Genes OK Tire & Muffler

01/31/2019

03/30/2016

Question:
What do I need to do for my high mileage vehicle?

Gene's OK Tire & Muffler Answer:
St George drivers ask this question at Gene's OK Tire & Muffler a lot more these days. The median age for vehicles on UT roads is now over 11 years. Regardless of your reason for keeping your vehicle around, the good news for St George drivers is that it's capable of going 150,000 to 200,000 miles (or 250,000 to 350,000 kilometers) or more with proper care and professional automotive service at Gene's OK Tire & Muffler.

Here are some tips from Gene's OK Tire & Muffler on how to make your car last:

First, St George drivers should follow all of their regularly scheduled maintenance routines. Things like oil changes, transmission and cooling system service are for avoiding damage. This reduces your overall cost for keeping your vehicle for a long time.
Next, regular inspections are critical for St George drivers. Look, those parts are starting to get old and will become worn out over the miles. Thorough inspections of various systems will uncover things that are nearing the end of their service life, like suspension, brake and steering components. Replacing worn parts early not only prevents breakdowns, but relieves stress on related components so they will last longer as well.
Another thing for St George drivers to consider is the use of special high mileage fluid formulations. For example, high mileage engine oil has special additives that condition those old seals and gaskets. It also has extra detergents to help keep that older vehicle engine clean inside. High mileage oil, transmission fluid, etc. cost a little more but can really head off some of the problems that are typical of older vehicles around UT.
One last thing for St George drivers would be to consult with your friendly and knowledgeable pros at Gene's OK Tire & Muffler about the overall condition of your vehicle and your driving routines. It may be advisable to follow your 's severe service schedule.
Even with the occasional unexpected repair associated with an older vehicle, you can still enjoy good, reliable transportation if you take good care of your ride.

Give us a call

Gene's OK Tire & Muffler
339 West St George Blvd
St George, UT 84770
435-673-4673 - 888-865-8473
www.genesoktire.com
www.genesoktireandmuffler.com

03/29/2016

Simple Answers from Gene's OK Tire & Muffler in St George:

Question:I'm confused about when I should get my spark plugs replaced. What's the deal?

Answer from Gene's OK Tire & Muffler:
Well it can be confusing for St George drivers because there are several types of spark plugs and some last longer than others. Your owner's manual will have a recommendation for when your spark plugs should be changed.
Here's a little background from Gene's OK Tire & Muffler.
Spark plugs are in the combustion chamber of your engine. They send a little spark between two electrodes at the end of the spark plug which ignites the gasoline.
This little spark goes off thousands of times a minute. Over the miles, the electrodes on standard grade spark plugs wear away increasing the gap between them.
When that happens, the spark isn't as strong and the fuel doesn't burn as well.
As I mentioned above, there are several types or grades of spark plugs.
The standard grade is copper core. They are great for quick starts and may last 12,000 to 13,000 miles.
Single platinum spark plugs use platinum on one of the electrodes. These typically last 30,000 to 60,000 miles and have improved ignitability and performance.
Double platinum plugs use platinum on both electrodes. This virtually eliminates gap erosion. They may last 60,000 to 100,000 miles.
Then there are the plugs that use iridium in their electrodes. These last over 100,000 miles. They are very durable and give premium performance and improved fuel mileage .
Now it's important that St George drivers always use at least the grade of spark plug that originally came on their vehicle. This makes sure that your spark plugs are up to delivering the performance and your vehicle was designed for.
Of course, you may upgrade your spark plugs for better durability and performance.
Talk with your friendly and knowledgeable Gene's OK Tire & Muffler service advisor about how you want your vehicle to perform and let him help you choose the spark plug that best suits your needs.

Gene's OK Tire & Muffler
339 West St George Blvd
St George, UT 84770
435-673-4673 - 888-865-8473
www.genesoktire.com
www.genesoktireandmuffler.com

03/28/2016

Air Conditioning :

Let's talk about air conditioning service and repair issues for the St. George, UT area.
Most of us in St George don't give our air conditioning a second thought as long as it's making cold air.
But it's a complex and expensive system that we should think about before it starts blowing hot air.
The refrigerant in the air conditioner contains a special oil that lubricates and cools the A/C parts. When enough refrigerant leaks out, your air conditioner still makes cold air, but the parts don't have enough oil to protect them and they wear out faster than they should so it's important to service the air conditioner as recommended by your St George, UT service center.
Replacing old refrigerant has another benefit: refrigerant tends to gather moisture and become corrosive. That causes leaks in the system which can be expensive to repair.
Fresh refrigerant protects the air conditioning components and keeps the system operating at peak efficiency so it doesn't have to work as hard to keep you cool.
Even with regular service A/C parts can just wear out.

Normal wear and tear eventually gets to all moving parts.Addressing early problems can save on more extensive repairs down the road.
For instance, a common failure is the clutch that turns the compressor on and off. If you can take care of a bad A/C clutch when it first starts having problems, you may be able to save the compressor. Wait too long and you'll have to replace both.
Check your owner's manual or ask your St George service advisor at Gene's OK Tire & Muffler for service recommendations. And if you're hearing strange sounds when your air conditioning turns on, or if it just isn't as cold as it used to be, have us give it the once over and see what it'll take to keep you cool.

