Why you should have your brake fluid serviced!!
There is an increasing awareness of the dangers of water and corrosion producing contaminates.  Brake fluid contaminated by moisture dangerously lowers the boiling point of the fluid to the point that even under ordinary conditions your brakes could get hot enough to cause the brake fluid to boil, resulting in a low or no brake pedal.  Moisture gets into the fluid because conventional brake fluid is hygroscopic (it has a magnetic attraction for moisture which it absorbs from the atmosphere).  In the vehicle, moisture is absorbed through the brake master cylinder reservoir and permeable brake hoses.  As a result, the moisture along with the steel line, rubber hoses, cast iron, aluminum and brake fluid temperature that can reach 450 to 500 degrees; causes an electrochemical reaction that makes the brake fluid so acidic that it can result in early failure to brake components. Brake fluid contamination has become such a concern for some major car manufacturers that they have added it to their required maintenance schedules.  Failure to change your vehicle brake fluid can result in very costly repairs, if you have ABS type brakes, component failure can run into the thousands!!

Many drivers forget about the hard working, fuel squirting Injectors that are a vital part of the engine.  Sooner or later the fuel injectors will get dirty and clogged, causing the vehicle to show signs of less efficient drive-ability.  This is not a case of if, it's a case of when.  It's just one of those unavoidable things that comes with the territory of driving modern day, fuel injected engines.  Even though we cannot be absolutely sure there is a problem with the injector without physically removing them, there are some clogged fuel injector symptoms that we can notice.

Engine stutter or hesitation: without the proper air/fuel mixture, the combustion inside the chamber is hindered.
Performance Loss: If combustion is hindered, engine power suffers.
​Increase Fuel Consumption: when fuel combustion efficiency is negatively affected, you will often burn more fuel to achieve the performance needed.
Engine Misfire: poor air/fuel mixture in the cylinders can cause incomplete combustion.
Rough idling/engine stalling: uneven supply of fuel during idling can cause RPM to fall too low and result in stalling.
Emissions Test Fail

There are many reasons to have a vehicles fuel injectors cleaned.  The main circumstances include fuel contamination, having uneven cylinder fueling/spark plug wear, an unexplained cylinder misfire where you have spark, general maintenance 80k-100k miles, and for peace of mind at time of engine rebuild.
 
Fuel injector cleaning methods and results vary dramatically whether you choose to perform an on-car cleaning method, or an off-car fuel injector service.
 
First, let’s cover on-car cleaning methods, of which there are two.  One method simply uses a pour-in additive to the fuel tank.  The concentrated cleaner is mixed with fuel in the tank where it slowly makes its way through the fuel system, eventually passing through to the injectors.
 
The other on-car method uses a pressurized canister of injector cleaner.  The canister is connected directly to the fuel rail.  During this process, the fuel pump is disabled and the engine actually runs off of the cleaner, not the fuel in the tank.  The chemical passes through the injectors, cleaning them in the process.  The engine usually operates for about 5-10 minutes on the cleaner.  This process is more time consuming than the pour-in method and requires special equipment and training.
There are many disadvantages to using the on-car cleaning method.  The chemicals used are not very aggressive.  The chemicals used have to be similar in nature to gasoline since the engine must run on the chemical alone.  Because the cleaning is done on-the-car, the cleaner must not damage any of the other components on the vehicle that are sensitive to chemical contamination such as the oxygen sensor, catalytic converter, and others.  Therefore, the cleaner used is a fairly mild detergent.  Also, the technician really never knows what results the on-car cleaning accomplished. 
 
Without being able to perform spray pattern tests, flow-rate test, and leak-down tests, the technician “hopes” the on-car method will increase vehicle performance.
 
For preventative maintenance, on-car cleaning usually won’t hurt.  However, if an injector is restricted to the point that it is causing a driveability problem, don’t expect on-car cleaning to help.  At this point, you’re most likely wasting time and money.
 
