Archive for December 2017

Upsizing Wheels and Tires With Corporate Autoworks

Posted December 18, 2017 12:44 PM

Many Burlington drivers want to accessorize their vehicle - you know, make it theirs. One of the easiest ways to get a custom look is to get some new wheels. There are thousands of wheel designs at Burlington area tire shops to get you the look you want. And for many Burlington drivers, that look includes bigger wheels. It used to be that cars came from the factory with 15 or 16 inch wheels. Now 16, 17 and even 18 inchers are standard. And the factories are offering optional wheel packages up to 20 inches or more.

So let's talk about what to consider when you want to upsize your wheels. It's not exactly a DIY project, so you need to know a thing or two before you get started. The most important term to know is rolling diameter. The rolling diameter is simply the overall height of your tire. Unless you want to modify your vehicle suspension, you'll want to keep your rolling diameter the same when you upsize your wheels.

Let's think about those three golden doughnuts in front of you. They're all about the same size. So if we pretend they're tires, they would have the same rolling diameter. The doughnut hole is the size of the wheel. Now pretend we've made the hole bigger on some. That's like having a bigger wheel - but the rolling diameter is the same.

It's important to keep the rolling diameter the same for several reasons. First of all, if the tire is bigger, it might not fit in the vehicle wheel well. Next the speedometer, odometer and anti-lock brake system are all calibrated for the factory rolling diameter. In order for your anti-lock brakes to work properly, the rolling diameter must stay within 3% of the factory recommendation. If you ignore that, you run the risk that your anti-lock brakes won't work properly.

Some have vehicles with electronically-controlled suspension that will be negatively affected by changing the rolling diameter. Let's think about the doughnuts again. You see, as the size of the wheel gets bigger, the sidewall gets shorter. The tire holds less air, so the sidewalls are made stiffer to compensate.

Low profile tires from top manufacturers use special compounds that give the sidewall the strength it needs without compromising ride quality. As you increase your wheel size, you'll typically get a slightly wider tire. This means that you have a larger contact patch. The contact patch is part of the tire that contacts the road. Because there's more rubber on the road, the vehicle will handle better. And braking distances will be shorter. A lot of Burlington folks with trucks or SUVs love the extra control.

ON drivers need to watch out that the contact patch isn't so big that the tires rub in turns or over bumps. What we're talking about here is fitment. Your tire professional at Corporate Autoworks can help you get this right. He'll install your new wheels, add spacers if needed to make sure your brakes fit inside your new wheels and get you rolling.

Also, if you drive off-road in ON a lot, you may need a higher profile tire to protect your new rims. And make sure your new tires have the load rating you need if you tow a trailer or haul heavy loads. Again, your tire professional at Corporate Autoworks knows how to help.

And don't forget about tire pressure. If you have larger rims, your new tires will hold less air and they'll need to run a slightly higher pressure. Forget that and you'll wear your tires out fast. Finally, get an alignment at Corporate Autoworks after you get your new shoes. 

Stop by Corporate Autoworks to learn more about how you might upsize your wheels or tires.

You'll find us at:

Corporate Autoworks
5195 Harvester Rd. Unit#1
Burlington, ON L7L 6E9
905-333-9201
http://www.corporate-autoworks.com

 



Corporate Autoworks Helps You Decipher the Menu Board: Part 2

Posted December 11, 2017 8:29 AM

ON service centers have a menu board that lists the services they provide. Some Burlington drivers may not be familiar with all of the items on the board so here is a quick description of some of the typical services that might be listed.

Corporate Autoworks fuel system cleaning: Over time, the vehicle fuel system gets gum and varnish built up. A fuel system cleaning gets rid of that and cleans out the fuel injectors. Saves gas, by the way.

Corporate Autoworks headlamp replacement: Halogen and standard headlamps gradually fade. It's usually good to change them every year or so.

Corporate Autoworks inspections: Burlington drivers get inspections for many reasons. Maybe they're going on a trip or just want to make sure their vehicle's ready for a ON summer or winter. Maybe they just bought a used vehicle and want to give it the once over. An inspection may reveal some things that are broken or are getting close to having a problem.

