Union Square - Somerville Community Blog

It's that time of year again: winter! With recent low temperatures dropping below zero, the bitter cold has officially set in. And as most New Englanders know, we have a long way to go!

Around this time of year, we consistently receive the same question from many of our customers: "How long should I warm up my car?" The answer? Not as long as you think. You see, vehicles needed to be warmed up for a considerable amount of time back when they had carburetors. Modern vehicles are all fuel-injected, so you don't have to warm them up for very long.

Our friends at the Car Care Council put it best: “Unless you are trying to defrost the windshield or warm the interior of your car, idling is not required for today’s vehicles,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “In most cases, idling longer than 30 seconds is unnecessary. The best way to warm up your car’s engine is to drive gently at the start. Remember, a vehicle gets zero miles per gallon when idling and the result is lower fuel economy and wasted money.”

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “When a car idles for more than 30 seconds, it has several negative effects, such as increasing air pollution unnecessarily, wasting fuel and money, and causing excessive wear or even damaging a car’s engine components, including cylinders, spark plugs, and the exhaust system. Contrary to popular belief, idling isn’t an effective way to warm up most car engines.”

That information comes as a surprise to most people. So, unless you've got a sheet of ice on your windshield, excessive idling isn't necessary and can do more damage than good.

At Mike's, you can always feel free to ask us anything about your vehicle. Remember, a little Boston auto repair talk can save you a whole lot of time - and money!

At Mike's, we get a lot people who come in because their car has a certain smell. They're always baffled by what the smell could be and if they should be concerned. As a qualified Somerville auto repair shop, we always figure it out. But you can now have a head start - our friends at the Car Care Council put together a neat infographic that that will provide some more insight on what that smell may actually be - and why you do need to be concerned.

Hopefully, with this information in hand, you'll have a better idea of what may be going on with your vehicle the next time a strange smell arises. Have you had any other funky smells that aren't on this list? Let us know - we'd love to hear what else is brewin' out there!  

Well, it's that time of year again - time for New Year's resolutions! At Mike's, we're urging our customers to include their vehicles when setting goals for 2014.

Our friends at the non-profit Car Care Council, explain why resolving to spend a little time on your car now, can lead to a great year ahead.

“Regular auto care shouldn’t be one of those New Year’s resolutions that goes by the wayside,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “Preventative vehicle maintenance pays off all year, every year.”

To be car care aware, the council recommends incorporating the following service interval schedule items as part of your New Year’s resolution:

• Perform monthly checks of tire pressure and the condition of tires, lights and windshield washer fluid. The vehicle should also be cleaned monthly.

• Every three months or per the owner’s manual, check the engine oil and filter, check the levels of other fluids including automatic transmission, power steering and brake, and check the battery and cables, belts and hoses. The exhaust and fuel filter should also be checked at this interval. 

• Every six months or 6,000 miles, the chassis lubrication should be checked and windshield wipers should be replaced.

• Every 12 months or 12,000 miles, the brakes, spark plugs, coolant and steering and suspension should be checked.

As a local Somerville auto repair shop, we're happy to pass on these tips. We hope you'll keep up this resolution a lot longer than the one you made for going to the gym!

Like most Boston auto repair shops, when you come to Mike's, you can expect to pay for diagnostics. Our friends at the Car Care Council put together a quick video explaining why paying for diagnostics is normal and essential.

At Mike's, we always answer any questions you have in regard to diagnostic services. And we always obtain customer approval before any work is performed on a vehicle - including diagnostics. That's just one more way we're different here at Mike's!

At Mike's, we get a lot of questions about why specific services need to be performed on a vehicle at certain mileage intervals. This video clip from the Car Care Council does a great job of explaining preventive maintenance:

So, if you're in ned of Boston auto repair, or have any questions regarding preventive maintenance, come into Mike's! We'll make sure you understand everything!

It seems to happen after the start of every new year: People come into Mike's and ask about preventative maintenance. They want to know what to do on a regular basis, in or to protect their cars.

Although each vehicle has its own manufacturer maintenance schedule, there are certain things for you to do in order keep your car in running smoothly. Our friends at the Car Care Council have put together a handy tip list of 13 actions for you to take:

1. Get regular oil changes since they are your best investment toward the longevity of the engine.
2. Get regular brake inspections which are the best way to ensure safe and reliable breaking and minimize the cost of repairs when break service is needed.
3. Make sure your gas cap is secure and tight. A loose gas cap can trigger the “Check Engine” or “service Engine Soon” light.
4. Ensure your tires are properly inflated. Proper tire inflation can improve gas mileage by more than 3 percent when maintained regularly.
5. Get regular alignment checks — they are your best way to maximize tire life and ensure that your car performs on the road as originally designed.
6. Get routine tune-ups and engine performance checks — they can be your best assurance of good performance and fuel economy. A healthy running engine maximizes the life of expensive emission system components.
7. Frequent washing and polishing is the best way to protect your car’s finish from the damaging effects of acid rain.
8. You should check the condition of the coolant each spring and fall to make sure the additives that protect against corrosion still function.
9. Have any suspicions of a leak checked out at once. Carbon monoxide from your car’s exhaust is odorless, colorless-and lethal.
10. Try to replace your car’s fuel filter every two years or 24,000 miles for best results.
11. During normal driving, you may not notice a light that isn’t working; inspect your car’s lights at every oil change.
12. You should test your battery every fall. If your car’s battery is three years old or more, consider replacing it since the chances of failure increase.
13. Improper ride height of your car can impact alignment angles and cause premature wear of some steering and suspension parts.

These tips make great sense. And of course, when you bring your car to Mike's, we'll have all of this taken care of for you! We continuously inspect and advise you on all of these items. 

So, whether you're a local person looking to keep your car in tip-top shape, or a company looking for vehicle fleet maintenance services - Mike's has got you covered!

Want to know more about what we can offer your fleet? Click the button below to get started!