Off-car cleaning is a completely different process than either method used for on-car cleaning.  Once the injectors are removed from the vehicle they are cleaned ultrasonically.  The injectors are cleaned internally and externally while being pulsed at varying pulse widths and frequencies (RPM).  The ultrasonic waves create cavitation bubbles in the cleaning fluid.  When the microscopic bubbles touch a surface, they implode, creating forces in excess of 10,000 psi.  These implosions, combined with the correct cleaning chemistry and the all important “back-flush” are what guarantee a thoroughly cleaned fuel injector.
 
Once the injectors are cleaned, their operation is verified using the injector flow bench.  The flow bench can be used to examine the injector’s spray pattern, dynamic and static flow rate and to perform a leak test, none of which can be performed with the “on-car” method.
 
Once the injectors are cleaned and fully tested, critical components are replaced to complete the service.  This includes any o-rings, seals, filters and pintle caps.
 
When we are done the injectors are as good as or better than rebuilt injectors that can be purchased at any auto parts store.  

The Dyno Shop in Santee, CA  is here to help you with any of your vehicle needs!!!

The weathermen are calling for 6 days of rain and a total of 7-8 inches here in San Diego County!  Is your vehicle ready?  First thing, check your windshield wipers.  You are looking for tears and/or lack of rubber.  To drive safely we need to be able to see; if your blades are worn out get them replaced ASAP.   Next, tire pressure and condition.  The colder weather is here to stay for a bit and with it comes decreasing air pressure.  There is a sticker on the drivers door (in most vehicles) that will have the recommended tire pressure for cold and warm temperatures.  Follow this sticker when checking your current tire pressure.  The condition of your tires plays a big part in keeping your vehicle driving safely down the road.  To check tread depth, do the penny test.  Put a penny in the tread groove head down, facing you.  If you can see all of Lincoln's head your tire tread depth is too warn and your tires should be replaced. 
Slow down and leave room.  Slowing down during wet weather driving can be critical to reducing's a cars chance of hydroplaning.  It's also important to allow ample stopping distance between cars by increasing the following distance of the vehicle in front of them.
Even careful drivers can experience a skid.  If you feel your vehicle begin to skid don't panic.  Continue to look and steer in the direction you want to go and avoid slamming on the brakes which will further upset the cars balance.  

​Be safe out there!

Welcome to 2017!!  I know most of us will be making resolutions to eat healthier, travel more, exercise more often, etc...  Why not be different?!  Make 2017 the best year for you and your vehicle with these 6 easy-to-commit-to resolutions.  If your looking for more tips, give The Dyno Shop in Santee, CA a call anytime at 619-562-3933!

Stay on track with Regular Maintenance
If you were a bit lax about having regular maintenance performed on your vehicle in 2016, make your first resolution to stay on top of it.  Having regular maintenance performed at the recommended intervals can save you money in the long run and could keep you from being stranded on the side of the road.

Keep your vehicle clean
This does not mean that you need to spend money on getting your vehicle professionally detailed every week.  De-clutter, throw out the trash, and vacuum every month.  I find it easy to keep my vehicle trash free when I keep a bag for trash in my Jeep.  Don't forget about the outside!  There are plenty of drive thru car washes around that are cheap. 

No More Stress
Decide to chill out.  Leave the house a bit early to give yourself time during your commute.  This way you will not be stressed about time and will be able to have a more positive courteous attitude towards your fellow drivers.  Not only is this great for your health, but also for your vehicles health.  Less hard braking can lengthen brake life; less hard acceleration can increase gas mileage.  

Give up texting and driving
We all know that texting and driving is extremely dangerous, let alone illegal in California.  Make 2017 the year you save your life by quiting it!  This will help you to be more attentive and courteous to other drivers by alleviating an unnecessary distraction.

Check your tires and wheels
Most of us take our tires for granted; having trust that they will always be there for us, taking us to and fro.   Get into the habit of checking your tire pressure and condition monthly.  Underflated, bald, cracked or torn tires can be disasterous.

Bi-Annual Inspection
It's a good idea to have your vehicle inspected twice a year by a trusted mechanic.  Even if you are a do-it-yourselfer and really enjoy completing your oil changes, having a qualified profession inspect your vehicle could possibly catch something before it becomes a problem.