Corporate Autoworks oil change: There are several options: Some Burlington centers offer just an oil change and new filter as an option. Most will also check and top off all of your other fluids and do a quick visual inspection with a full service oil change. In my way of thinking, the full service option is best because it makes sure you have adequate fluids and may uncover an emerging problem. There may also be options for higher mileage fluids or an upgrade to synthetic oil.

Corporate Autoworks PCV valve replacement in Burlington: PCV stands for Positive Crankcase Ventilation valve. It's a little part that releases pressure from the engine. It can get gummed up and that can lead to engine damage. It just needs to be changed now and then.

Corporate Autoworks power steering service: Often overlooked. Your friendly and knowledgeable Corporate Autoworks technician will evacuate the old fluid, clean out the system and replace it with clean fluid. Keeps the vehicle system running well for a long time.

Corporate Autoworks serpentine belt service: That's the belt that powers the vehicle engine's accessories like the alternator, air conditioner, power steering and brakes. You'll want to replace the serpentine belt before it breaks, because that'll shut you down.

Corporate Autoworks shocks and struts: This starts with an inspection of the suspension components. Shocks last a long time and wear out slowly, so many Burlington drivers don't notice when it's time to change them. If they're worn or leaking, they need to be replaced.

Corporate Autoworks transmission service: This involves removing the transmission fluid and replacing it with clean fluid. It's like an oil change for your transmission.

Corporate Autoworks tire rotation and wheel balancing: The tires are rotated from front to back using the recommended rotation pattern. This helps tires wear more evenly. Wheels need to be balanced from time to time to keep them turning without any wobble or bounce. Helps the ride and saves tire wear.

Corporate Autoworks
5195 Harvester Rd. Unit#1
Burlington, ON L7L 6E9
905-333-9201
http://www.corporate-autoworks.com



Technician Training at Corporate Autoworks

Posted December 3, 2017 10:56 AM

Your vehicle is important to you, and keeping it running properly is important to your lifestyle. That's why you're smart enough to have it serviced regularly at Corporate Autoworks in Burlington. And even though it may just be routine maintenance, you want it done right by automotive professionals.

It's also very important to your Burlington service center to keep you happy and on the road. You might be surprised at the amount of money our Burlington auto service center spends annually to make sure our friendly and knowledgeable technicians are properly trained.

Corporate Autoworks offers a variety of automotive services for many kinds of vehicles. We need to be current on the latest techniques and parts so that we can give you quality service. Our Burlington service centers subscribe to data services that list the high quality parts and fluids recommended by your manufacturer.

And each service has a checklist of standard procedures. Corporate Autoworks technicians follow these procedures so they can safely deliver a consistent level of high-quality service.

Some services at Corporate Autoworks require the use of specialized equipment. Corporate Autoworks technicians are trained extensively on this equipment so that they can service your car quickly and efficiently.

Classroom, video and hands-on training is provided by the company and outside trainers. It's not only important that friendly and knowledgeable technicians be able to perform a given task, they also need to be thoroughly trained in inspection and diagnostic techniques. One of the great services they perform is to detect potential problems before they become serious.

The automotive service industry has standards for classifying and communicating problems. For example, it's one thing to learn that your manufacturer recommends that you change your serpentine belt every 30,000 miles/48,000 km and another to learn that the belt is on the verge of failure. These standards help you understand the urgency of recommendations, letting you make better automotive service decisions.

ON folks may be interested to know that service technicians (including those at Corporate Autoworks) are trained in compliance with federal and local Burlington laws and regulations, including environmental regulations regarding the disposal of used parts and fluids.

It's the goal of Corporate Autoworks to provide fast, courteous service. You should feel free to ask your friendly and knowledgeable technician or one of the managers about your service or for more information about their recommendations.

At Corporate Autoworks, well-trained service providers, established procedures, industry standards and, of course, great people, combine to give you the best auto service in Burlington.

Corporate Autoworks
5195 Harvester Rd. Unit#1
Burlington, ON L7L 6E9
905-333-9201
http://www.corporate-autoworks.com



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