Brakes Sale in Littleton

Right now Autoworks Colorado is having a sale on their Brakes & Services. Right now on all import vehicles, take 10% OFF of brake parts and services and Autoworks throughout December.

Take advantage of this Littleton auto repair holiday sale at Autoworks Colorado. Autoworks Colorado is one of the Denvers best Import auto repair shops. They have been in business for over 20 years and only work on German imports.

For more information you can check out their website at www.autorepairindenver.com or give them a call (303) 932-9990.

Speculation on the Mercedes Benz E Class

The crew from CAR laid out what the future holds for Mercedes’ two-door offerings and now its tapped Larson to render what the forthcoming E-class coupe will look like ahead of its debut at the Geneva Motor Show next year.




Taking cues from the Fascination concept unveiled in Paris, the sporty E-class features a pair of drawn and halved headlamps that nix the oval units fitted to Mercs in the last decade, along with a pair of highly stylized rear fenders sporting a two-tiered blister that flows into the reworked rear end.

Engine choices will range from 184 hp four-cylinders (E200k) to an E63 AMG variant putting down 481 hp, while a 525 hp Black Series version will be offered further down the line. Seven-speed automatics will proliferate throughout the range, along with direct injection on all gasoline-powered models.

Having learned from past mistakes, Mercedes-Benz will throttle back some of its high-tech features, nixing the brake-by-wire system, along with the air suspension and active body control. But all won’t be lost. When the convertible version arrives six months after the coupe, Mercedes will offer it with a heated fabric roof to keep occupants warm in the winter, while infra-red night vision, hard-drive navigation and front seats that tilt and slide to ease ingress and egress will keep Mercedes’ owners in their element.

The 2009 E-class coupe (code-named C206) should arrive in June, while the drop-top variant (A206) will follow later next year.

Source: Mercedes Back to Auto Repair

How to Change Your Oil

Here's a good video on how to change your oil. Its homemade but has some good tips!!

Parker Auto Repair

If you are looking for a Parker auto repair shop, you need to drive west a few miles to Autoworks Colorado. They are better than any other Parker auto repair shop and have been in business over 25 years. They specialize in Audi repair, BMW repair, Mercedes repair, Porsche repair, and Volkswagen repairs for all models.

Why and How does Oil Break Down

The biggest reason oil breaks down is because of HEAT. Although there are many other factors which lead to the breakdown of oil, heat is the most important. Each type of oil that you put in your car has a certain amount of heat tolerance. The temperature to which this oil first gives off vapors is known as the “Flash Point”. This flash point differs between different types and brands of oils. A lower flash point means that that certain type of oil will suffer vaporization loss sooner when exposed to high temperatures and this will lead to oil burn off by hot pistons and cylinders; therefore, reducing the amount of oil in your engine.

Today’s engines are smaller in size and fed less oil than the engines of the past, while they are still expected to put out the same amount of power. This makes the engines run a lot hotter and it puts an increased burden on the oil, causing it to burn up and break down quicker.

Heat breaks down the smaller, lighter molecules of oil first. This can lead to deposits and sludge being left behind and coating your engine that can cause damage. This also only leaves the larger, heavier oil molecules behind to protect your engine. These particles do not flow as well and they tend to blanket your engine’s components, which only increases the heat problem and leads to further oil burn off.

As oil breaks down chemically over time it loses its lubrication properties. Oil thins out over time as it’s certain elements are lost to HEAT and other chemical changes. Oil, therefore, lasts longer in a more moderate climate zone than a hot one.

Summer and Winter Oil Types…
By consulting your car’s owners manual you will see that there are different types of oil that are better in certain conditions. There should even be a climate zone map that would point you in the correct direction as to which oil to use.

There are two basic types of oil:
1) 5W30 (for winter conditions)
2) 10W30 (for summer conditions)

10W30 is intended for very hot conditions, as this is when oil burns up the fastest. 10W30 does not thin out as easily as the 5W30 and it provides ones engine with more lubrication in hot conditions.

