04 Feb Does Your Car Need New Spark Plugs? Sometimes, car troubles can sneak up on us. An occasional engine misfire and a rough engine idle don’t seem that urgent. But when you notice poor fuel economy as well, you should have your spark plugs inspected. Below are some faulty spark plug warning signs to watch for and some benefits of new spark plugs. What Are Spark Plugs?Spark plugs are small automotive parts that screw into the cylinder head of an internal-combustion engine. Combustion engines create power by compressing a mixture of air and gasoline, then exploding the mixture via ignition. First, the spark plugs draw power from the car battery through the ignition coil and distributor. Then they convert that electrical energy into a spark that ignites the air/fuel mixture. Finally, the spark plugs help remove excess heat from the combustion chamber to the vehicle’s cooling system ... read more

31 Dec Antifreeze: Winter Weather Protection for Your Car Invest in protection for your car this winter and schedule a cooling system service with your local auto shop. They will ensure your car heater and defroster are working correctly for winter driving, which is vital as the temperatures continue to drop. The service technician will also check for coolant leaks and inspect the quality of your antifreeze. Winter DrivingWinter driving creates unique challenges for your vehicle. One way to protect your car in winter weather is to flush & refill the antifreeze in the cooling system every 30,000-60,000 miles.Antifreeze vs. CoolantIs there a difference between antifreeze and coolant? Technically, yes, there is a difference. Antifreeze is an undiluted chemical solution. It may be composed of ethylene glycol (an organ ... read more

04 Oct Brakes for Breasts 2021 at Z’s Car Care October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and there are so many ways you can get involved to show your support. Z’s Car Care and Sunset Auto Parts (Napa) are participating in Brakes for Breasts for the second year running. Established in 2011, this fundraiser contributes to the Cleveland Clinic Breast Cancer Vaccine Fund. Come to Z’s Car Care for a brake service appointment during the Brakes for Breasts 2021 October fundraiser, and receive FREE brake pads or shoes. What is Brakes for Breasts?Dr. Vincent Tuohy and his team at the Cleveland Clinic are working on a Breast Cancer Vaccine. Brakes for Breasts is pairing with Independent Auto Repair Shops across the U.S. and Canada during October to raise funds for this research. For every brake service pe ... read more

06 Aug Auto Maintenance: Back-to-School Car Care Checklist I know summer is still in full swing, but it is time to start thinking about when the kids go back to school. If you have little tikes, that means driving them to school, sports events, band practice, dance lessons, and other after school activities. If you have kids that drive themselves to school, that means making sure their cars are safe and ready to handle anything this school year throws at them. This back-to-school car care checklist should help. It deals with basic auto maintenance, common car issues, and some auto safety tips. Basic Auto MaintenanceThe very best way to take care of your car is to always do the routine maintenance. Your owner’s manual has very valuable information on which services are needed, and how often. Most manufacturers suggest that a maintenance service be performed at key mileage milestones, like every 15,000/30,000/60,000 miles. If any of these mileage milestones are ... read more

03 Jun Why Service Your Car’s Cooling System? The days are getting longer and warmer, so you are probably spending way more time in your car. However, before you plan that big camping adventure or epic road trip, you may want to make sure your vehicle is in tip-top shape. Now is the perfect time to service the cooling system in your car or truck. A vehicle that is overheating, leaking coolant/antifreeze, or has a dirty radiator, should get checked out right away. Nothing ruins a road trip faster, than being stranded on the highway with your hood up. Maintaining a well running cooling system is really important to prolonging the life of the internal components of your engine.What Does My Cooling System Do?As you probably know, the cooling system in your vehicle provides a very important function. Combustion engines generate a lot of heat, and that heat builds up in your engine compartment ... read more