Posted on 10/14/2018
No matter how well they're made, vehicles in TRUCKEE, CA, will have design or manufacturing problems. And when the government thinks a problem is really serious for people in TRUCKEE, CA, they require the manufacturer to issue a recall notice and fix the vehicle free of charge. The manufacturer then tries to contact everyone in CA who owns that type of vehicle to get the recall work done. Perhaps you have received a postcard notifying you of a recall. The government has links on its websites, or just visit AutoNetTV for links. There are many websites with free recall information and searches. There's CarFax, AutoByTel and the DMV.Recalls are serious but not all that common. Sometimes there are fewer issues, and for these, manufacturers issue a Technical Service Bulletin, or TSB, that tells service centers like The Auto & Tire Doctor Inc how to repair a frequent or difficult problem.The pros get updated information ... read more
Posted on 10/7/2018

The crankcase is the lower part of the engine where the crankshaft is housed and where the engine oil lives. The crankshaft is connected to the pistons that power the engine. When you are diving around TRUCKEE, fuel is burned in your vehicle engine, it pushes the pistons down and the crankshaft rotates and sends power to the transmission. Some of the explosive gases from combustion squeeze past the pistons and down into the crankcase.Now this gas is about 70% 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. So in the old days, there was just a hose that vented the crankcase out into the air. Obviously, not good for our air quality in TRUCKEE, CA.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 ai ... read more