Gurnee Auto Repair

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

A vehicle relies on many different essential fluids to function, and naturally, it can leak. Some fluid leaks require more immediate attention than others; nonetheless, you need to locate them and figure out what kind of leak you have as soon as possible. First, you should never panic at the first sign of a leak. If you're unsure what to do, you can also reach out to the pros at D. Wells Automotive, and our team can help you identify the kind of leak it is. If you want to ease your worries before making a trip to the auto repair shop, here's a quick guide to profile the different kinds of fluid leaks that can occur with your vehicle: Oil  Oil is commonly a brown or black color, and it will usually puddle up underneath where you park. Engine oil leaks can happen for several reasons: damaged oil pan, clogged filter, damaged seals, etc. Coolant or Radiator Fluid Coolant leaks are mostly vibrant in color due to the appearance of antifreeze. It's also more likely to hap ... read more

As you are likely hearing, from many industries, there are shortages of products across consumer and industrial goods. Auto tires are no exception. We started hearing about the possibility of a shortage starting in 2020. In early 2021, it was apparent that tires were going to be hit with a shortage. The reasons are both common and unique. Logistics: transporting tires On the domestic side of things, logistics have been the biggest challenge in the supply chain across categories. Shipping Tires We’ve seen the news. Ports along the west coast have cargo ships waiting at sea to be unloaded. With the impact of COVID, staffing at ports remains low and the pace of unloading ships is still dragging. Despite the recent developments of round-the-clock operations, the backlog remains daunting. Ground Transportation The trucking industry has been struggling with a shortage of drivers seemingly forever. Being a trucker is not an easy occupation, and companies have been struggling to ke ... read more

It's October, which means Halloween is merely weeks away! Regardless of if you are a parent yourself or not, you still have a responsibility to keep everyone in your community safe. You will be seeing many pedestrians on this spooky October night, and most of them will be children. Here are some of our safe driving tips for all motorists for Halloween! Reduce Your Speed – The most important takeaway from this blog is to remember to reduce your speed. The children will be filled with excitement (and sugar), so they may run around and walk out from multiple directions. Avoid Major Distractions (Phone, Eating/Drinking, etc.) - You should divert 100 percent of your attention to the road. That means silence your phone to avoid any possible disturbances. Your hands should also be free and on the steering wheel. Don't Skip a Stopped Vehicle in a Neighborhood – If you see an idling car (with its light on) on the street, there's a good chance they are loading or unloa ... read more

As responsible vehicle owners, we must consistently inspect our car's systems and fluids to keep our vehicle in good health. A sign as alarming as spewing smoke can be very worrying. However, you can quickly diagnose the condition of your car by paying close attention to the color of the smoke itself and using the rest of your senses.    WHITE SMOKE If your exhaust releases white smoke, it's oftentimes just water vapor. This is especially common on cold mornings or cold days. White gases are produced by condensation and naturally accumulate in the exhaust system. However, in rare cases, whitish-gray smoke may suggest that you have a blown head gasket or coolant entering the combustion chamber. The only way to distinguish the problem is by visiting our expert team at D. Wells Automotive Service for an accurate examination.    BLUE OR GRAY SMOKE There is more than one reason to worry if your exhaust is discharging blue or gray exhaust smoke. These colors ... read more

Water streaks and loud squeaks on your windshield can be very annoying to deal with when you're in distress. No driver should have to suffer through poor visibility on their rainy drives. Did you know that an astounding 90% of all driving decisions are based solely on visual cues? This statistic presents the importance of windshield wipers when it comes to seeing in wet weather conditions. If you encounter windshield wiper problems, here are some quick and easy fixes that you can try at home!   HERE'S WHAT TO DO WHEN... YOUR WIPERS LEAVE WATER STREAKS ALL OVER THE WINDSHIELD.  If your windshield wipers start leaving water streaks all over your windscreen, they aren't doing any good. There are a few different reasons why streaking is occurring. The first reason is you may be operating worn wiper blades. Wiper blades are manufactured out of soft rubber, so they wear out and need replacement over time. Most manufacturers suggest a replacement in as little time as ... read more

When leaving a parking spot, pulling forward is always quicker and more convenient than backing out. Depending on where you live, angled parking spots may be more prevalent and challenge you to reverse park. With more vehicles being equipped with modern technology, such as backup cameras and motion sensors, drivers have become much more comfortable operating their vehicles. Below are some reasons why it’s better to back into parking spaces:    Due to more enhanced visibility, backing into a parking space can be done quicker than ever. You can save plenty of time when you don’t have to back out while struggling to look for oncoming traffic.   Better visibility equals higher safety. When reversing, you often have to back out more than halfway out of the space before you can see clearly in all directions. Pulling out forward from a parking space means you’ll need to creep forward no more than 1/3 of the way. Therefore, it is a safer method for other dr ... read more