Allied Auto Works

Allied Auto Works Allied Auto Works provides complete maintenance and repair. Quality, personal service and trust is what our company is based on. Visit us today!

Family owned and operated by Brian & Amanda Aberg, Allied Auto Works of Los Altos has over 29 years of experience in the automotive industry. We provide great service and high-quality workmanship for Los Altos auto repair and services at a fair price. We are conveniently located off the 280 Foothill Expressway Exit in the Woodland Hills Plaza. Be sure to use our online appointment setting scheduler to set your next Los Altos auto repair or auto service appointment

THE BARKING LOT: Brandy Wants To Know, Is Your Los Altos Driving Severe?Hello Brandy here and did you know that people n...
05/27/2026

THE BARKING LOT: Brandy Wants To Know, Is Your Los Altos Driving Severe?

Hello Brandy here and did you know that people near Los Altos, CA, often ask Allied Auto Works how often they should have a particular service done. It's a great thing to ask. You can look at your owner's manual or have your Los Altos, CA, service advisor at Allied Auto Works look up your vehicle in a service database. What you find is often a surprise to people – there are actually two service schedules.

One is the regular schedule and the other is the severe service schedule. Service intervals are shorter on the severe service schedule. When asked, most folks in Los Altos will say that their driving is normal and that the 'regular' schedule probably applies to them. 'Severe service' sounds pretty extreme – 'I don't drive like that.'

Well, here is what the manufacturers say constitutes severe driving conditions; you can draw your own conclusions.

Most of your trips are less than four miles (six and a half kilometers).
Most of your trips are less than ten miles (16 km) and outside temperatures are below freezing.
The engine is at low speed most of the time – not on the highway. You operate your vehicle in dusty areas.
You regularly tow a trailer or carry heavy loads.
You drive with a car-top carrier.
You do a lot of stop-and-go driving.
You drive in very hot or very cold weather.
If that's severe driving, what constitutes regular driving? Well, it would look something like this: I live somewhere with moderate temperatures all year round – I'm thinking San Diego here. And I live close to a freeway on-ramp. Everywhere I need to go is right off the freeway, at least 4 miles (6.5 km) from my home. I can drive at a steady 60 miles per hour (100 kph) when I'm on the freeway.

I don't know about you, but that doesn't sound like my normal driving. It sounds more like ideal conditions. I live where it gets hot in the summer and cold in the winter. I run short errands around Los Altos. Occasionally, we load up for family trips.

For me, normal driving includes elements of severe service driving. So here's what I tell people: think about how you drive, where you live, where you go, and what you expect to do with your vehicle in the near future.

Picture a line with 'regular' on one end and 'severe' on the other, and make a judgment on where you fall. If your regular oil change recommendation is 5,000 miles (8,000 km) and the severe service recommendation is 3,000 miles (5,000 km), when should you change your oil? For me, it's closer to 3,000 miles (5,000 km). For my wife, it's closer to 5,000 miles (8,000 km). Your Los Altos, CA auto service advisor at Allied Auto Works will be happy to discuss this with you and help you sort it out.

Just a quick word on why severe service intervals are shorter. One has to do with heat. That can either be external heat from the weather, engine and transmission heat from stop-and-go driving, or working extra hard, moving heavy loads, or towing. The heat causes fluids like oil and transmission fluid to break down more quickly, making them less effective.

Another factor is water. Moisture naturally collects in fluids as they cool. In your motor oil, for example, if you don't drive long enough for the oil to fully heat up, the water won't evaporate. Water in the oil can lead to the buildup of damaging sludge.

If you live where the air is dusty or polluted, fluids will become contaminated and filters will get dirtier more quickly.

So make an honest evaluation of your driving conditions. You've made the commitment to take care of your vehicles, so it only makes sense to follow the right schedule.

I leave you with this scheduling quote,
"What gets scheduled gets done." — Anonymous

Brandy

Brake-ing news: it's Memorial Day! 🎉 May your ride be smooth and your BBQ be lit, courtesy of Allied Auto Works! 🚗❤️ ...
05/22/2026

Brake-ing news: it's Memorial Day! 🎉 May your ride be smooth and your BBQ be lit, courtesy of Allied Auto Works! 🚗❤️

05/22/2026

★★★★★
"While servicing my Acura at Allied, the technician noted that the four strut assemblies needed to be replaced due to improper (and noisy) tire wear. After the replacements, one of the front struts was faulty. Without any questions, Allied quickly replaced both front struts as a warranty issue. The car now drives, feels and sounds very well.

During the visits, the Allied team performed very well. We'll be back! "
- J. W.

05/15/2026

★★★★★
"Allied always takes good care of our vehicles and give us comfort and security by offering us good advice while leaving it to us to decide.
For me that’s an excellent balance of autonomy and support. Keep up the good work 👏👍🤗"
- M. W.

