AUTONET TV

Air Conditioning Maintenance at Bauer Auto Service in Cold Spring

Warm weather or cold, Cold Spring drivers still need to think about their vehicle's air conditioning. Most Cold Spring people don't service their air conditioning until after it fails. At Bauer Auto Service, we can advise you on your vehicle manufacturers preventive maintenance schedules for air conditioning service, just as we do for transmission service, oil changes and so on.

Maintaining your air conditioning system means that you always have enough refrigerant to properly do the job. Small leaks in the vehicle's air conditioning system allow the refrigerant to escape and the system can't cool the air as well. We see that a lot at Bauer Auto Service in Cold Spring.

The refrigerant also contains oil that 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 all Cold Spring vehicle owners know that air conditioning repairs can be costly. At Bauer Auto Service, we recommended that the air conditioner be run regularly, even during winter months, to keep the parts and seals lubricated.

Cold Spring drivers need to be aware that there's one more thing that isn't directly related to air conditioning service but does impact the quality of the air in your vehicle. And that's your cabin air filter. This filter cleans dust, pollen, pollution and other impurities in the air that come from the heater and air conditioner. The cabin air filter needs to be replaced when it's dirty. If you don't, it'll start to smell. Not all vehicles have one, so ask your Bauer Auto Service service advisor to check your cabin air filter at the same time they're doing your air conditioning service.

Bauer Auto Service
14455 State Hwy 23
Cold Spring, MN 56320
320-685-8846

Bauer Auto Service: Good Service and Good Fuel Economy

Most Cold Spring auto owners want to save on gas and seek our advice on improving economy. At Bauer Auto Service, we are frequently asked, however, if it is really worth the extra effort. Just how much money can Cold Spring drivers actually save?

In today's Bauer Auto Service article, we're focusing on the things you can do to improve your vehicle’s economy driving around MN. We'll tell you the potential savings per gallon of gas at $3.50, and we'll show a chart that also shows the savings at $3.00 and $4.00.

DOLLARS PER GALLON $3.00 / $3.50 / $4.00

TUNE UP 4%.12.14.16

The next item is replacing a clogged engine air filter. Your engine needs enough air to burn fuel efficiently for the best mileage. A clean air filter means you get plenty of air. The fact that the air's clean protects your engine. That can save you up to 10 percent or 35 cents a gallon.

DOLLARS PER GALLON$3.00 / $3.50 / $4.00

AIR FILTER 10%.30.35.40

Fixing a faulty oxygen sensor can improve economy by up to 40 percent. That's a whopping $1.40 in savings per gallon. Bring your car to Bauer Auto Service in Cold Spring and we'll check your oxygen sensor.

DOLLARS PER GALLON$3.00 / $3.50 / $4.00

FAULTY O2 SENSOR 40%1.201.401.60

Chances are that if your oxygen sensor is kaput your Check Engine light will come on. Now, there are any number of things that could cause your Check Engine light to come on besides oxygen sensor problems. But if it's on, get it checked out as soon as you can at Bauer Auto Service.

Here's an easy one for Cold Spring auto owners. Inflate your tires to the recommended pressure. That could save you three percent or 11 cents a gallon. Even a little drop in pressure will bring down your economy, so check your tires every week.

DOLLARS PER GALLON$3.00 / $3.50 / $4.00

TIRE INFLATION 3%.09.11.12

Your vehicle has recommended a specific weight of motor oil. The recommendation is based on engine design and will give you the best protection. Using a heavier weight could cost one to two percent in reduced economy, or up to seven cents a gallon.

Another thing Cold Spring vehicle owners can do to improve that costs nothing is to toss the junk out of our trunks. In other words, clean out the car and stop hauling around non-essentials. Don't treat your vehicle like a storage locker. Dumping 100 pounds of extra weight adds up to a 2% savings at the pump.