Gene's OK Tire & Muffler
339 West St George Blvd
St George, UT 84770
435-673-4673 - 888-865-8473
www.genesoktire.com
www.genesoktireandmuffler.com

03/11/2016

Night Driving getting Scary?

Way too many accidents happen at night on UT roads. There are a lot of factors, but a big one is simply visibility: if you can't see something, it's hard to avoid hitting it.

There are some things drivers can do to make sure they can see as much as possible when they're driving in the dark. First of all, keep your windshield clean. Glare from oncoming headlights can obscure obstacles in the road. Clean off that film that builds up on the inside of your windshield. And make sure you have good wiper blades and plenty of washer fluid.

Now it could be that your headlights aren't as bright as they used to be. It happens – the bulbs just dim over time. If it's been a couple of years since you replaced your headlamps and they aren't lighting up the road like they used to, get some new ones. They make upgraded headlamps too that give you a brighter light and a larger field of vision so you can see better and further down the road. Check with your friendly and knowledgeable Gene's OK Tire & Muffler Professional Sertvice Consultant if you want to up your headlamp performance.

Another very common headlamp problem in the St. George area is cloudy or yellowed lenses. These days lenses are plastic and they oxidize and discolor over time. Just look at the cars in the parking lot at your St. George office building – chances are you'll see several with cloudy lenses. This is a huge problem because some of the light coming from your headlamps gets trapped before it can even get out and shine down the road.

Replacing a set of headlight assemblies can run hundreds or even thousands of dollars in St George. There's an alternative that can save big bucks: Headlight restoration.

Your Gene's OK Tire & Muffler service technician can remove the oxidized layer from your lenses. He'll then polish the lenses until they're bright and smooth. When he's all finished, your lenses will be as good as new.

Any accident on UT roads is inconvenient and can be very frustrating . And if someone gets hurt, well, that's something you want to avoid at all costs. If you're not confident driving at night in St. George, ask your friendly and knowledgeable Gene's OK Tire & Muffler service technician about headlamp replacement and headlight restoration St George.

Give us a call

Gene's OK Tire & Muffler

435-673-4673 - 888-865-8473

339 West St George Blvd

St George, UT 84770

www.genesoktire.com

www.genesoktireandmuffler.com

03/10/2016

Question:

What do I need to do for my high mileage vehicle?

Gene's OK Tire & Muffler Answer:

St George drivers ask this question at Gene's OK Tire & Muffler a lot more these days. The median age for vehicles on UT roads is now over 11 years. Regardless of your reason for keeping your vehicle around, the good news for St George drivers is that it's capable of going 150,000 to 200,000 miles (or 250,000 to 350,000 kilometers) or more with proper care and professional automotive service at Gene's OK Tire & Muffler.

Here are some tips from Gene's OK Tire & Muffler on how to make your car last:

First, drivers should follow all of their regularly scheduled maintenance routines. Things like oil changes, transmission and cooling system service are for avoiding damage. This reduces your overall cost for keeping your vehicle for a long time.

Next, regular inspections are critical for St George drivers. Look, those parts are starting to get old and will become worn out over the miles. Thorough inspections of various systems will uncover things that are nearing the end of their service life, like suspension, brake and steering components. Replacing worn parts early not only prevents breakdowns, but relieves stress on related components so they will last longer as well.

Another thing for St George drivers to consider is the use of special high mileage fluid formulations. For example, high mileage engine oil has special additives that condition those old seals and gaskets. It also has extra detergents to help keep that older vehicle engine clean inside. High mileage oil, transmission fluid, etc. cost a little more but can really head off some of the problems that are typical of older vehicles around UT.

One last thing for St George drivers would be to consult with your friendly and knowledgeable pros at Gene's OK Tire & Muffler about the overall condition of your vehicle and your driving routines. It may be advisable to follow your 's severe service schedule.

Even with the occasional unexpected repair associated with an older vehicle, you can still enjoy good, reliable transportation if you take good care of your ride.

Give us a call

Gene's OK Tire & Muffler

339 West St George Blvd

St George, UT 84770

435-673-4673 - 888-865-8473

www.genesoktire.com

www.genesoktireandmuffler.com

03/09/2016

Cooling System Issue?

Cooling system problems are the most common reason for mechanical failure in St. George.
And, they're largely avoidable.

Here's what St George drivers need to know about their cooling system.
First, the terms coolant and antifreeze are pretty much used interchangeably in UT.
The fluid cools your engine while it's running and it keeps it from freezing when it's cold.
Your cooling system is filled with a 50/50 mixture of water and antifreeze/coolant.
So if you're topping off antifreeze/coolant, be sure to add the proper amount of each. Distilled water is much better than tap water.
Now you can buy pre-mixed coolant so make sure you know what you're putting in.