THE BARKING LOT- Cayenne Goes With the Flow (MAF Sensor Replacement) Hi Cayenne here. A driver brought her vehicle into ...
05/14/2026

THE BARKING LOT- Cayenne Goes With the Flow (MAF Sensor Replacement)

Hi Cayenne here. A driver brought her vehicle into the shop the other day and told us she was getting lousy fuel economy and that the engine was running rough. Plus, the Check Engine light was on. Our technician checked the code the engine had generated (which indicated why the Check Engine light was on) and found the problem. It was a faulty Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor. So today we are going to flow into the MAF sensor and what it does. As I always bark.....Let's get barkin'!

This MAF sensor is an important part of your vehicle. What it does is calculate the amount of air going into your engine. As you may know, air is taken into your engine where it's mixed with fuel. Then the spark plugs fire, the explosive fuel/air mixture detonates, and these sequential explosions provide the power to get your vehicle moving down the road.

It makes sense that if the MAF sensor isn't sending the engine's computers the correct information about the amount of air entering the engine, the fuel/air mixture won't be right. It will be either too rich (too much gasoline relative to the amount of air) or too lean (not enough gasoline relative to the amount of air).

In this driver's case, the MAF sensor was damaged and needed to be replaced. Another thing that may cause the MAF to give an incorrect reading is if its wires are dirty or faulty. So, replacing or cleaning the wires important as well.

Other symptoms that your MAF sensor is bad? If your engine hesitates when you step on the gas, stalls, or your vehicle is jerky when you accelerate.

A malfunctioning MAF sensor is not just bad for performance. Driving with your vehicle in that condition can cause more damage to your engine. When you bring your vehicle in for us to check, a technician will thoroughly examine your engine to make sure all issues are taken care of.

As I always say, go with the flow unless you are entering dangerous territory, then turn around and go another way.

Cayenne

BMW all lined up and ready to roll. Where will your sense of adventure take you (before it gets lost in traffic)? 😂 ...
05/09/2026

BMW all lined up and ready to roll. Where will your sense of adventure take you (before it gets lost in traffic)? 😂

05/08/2026

★★★★★
"Great service. Much appreciated."
- R. G.

05/01/2026

★★★★★
"Today was my first time using this business, and I was really impressed! The manager Matt was friendly, knowledgeable and communicated very well. He explained what may or may not need to be done on my 2018 BMW X3. He walked thru the pictures of my vehicle and explained what needed to be done soon, versus what could wait a while. He also made sure I had a ride each way from the business to my house, and back. The service area was very clean and my car was fixed the same day as I brought it in. Pricing was reasonable compared to the dealer!"
- H. M.

Cayenne Is Not Getting Any Younger And Neither Are Your Tires (Aging Tires)Cayenne here and can you think of anyone who ...
04/30/2026

Cayenne Is Not Getting Any Younger And Neither Are Your Tires (Aging Tires)

Cayenne here and can you think of anyone who enjoys aging, even us canines? Wrinkles where you don't want them, gray hair, eyes that won't focus anymore, hearing loss, and no stamina. Now, I must say, my nose is still everything at 16 years of age (that's dog years), so it makes up for my other senses, which are not as acute as they were when I was a young pup. Where am I going with all this.....your tires.

Believe it or not, your tires age, too, and they don't get better the older they get. And here's the important thing to know, even if they can still pass a tread depth test, they may simply be too old to be safe

Here's the best way to understand this. Have you ever found an old deck of playing cards with a rubber band wrapped around them? Try stretching the rubber band. SNAP! It's all cracked and brittle. And you haven't stressed that rubber one bit since the time you put them in that drawer.

Now you know what's happening to your tires. Rubber ages. Just like us, the day we come into the world, we start to go downhill (no pun intended). Oh, engineers can make a tire last longer than ever before. But that gas that keeps us alive—oxygen—seems to love to chemically mix with some components in rubber. Oxidation causes rubber to become hard and brittle. The rubber band test.

Is there an age test that can tell you when a tire is too old to roll? Well, not really. They don't all age the same. Hot climates can make tires wear out more quickly. Some experts say a tire can last up to 10 years, but it should be inspected every year after age 5. Others say tires should have an expiration date of 6 years.

Since no one would ever ask a tire its age, how do you know how old one is? Believe it or not, tires made after the year 2000 have a date code stamped on either the inside or the outside of the sidewall. It's a four-digit number; the first two tell you the week, the second two tell you the year. So if it has the number 1916, it was made in the 21st week of 2016.

Another way to find out whether your tires still have enough life left is to have your vehicle service facility inspect them. They look for signs of age, such as developing cracks in the rubber, the condition of the sidewalls, and, of course, that old standby: tread. If it's time to "retire" them, discuss options with your service advisor.

I leave you with this funny quote about aging
"The older I get, the more clearly I remember things that never happened." — Mark Twain

Cayenne

WATCH MY VIDEO: https://www.alliedautoworks.com/article/cayenne-is-not-getting-any-younger-and-neither-are-your-tires--aging-tires-

04/24/2026

★★★★★
"Great service. I used their service for the first time and they are my preferred auto service shop now."
- M. B.

Warning: our front reception area is so good, you might actually want to hang out here! 😂
04/24/2026

Warning: our front reception area is so good, you might actually want to hang out here! 😂

Address

2073 Grant Road
Los Altos, CA
94024

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

(650)5427178

Website

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