So when you tell someone you were going somewhere anyway and they're welcome to come along, that's okay. But if someone tells you they need to come along and it's no harm to you since you were going anyway—well, now you can tell them, “Sorry, dude, but you're an extra fifteen cents a gallon!”

All joking aside, let's all do ourselves a favor and fatten up our wallets by practicing good car care and better driving habits in MN.

Bauer Auto Service
14455 State Hwy 23
Cold Spring, MN 56320
320-685-8846

Another Couple of Years: Making Your Vehicle Last At Bauer Auto Service

A while back, the Cash for Clunkers program was all over the news. Cold Spring people could trade in their old vehicle for a new one that got better fuel economy and receive a government rebate.

A lot of Cold Spring motorists had so-called clunkers that they wanted to keep. They’re good commuters, grocery getters or toy haulers. They enjoy that fact that they’re paid off, or soon will be. They would gladly like to keep their mini-vans for 200,000 miles or more – as long as it’s economical to do so.

There are plenty of Cold Spring drivers whose vehicles are running after 150,000 or 200,000 miles. We can learn from what they’re doing to keep our own mini-vans on the road in MN.

Cold Spring drivers of high-mileage cars often report a common denominator of never skipping an oil change. That may sound a bit unsophisticated, but it’s really not. First off, oil is the life blood of your mini-van's engine and it needs to be clean to properly lubricate. Skipping oil changes leads to clogged oil filters and sludge that can damage your engine.

There’s another reason why the scheduled oil change is so important for Cold Spring car owners. It’s simple – a Bauer Auto Service professional is going to be looking at your car. All of your fluid levels will be inspected and topped off so they won’t get so low that damage can be done. If there is a significant fluid loss, let’s use brake fluid as an example, your Bauer Auto Service technician can look for the cause of the loss and find the problem before it leads to an accident or costly repair.

Your Bauer Auto Service advisor will also visually inspect your mini-van for worn belts and hoses, uneven tire wear, leaking shock absorbers and more. Problems get addressed before they lead to repairs that cost more than the car’s worth.

And your Bauer Auto Service advisor will be able to remind you of other services that the factory recommends you get done. Just think of that oil change the same way as you do about going to your Cold Spring dentist for your six month cleaning and checkup. Don’t skip it.

Realistically, things are going to wear out as your mini-van gets older. On the way to 200,000 miles you’ll go through several batteries, probably a couple of alternators and water pumps, a set of shocks and likely some brake rotors.

Of course, these things cost money, but they are far cheaper than new mini-van payments. With proper service at Bauer Auto Service and regular inspections, you’ll keep surprise repairs to a minimum and more money in your wallet.

Give Your Engine Clean Fuel with a New Fuel Filter from Bauer Auto Service

Your vehicle requires plenty of clean fuel to run. If your fuel contains contaminants, your fuel injectors will eventually become clogged up. When this happens, your vehicle engine may not get the proper amount of fuel at the correct pressure to run at peak performance. This hurts performance as you drive around the Cold Spring area. It can also lead to the buildup of harmful deposits on valves and in the combustion chamber.

That's why all vehicles, including vehicles, come equipped with a fuel filter. The job of the filter is to clean out little pieces of dirt and contamination. The filter captures the contaminants and keeps them out of the fuel stream. Of course, like all filters, it will eventually get clogged up and need to be replaced at Bauer Auto Service in Cold Spring.

If your fuel filter is clogged, the vehicle engine can't get all the fuel it needs, and it may sputter at high speeds or quick acceleration. Many fuel filters have a bypass valve that will allow unfiltered fuel through when they are clogged. This keeps your vehicle engine running but doesn't protect it from  contaminated fuel.

Cold Spring drivers may find that they need to change their fuel filter at Bauer Auto Service more frequently as their vehicle ages. Over the years, additional sediment and rust accumulates in the fuel tank and can be drawn into the fuel system. Your fuel filter stands guard at the gates to your engine to protect parts and to maintain performance.

Bauer Auto Service
14455 State Hwy 23
Cold Spring, MN 56320
320-685-8846