AUTONET TV

Fuel Injectors

The last new American vehicles sold in Jupiter with a carburetor rolled out of the FL dealerships in 1990. Since then, all new vehicles here in Jupiter, and nationally, have had fuel injectors. In very simple terms, a fuel injector is a valve that squirts fuel into your engine. Your engine control computer tells the fuel injector how much gas to deliver as well as the precise time it should be delivered. Of course this happens thousands of times a minute. Fuel injectors deliver fuel far more precisely than carburetors. That translates into better fuel economy and more power for Jupiter drivers. Virtually all fuel injectors for gas engines are known as port fuel injectors because they deliver the fuel to a port just outside the cylinder. Port fuel injectors operate at about 40 to 80 pounds per square inch of pressure.

A few vehicle manufacturers have introduced gas direct injection systems on some engines recently. These systems inject the gas directly into the cylinders under very high pressure - hundreds of times the pressure of port injection systems. Although more complicated, direct injection technology promises greater power with improved fuel economy, so FL drivers can expect to see more of it in the future.

As Jupiter residents can see, the level of precision required of fuel injectors is very high. It's important that they operate properly in order for your vehicle to run right.

High temperatures under your hood and variations in Jupiter gas quality cause fuel injectors to become fouled with wax, dirt and carbon. Injectors can become partially clogged, preventing them from delivering the proper amount of fuel at the correct pressure. The design of each engine requires a specific spray pattern from the fuel injector that might be altered when the injector is dirty. When injectors are dirty, the fuel doesn't burn as efficiently, resulting in poor fuel economy and loss of power. So it is important to keep your vehicle fuel injectors clean.

Skilled service technicians at East Coast Automotive Services in Jupiter can perform a fuel system service for you. That is a fuel system service - not just fuel injector cleaning. That is because the fuel has a lot of ways to become dirty or contaminated between the Jupiter gas pump and your fuel injectors. A fuel system service at East Coast Automotive Services starts with a fuel filter replacement. This filter cleans the gas as it leaves the tank. The various parts of the fuel intake system need to be cleaned from time to time to remove harmful gum deposits and varnish. Finally, the fuel injectors are cleaned so that they operate properly for you and deliver the right amount of fuel at the right time.

Our pros at East Coast Automotive Services use a process for cleaning your vehicle fuel system that includes state-of-the-art cleaning chemicals as well as some old fashioned scrubbing. Proper maintenance of your fuel system means that you will enjoy strong performance and prevent repairs down the road.

East Coast Automotive Services
134 Fern St
Jupiter, FL 33458
(561) 743-1178
http://www.eastcoastautoservices.com

Hey Jupiter Drivers: How Do You Save Gas?

Higher Jupiter fuel prices aren't going away any time soon. That's not good news for our wallets. A lot of Jupiter drivers are trying to find ways to cut down on fuel consumption and hang on to some of their hard-earned money.

North Americans drive billions of miles less during months of high fuel prices. That's right, billions. Of course FL vehicle owners can't stop driving altogether, so we still need to find other ways to cut fuel bills.

Preventive maintenance at East Coast Automotive Services in Jupiter and good vehicle care can actually pay for themselves by lowering our fuel consumption. Here's a real-life example of how that can work.

A family planned a four-day camping trip. Before leaving, they took their SUV into East Coast Automotive Services for an oil change. They flushed the cooling system, serviced all three differentials and cleaned the fuel system. They replaced the PCV valve and breather element. Then they checked the tires to ensure they had enough air.

This was several hundred dollars in maintenance and repair. You may be thinking how the family could possibly recoup the cost in gas and save money. First of all, the repairs all needed to be done anyway. Even if the costs aren't recouped, many of them will pay for themselves by preventing even more costly repairs later. Also, the family had planned and budgeted for the routine maintenance, so it didn't cut into their trip allowance.

The SUV pulled a one-ton trailer and hauled everything the family needed on their camping trip. At the end of the trip, the owner was surprised to learn the SUV had actually gotten better gas mileage than it ever had before—even with that heavy load. The repairs and maintenance at East Coast Automotive Services had improved the gas mileage by 25%! The family saved $48.00 in gas on their four-day trip. And they are continuing to reap rewards from the improved mileage.

So what can you do to save fuel? First, stay caught up on routine maintenance at East Coast Automotive Services. Almost every maintenance item listed in your owner's manual will maintain or improve your fuel economy. Second, take your vehicle into East Coast Automotive Services for scheduled tune-ups. And third, take care of needed repairs. You may be surprised at how much you save at the pump and probably with the improved vehicle performance as well.

If your Check Engine light is on, find out why and take care of it. Some of the problems that set off that warning light can seriously reduce fuel efficiency.

As you schedule preventive maintenance, don't forget your tires. Proper tire pressure and wheel alignment are both essential to good fuel economy.