For most of Canada it is ok to just use 5W30 all year round if you like. The reason behind this is the fact that you car would never really be exposed to extremely hot conditions that often, except for maybe the odd day in the summer.

It is also a good idea to use 10W30 on older vehicles as it will give them a little more lubrication, especially in the winter. But don’t be surprised if you feel a few more knocks in your engine if you do so in the winter months.

How Often Should I Change my Oil??

(Questions taken from msnbc.com)
I own a 1997 Camry with 54,000 miles on it. I have been changing the oil every 3 months or 3,000 miles. Now I drive less, about 3,000 miles in 5 or 6 months. Should I still change the oil at three months or wait till I reach 3,000 miles? Also, since I bought the car I have been using Valvoline oil. Is it OK to change to another brand?


I remember getting my first car (a hand-me-down) and how my father kept telling me how important it was to change the oil every 3,000 miles. A lot has changed since then. Today’s oil is much better and it can last a lot longer.

Here’s what to do: Check your owner’s manual and follow the manufacturer’s recommendation. If it says change the oil every three months or 3,000 miles and you haven’t traveled 3,000 miles in that time, change it anyway. But, I think you’ll find that the recommendations are much longer than that. For instance, Acura suggests that I change the oil in my car every 7,500 miles or one year.

Tom and Ray, the hosts of Car Talk on National Public Radio, recommend an oil change every 5,000 miles, although they admit knowing when to change the oil is not an exact science. “It may be too soon for many people and too late for a few,” they say, “but for the vast majority, 5,000-mile oil changes will help your engine last to a ripe, old age.”

Here are a few reminders:
You should always change the filter when you change the oil. You don’t want to contaminate the new oil with the gunk that’s in the old filter.

Check the oil level every few hundred miles. “If you add oil, don’t overfill,” cautions Phil Reed, Consumer Advice Editor for Edmunds, “because that can cause serious engine problems.”
And it’s not a problem If you want to switch from one brand of oil to another, says John Ibbotson, an automotive expert at Consumer Reports. “Just make sure to stick with the manufacturer’s recommendations for engine oil weight,” Ibbotson says. You should also use a product with the API Certification Seal for gasoline engines, which means the oil meets the American Petroleum Institute’s latest requirements and that it is energy conserving.

How to Increase Fuel Efficiency

Part 1 - Save fuel in the Quick Lane

Proper vehicle maintenance doesn't just help extend the life of your vehicle - it can help relieve some of the financial pressure brought on by high gas prices. The following are a few key services our factory-trained auto service technicians can perform to help boost your mpg and fuel economy.

• Check your oxygen sensor. An oxygen sensor is part of your vehicle's emission control system. Replacing a faulty one can improve gas mileage by as much as 40%
• Replace a clogged air filter. All of the dirt, dust and grime have a negative impact on your engine's performance. This simple and often overlooked maintenance can increase fuel efficiency by about 10%
• Get an engine tune-up. Making sure all your systems are operating at their best can save you 4% in fuel efficiency
• Keep your tires inflated to the proper pressure. Making sure your tire pressure isn't too low - or too high - can improve your gas mileage by around 3%
• Get the recommended grade of motor oil. Our experts offer a full line of high-quality oil and filter products from Motorcraft®. Using the one that's right for your vehicle can help improve fuel efficiency by up to 2%

Part 2 - Save fuel on the road

Saving fuel after a visit to your local Quick Lane is just the start. Here are a few things you can be conscious of when you're behind the wheel to help you squeeze a little more out of your gas dollars.

• Avoid aggressive driving - Not only can it be dangerous, but constant speed changes and quick, uneven stops and starts waste a lot of fuel. Taking it easier behind the wheel can improve your gas mileage by as much as 33%
• Remove excess weight - You can save about 2% in fuel efficiency for every 100 lbs. of extra clutter you can remove from your car or truck
• Use your cruise control - It's almost always more fuel efficient to travel at a constant speed whenever possible
• Avoid idling - It's more fuel efficient to turn off your engine when you're waiting in the car Combine trips. Your engine works most efficiently when warmed up

Source: fueleconomy.com