Gurnee Auto Repair

D. Wells will host fundraisers for Gurnee's youth organizations. While we have limited days on which we can host car washes over the summer, we are inviting Gurnee's youth group to submit their contact information. Please provide your information below. We will review the requests and reach out to some organizations to gather additional information and see if we can arrange a fundraising car washing event.          

The head gasket can be considered the engine's bodyguard, because it protects the engine from elements. Now that we got that out of the way, what happens if it's destroyed? Is it possible to fix it? Let's see how it can be saved. What is the head gasket? The head gasket sits between the engine block and cylinder heads in an internal combustion engine. It plays a large role to ensure that the engine keeps running. What are the signs that the engine is blown? Vehicle doesn't recover from overheating When the engine overheats, sometimes you just need to let it cool down. This sometimes does the trick. But if the engine is constantly overheating, then your engine may be on its way out. White Exhaust If you see smoke coming out of the exhaust, you should know that your engine may be on its way out. This means that the engine is burning oil, and that is never a good sign. This is something that should be looked at immediately. Coolant leaking without visible signs If ... read more

Modern vehicles have high-tech computer-controlled cooling systems with multiple heat sensors and electric fans. These systems are made to keep the engine running in any weather conditions. However, the cooling system may fail to perform properly at times, resulting in overheating. An overheated engine may not only cause the vehicle to be grounded, but it may also cause irreversible damage if the appropriate steps are not taken. Causes of Overheating Engine The engine cooling system of a vehicle is more than capable of cooling the engine. However, the engine may overheat if there are issues with the engine's components or cooling system. These are among the most common reasons for engine overheating. 1. Low Coolant or No Coolant The main function of coolant is to cool the engine. So, if the vehicle is low on coolant, the engine will overheat. Keep in mind that the vehicle has a sealed cooling system, so if you're continuously adding coolant, find out where it's going ... read more

Getting your car ready for summer fun and noticing sluggish startup, slow acceleration, or poor fuel economy? These are all potential signs that your spark plugs are bad or failing. Spark plugs are a relatively easy fix and can help keep your car on the road longer. Keep reading to learn about how to mitigate the symptoms of bad or failing spark plugs. How Often Should You Change Your Spark Plugs? Maintaining the spark plugs on your vehicle is one of the easiest and least expensive forms of car maintenance. Changing or replacing your spark plugs according to vehicle or manufacturer recommendations is one of the best ways to keep your vehicle running in optimal condition. Most US vehicle manufacturers recommend changing the spark plugs in your vehicle after driving between 30,000 and 50,000 miles. Driving your car without changing the spark plugs according to manufacturer recommendations can cause longer term damage to engine components and fuel systems that result in having to put y ... read more

With inflation on the rise, you may be thinking of ways to save money or cut costs. Using your car for long work commutes or frequent smaller trips can really make an impact on your wallet. You might be interested to know that you can save yourself a few dollars and increase your gas mileage with these 5 tips on fuel efficiency. Maintain Your Tires One of the most simple ways to increase fuel efficiency, by up to 8 cents per gallon, is to make sure your tires are at the correct inflation. Improperly inflated tires reduce your gas mileage but also cause tire damage, further costing you in the long-term in more frequent replacements. Use a High-Quality Motor Oil For Your Car You can save up to 5 cents per gallon by checking your vehicle manufacturer and using the thinnest-viscosity of motor oil to suit. If a professional auto repairer is servicing your vehicle, they will know which oil is recommended. Empty the Trunk You may not think that having your trunk full makes any differenc ... read more

Your brakes are the most important part of your vehicle's safety features. So when your brakes feel spongy or soft, figuring out the cause and getting it fixed is imperative. #1 — Brake Fluid Issues One potential cause for this is either old brake fluid or low levels due to a leak. This could be a simple fix, so you should get it checked out by a professional. #2 — Air in Your Brake Lines One of the most common causes is air in your brake lines. Air in your brake line can often stop brake fluid from flowing through the system properly. Leading to that spongy feeling you noticed. #3 — Issues With Your Brake Caliper Your brake calipers are a part of your disc brake's system. They clamp down the brake pads to help stop your vehicle, and when these go bad, it can make your entire brake system inefficient. If you hear loud squeaking or your car pulls to one side, this might be your issue. Get it checked out as soon as possible because this could lead to a cos ... read more

As a reputable tire shop in Gurnee, IL, you bet we get a ton of questions about tires. One of the most popular ones we get is, "can you mix tires?". When replacing one or a pair of tires, you should always try to buy ones that are as close as possible to the existing ones on your vehicle. A matching tire with the same tread pattern, materials, and size is needed to ensure optimal performance. We strongly advise against mismatching tires unless your automaker recommends it.   Some drivers use tires with different tread patterns, produced by other manufacturers, various sizes, and even different purposes (all-season vs. summer tires).   Because each tire serves different purposes and has varying handling capabilities, you should match your tires. If you use mismatched tires, your automobile can falter with its handling and braking, which can be extremely dangerous. Furthermore, rocking different tires can cause some to wear sooner than others. And uneven wear usua ... read more

It is that time of the year in Gurnee, IL, where temperatures are consistently below freezing. As you prepare to winterize your home, remember that your car can be heavily affected as well. We recommend that you do whatever it takes to prevent the ugly impacts of cold weather on vehicles. Here are some of the challenges your car may face this season! Corrosion The most corrosion-prone parts of your car include the brakes and the undercarriage. These parts are sensitive to corrosion because they are metallic and have frequent exposure to salted roads. Please have these parts thoroughly checked throughout or at the end of the season to avoid leaks and other damages. Tire Pressure The extreme cold can also cause your tire pressure to drop in the winter. The low temperature causes the air to contract inside the tire, leading to underinflation. However, the tire pressure could possibly increase back to normal after your car warms up. To be better safe than sorry, we recommend regularly ... read more

If your tires are wearing out faster than you anticipated or the tread wear varies from tire to tire, then it can be a sign of several different issues. The good news is that you can fix these wrongdoings with proper automotive maintenance and car care. Here are some of the most prevalent causes of premature tire wear: Wheel Misalignment If your wheel alignment is off, meaning they point at incorrect angles, then the wheels and tires on your car will take on different levels of stress whenever you drive. To prevent this from happening, you need to check your alignment as part of your regular vehicle maintenance routine and get them realigned as soon as they're needed. Missed Tire Rotations If you fail to rotate your tires regularly, alongside your oil changes, then they will not last as long as they're intended to. Rotating tires help them even out the wear, as your front tires naturally wear out faster than your rear. Poor Driving Habits Your personal driving habits can ... read more

When you buy new car tires you are likely to wonder how long the tires will last? Driving on the tires as they are in good condition and the tread is at least 2/32 of an inch deep, can go from a few years to up to 6 years Some may get even a few more years, but factors other than tire wear come into play; the condition of the rubber needs to be closely watched for natural deterioration. While the manufacture’s warranty is a good basis for how long the tires last, the life of tires is influenced by other factors as well. As a starting point, and taking the manufacturer warranty, simply divide the warranted mileage by the number of miles you drive each year. On average, cars are driven 14,000-15,000 miles a year. So, with a little math, a 60,000 mile warranted set of tires should last 4 or more years. This is pretty straightforward. Obviously, the number of years you end up calculating will change based on your annual mileage and the tires you actually purchase.   Factors In ... read more