Here's some more auto advice about some simple things you can do to improve fuel economy, beyond maintenance and repairs:

Dump the junk. More weight in your car equals more fuel. You'd be surprised how much stuff people carry around in their cars. That adds up to a lot of extra fuel. One hundred pounds of extra stuff in your vehicle can add up to the loss of one mile per gallon of fuel.

Get the lead out. No, don't speed up, slow down. Get the lead out of your right foot. The single biggest drain for most Jupiter vehicles is speeding or sudden accelerations. Slow down and go easy on turns and lane changes, and don't treat every stoplight and stop sign like a green flag. These small changes can add up to quite a bit of change in your pockets.

We haven't mentioned the pills you can drop in your gas tank or special devices you can hook on your fuel line in order to increase fuel efficiency. There's a simple reason for that: they don't exist. There may be some truth behind some of these claims, but most of them are full-out scams. And if any of these things do actually help, it's not nearly as much as the things we've listed here.

Be smart. Your vehicle and your wallet will thank you for it.

East Coast Automotive Services
134 Fern St
Jupiter, FL 33458
(561) 743-1178
http://www.eastcoastautoservices.com

Stay Headed in the Right Direction, Jupiter

Power steering is standard on nearly every vehicle in Jupiter, FL, these days. Now there are some exotic, new types of power steering systems, but for the most part, the general setup is a pump that's driven by a belt powered by the engine.

Contact the automotive professionals at East Coast Automotive Services in Jupiter for questions about your power steering.

The pump generates power that assists drivers as they steer their vehicle around Jupiter, FL. Power steering systems use hoses to move pressurized fluid back and forth. These hoses can develop leaks so it's a good idea to have East Coast Automotive Services inspect them at every oil change.

A check of the power steering fluid level is on the list for every full service oil change at East Coast Automotive Services because low fluid can damage the power steering pump. And the fluid needs to be compatible with the hoses and seals, so it's important to use the correct type – just ask your service advisor at East Coast Automotive Services.

In addition to providing a boost, the fluid cleans, cools and lubricates the power steering system. Over time, the lubricants and detergents diminish so Jupiter drivers need to replace their old fluid with clean, fresh fluid periodically.

Excess moisture can collect in the power steering fluid as well. That can lead to rust and corrosion as well as reduce the effectiveness of the fluid. Many outline power steering service intervals in the owner's manual. Unfortunately, this service is sometimes left off the maintenance schedule. For Jupiter drivers who are not sure, every two years is a good rule of thumb. 

At East Coast Automotive Services, we use a detergent to clean the system, flush out the old fluid and replace it with new fluid.

Now, if you are experiencing high steering effort, erratic power assist or loud whining coming from the pump, you may have a power steering problem. Another sign is having to frequently top off the fluid.

Holding the steering wheel to the far right or left for more than a few seconds at a time can wear your pump out quickly. We want you to be sure to service your power steering system regularly at your service center, or East Coast Automotive Services in Jupiter, to keep you headed in the right direction.

East Coast Automotive Services
134 Fern St
Jupiter, FL 33458
(561) 743-1178
http://www.eastcoastautoservices.com

Why a Trip Inspection Is a Good Idea

At East Coast Automotive Services we get a lot of Jupiter drivers asking about vehicle trip preparation. That's a big deal. You could be driving through mountains and deserts in some pretty lonely areas around FL, so it's important to know that the vehicle is up to the task and won't leave you stranded.

Smart Jupiter drivers plan ahead for a major road trip – and there are a lot of things to get ready. Where should you start? You could start with the tires. Look them over for tread wear and check to see that they are properly inflated. Take a quick test drive around Jupiter to see if you can feel any vibrations: Are the wheels in balance? Is the car tracking straight? Is the alignment ok? Come to East Coast Automotive Services for a peace-of-mind trip inspection.

134 Fern St
Jupiter, FL 33458
(561) 743-1178
http://www.eastcoastautoservices.com

The next thing is a full service oil change to make sure all of your fluids are topped off and you have fresh oil for the trip. And if your car has over 75,000 miles/120,000 km, you may consider putting in the high-mileage formulation to clean harmful sludge deposits in the engine. 

How about your transmission and brakes? Have you had your transmission and brakes inspected in the last six months?

How are your wiper blades? There's nothing like not being able to get rid of the bug juice on a long road trip away from Jupiter.

Check your owner's manual for any other recommended services, and have East Coast Automotive Services in Jupiter do the multi-point inspection before you head out on your trip.

Consider also having the coolant system serviced at East Coast Automotive Services – you want to stay within the vehicle manufacture’s recommendations. If you're towing a trailer around FL you'll want to be keep in mind that you'll be going a long way under severe conditions.

A lot of Jupiter drivers overlook severe conditions like towing, FL summer heat or driving on dirt roads. Plan ahead for your next road trip – East Coast Automotive Services wants you to get there and back.