. This can dilute and contaminate the oil, leading to damaging engine oil sludge. It can also cause engine corrosion in your pickup. At high speeds, the pressure can build up to the point that gaskets and seals start to leak.

Milford car owners need to know that over time, the vented gases will gum up the PCV valve and it won’t work well. That can lead to all of the problems I’ve already described, oil leaks, excessive oil consumption and wasted gas.

Fortunately, it’s very easy to test the PCV valve and quick and inexpensive to replace it at Ferry Blvd Sunoco Service Center. Even so, it’s often overlooked because many Milford drivers don’t know about it.

Check your pickup owner’s manual or ask your Ferry Blvd Sunoco Service Center advisor. If this is the first time you’ve heard of a PCV valve, you might be in line for a PCV valve replacement.

Please ask us about your PCV valve. For the price of a couple of burger combo meals, you can avoid some very expensive deep engine repairs.

PCV Valve Service in Stratford CT

ferrybl984 — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 19:12:29 +0000

The CT push for fuel economy has the benefit of using less gas as well as fewer emissions in our local Stratford environment. Cars and trucks run cleaner than ever.

Many people in the Stratford area may not realize that the first federally mandated pollution control device was in 1960: the PCV valve.

‘PCV’ stands for Positive Crankcase Ventilation. The crankcase is the lower part of the engine where the crankshaft is housed and where the engine oil lives. When fuel is burned in the engine some of the explosive gases from combustion squeeze past the pistons and down into the crankcase.

Now this gas is about 70 percent unburned fuel. If it were allowed to remain in the crankcase, it would contaminate the oil and quickly turn it to sludge. Sludge is like Vaseline and clogs passages in the engine leading to damage.

Also, the pressure build up would blow out seals and gaskets. In the old days, there was just a hose that vented the crankcase out into the air. Obviously, not good for the environment.

Enter the PCV valve. It’s a small, one-way valve that lets out the gases from the crankcase, and routes them back into the air intake system where can be re-burned in the engine.

As you might imagine, the valve gets gummed up over time. If you skip oil changes now and then, the PCV valve gets gummed up even faster. If the PCV valve is sticking you could have oil leaks. Fortunately, the PCV valve is very inexpensive to replace. Some can even be checked for function by your technician.

Manufacturer’s usually recommend they be changed somewhere between twenty and fifty thousand miles. Unfortunately, PCV valve replacement is left out of some owner’s manuals, so you may need to ask your service advisor.

Come down to Ferry Blvd Sunoco Service Center and have us take a look at the condition of your PCV valve to ensure you are running at top efficiency. Just come by our service station in Stratford, CT 06614, or give us a call at 203.377.4753.

On-Board Diagnostics in Stratford CT

ferrybl984 — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 18:45:12 +0000

Some people in Stratford CT are confused by charges for diagnostic services for a vehicle repair, even though many other services in life include diagnostic fees – things like computer service and appliance repair in Stratford.

Even when we go into the doctor for a medical problem, we’re paying her to diagnose our ailment and of course for the tests that go along with it. So receiving a diagnostic charge for a tricky automotive problem shouldn’t be a surprise.

Automotive diagnostics can cover quite a range. If you hear a noise in your brakes, a quick visual check is usually enough to know what needs to be done. If you’re having an intermittent problem with your engine, diagnosis may be much more involved.

Some think that when the check engine light comes on, the engine computer tells the technician exactly what the problem is. The reality is much different. The trouble code just tells your Stratford technician what engine parameter is out of range, not what’s causing it. Your Stratford technician at Ferry Blvd Sunoco Service Center needs to determine the underlying problem that’s causing the symptom.

As you can imagine, some automotive diagnoses are quick and easy. Others are more involved and difficult. Of course, we at Ferry Blvd Sunoco Service Center want to figure out what’s wrong with your vehicle and get you back on the road as quickly as possible.

Severe Service Maintenance Schedule For Stratford Owners

ferrybl984 — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 20:38:16 +0000

Some of our customers at Ferry Blvd Sunoco Service Center are surprised to learn that there are actually two service schedules for their vehicles. One is the regular schedule and the other is the severe service schedule.

Let’s look at what the manufacturers say constitutes severe driving conditions, and let you draw your own conclusions:

Most of your trips are less than four miles
Most of your trips are less than ten 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, carry heavy loads or a car-top carrier
Stop and go driving
Driving in very hot or very cold weather

So you can see that a lot has to do with how you drive, but some has to do with where you drive. Some areas of the country will be more or less severe than it is here in Stratford, CT.

For many, normal driving includes elements of severe service driving. So how do you know? Picture a line with ‘regular’ on one end and ‘severe’ on the other, and make a judgment on where you fall.

If your regular oil change recommendation is 5,000 miles and the severe service recommendation is 3,000 – when should you change your oil? For some, it’s closer to 3,000 miles. For others, it’s closer to 5,000 miles. Your service advisor will be happy to have this discussion with you and help you sort it out.

If you drive where the air is dusty or polluted, fluids will become contaminated and filters will get dirtier more quickly.

So make an honest evaluation of your driving conditions in and around Stratford. You’ve made the commitment to take care of your vehicles, so it only makes sense to follow the right schedule.

Give us a call for advice for your car based on our local Stratford driving conditions.

Transmission Service: Smooth Shifting In Milford

ferrybl984 — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 21:14:02 +0000

Let’s suppose you’re going to take some friends out on the boat for some water skiing on a beautiful Milford area lake. Of course, you get the boat ready, but what about your tow vehicle?

Think about it – heavy Milford traffic, hilly CT terrain. Maybe some dirt roads – and it’s going to be pretty hot. And all the time you’ll be towing several thousand extra pounds around Milford roads. That all adds up a lot of severe strain on your transmission. It’s going to be working overtime, spending more time in lower gears. The internal transmission temperature is going to be much higher than normal.

Milford drivers need to make sure they have enough transmission fluid. If it runs low, the transmission will run hotter and won’t have the protection it needs to cope with the added stress of towing. Transmission fluid breaks down and gets dirty over time. Whether your pickup has an automatic or manual transmission, you need to have it serviced on schedule at Ferry Blvd Sunoco Service Center to make sure it runs efficiently.

Neglect your pickup transmission for too long, and it can fail. You really don’t want to pay for a major transmission repair even with the reasonable rates at Ferry Blvd Sunoco Service Center.

Before you leave your Milford home and head to the lake, bring your vehicle in to Ferry Blvd Sunoco Service Center for a trip inspection. Your Ferry Blvd Sunoco Service Center service technician will check your fluids, belts and hoses and let you know if your brakes are in good shape. Now, don’t forget the sunscreen.