Two more cautions for St. George : first, never add coolant when the engine is hot. This can lead to serious burns.
Second, there are many antifreeze formulas.
Your manufacturer recommends a specific type that won't harm your cooling system components.
Use the wrong fluid and you could void your cooling system warranty.
Your friendly and knowledgeable Gene's OK Tire & Muffler Service Technician can help you with all this.
All manufacturers have schedules for when you should change your coolant. It's to follow the schedule, because neglecting your cooling system allows the fluid to become corrosive.
You'll get leaks which can lead to damage
Check with your service advisor at Gene's OK Tire & Muffler in St George to see if it's time for a cooling system inspection and service.

Give us a call :
Gene's OK Tire & Muffler
339 West St George Blvd
St George, UT 84770
www.genesoktire.com
www.genesoktireandmuffler.com

03/07/2016

Axles

The axle assemblies in your vehicle transfer power out to the drive wheels. On a rear-wheel drive vehicle, there is an axle shaft that goes from the differential in the center of the axle to each rear wheels. On a front-wheel drive vehicle, the axle shafts go from the transmission to each front-wheel. All-wheel drive vehicles have axle shafts connected to all four wheels.

Axles assemblies are pretty tough parts: they transfer torque from the engine to the wheels to move the vehicle. Tough as they are, they are still subject to normal wear and tear. The axle shafts are in a sealed housing with lubricant that protects the axle shaft. When there is a leak anywhere in the axle assembly, lubricant gets out and dirt, water, and other contaminates can get in. This can greatly accelerate axle wear. If an axle assembly fails, you’re not going anywhere.

A worn or damaged axle assembly on the front will make a clunking sound during low speed turns – often just when turning one way. A worn rear axle also makes noise, but may be more difficult for the driver to hear. Also, if you see any oily leaks around your wheels, have it checked out.

If you have a bad axle assembly, your Gene's OK Tire & Muffler technician can make the repair. It is often more cost effective to replace an axle assembly than it is to take it apart and rebuilt it.

If you are hearing strange sounds coming from your front or rear wheel area, have Gene's OK Tire & Muffler inspect your vehicle. We can determine if it is an axle problem, or perhaps a worn steering, suspension, or brake component.

Gene's OK Tire & Muffler

339 West St George Blvd

St George, UT 84770

435-673-4673 - 888-865-8473

www.genesoktire.com

www.genesoktireandmuffler.com

03/03/2016

Gene's OK Tire & Muffler Tech Question:

My name is Landon. A bought a new minivan and it started smoking out the tail pipe. My St George service center said my head gasket went out. What can I do to prevent this from happening again?

Gene's OK Tire & Muffler Answer:

The head gasket fits between the top of the engine and the cylinder head. Its job is to seal that connection and keep oil and coolant circulating in the right parts of the engine.

When it leaks, oil can get in the coolant and vice versa. Sometimes coolant or engine oil can get into the combustion chamber where it gets burned with the fuel – which is what makes all that smoke Landon was talking about.

He said his car was new, so it's likely that the head gasket failed because it was improperly installed – which is very rare. Sometimes they just burn through.

Engine overheating is a leading cause for blown head gaskets. Following the 's schedule for cooling system service is a great way for St George drivers to avoid overheating.

Replacing a head gasket is fairly expensive at St George auto repair shops. It's definitely worth investing in regular cooling system maintenance at Gene's OK Tire & Muffler to avoid that job. Ask your friendly and knowledgeable if it's time for a cooling system service at Gene's OK Tire & Muffler in St George.

Give us a call

Gene's OK Tire & Muffler

339 West St George Blvd

St George, UT 84770

435-673-4673 - 888-865-8473

www.genesoktire.com

www.genesoktireandmuffler.com

03/02/2016

Question:
My car has a bad odor when I run the heater or air conditioner. My friend said I might need a new cabin air filter – what's that?

Gene's OK Tire & Muffler Answer:
A cabin air filter is a special filter that cleans the air that comes into the St George drivers' passenger compartments – or cabin – of their vehicles.
Most new vehicles sold in UT now have a cabin air filter. A cabin air filter catches dust, pollen, spores and other pollutants before they can get into your cabin.
It's kind of like the filter on your furnace in your St George home, cleaning the air you breathe inside your vehicle.
As St George drivers can imagine, it eventually gets filled up and can even start to get smelly. So – you just have it replaced. Now some are really easy to access and others are tougher to get to. Your friendly and knowledgeable Gene's OK Tire & Muffler service advisor will be able to take care of it for you.
Your manufacturer's owner's manual likely has a recommendation for when to replace the cabin air filter. If you live and drive in UT where there is a lot of dust, pollen or pollution, the filter will fill up quicker. Of course, if you're getting a bad odor bring it to the attention of your friendly and knowledgeable Gene's OK Tire & Muffler professionals.
Give us a call
Gene's OK Tire & Muffler
339 West St George Blvd
St George, UT 84770
435-673-4673 - 888-865-8473
www.genesoktire.com
www.genesoktireandmuffler.com