Yearly Archives: 2017

Considering an Alternative Fuel Vehicle in Maumee?

There is a clear and vocal demand in Maumee and nationally for a reduction in air pollution and our dependence on fossil fuels. This is what is driving the OH market for alternative fuel vehicles. There are a number of these vehicles on Maumee area roads today, and many more being developed. Yet each of these vehicles has its own advantages and disadvantages. Maumee auto owners should learn what these advantages and disadvantages are before running out and purchasing one of these alternative fuel vehicles at your nearest Maumee dealership.Maumee drivers should carefully research the vehicle care before buying an alternative fuel vehicle, as it may or may not coincide with the standards for gasoline vehicles. You should look at costs as well; these vehicles may help save our environment here in Maumee, but that might not represent a savings to your wallet. You'll need to decide what you can afford and what will work for your lifesty ... read more

Categories:

Automotive News

Regular Schedule or Severe Service Schedule at Lange`s Auto Care, Inc.?

Today's Lange`s Auto Care, Inc. article focuses on severe service maintenance. Many Maumee drivers are not aware of them and yet there are also very vocal advocates in OH who think that severe service schedules apply to everyone. Somewhere between a complete lack of awareness and the dire blanket statements lies a reasonable approach to severe service maintenance at Lange`s Auto Care, Inc..To back up a little, vehicle owner's manuals have schedules for preventive maintenance: things like oil changes, transmission service and so on. They say you should change your oil after a certain distanced traveled or after so many months. Maumee drivers understand this very well. What they may not know is that there are actually two service schedules: the regular schedule and the severe service schedule. The mileage and time intervals are lower on the severe service schedule.Now when you hear 'severe service,' you may think it doesn't apply to you because you ... read more

Categories:

Maintenance

Know Your Towing Limits in Maumee

Some Maumee drivers figure that anything they can attach to their trailer hitch can be towed by their vehicle. Nope. If you're going to do any towing around Maumee, you should be aware of safety issues, OH towing laws and potential liability.Understanding tow ratings is important for safe towing. A tow rating is the weight limit that your vehicle can safely tow. They calculate the tow rating for every vehicle, but different options on the vehicle can affect that rating. Maumee drivers need to read the towing section in their owner's manual to get the specific tow rating for the vehicle they own.Your trailer hitch also has a weight limit, and it may not match the tow rating for your vehicle. Your vehicle may be rated for 10,000 pounds (4,500 kg), but if you have a 2,000-pound (900 kg) hitch limit, you shouldn't be towing more than 2,000 pounds (900 kg). If you tow a 10,000-pound (4,500 kg) trailer on that hitch, it could break free and you would be liable for any resulting damages.Anoth ... read more

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Safety

Change Your Engine Air Filter at Lange`s Auto Care, Inc.

Many Maumee car owners have probably wondered: "What's the harm in putting off replacing an engine air filter? The answer is that not replacing it could cause your Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor to fail. This expensive sensor is situated between your engine air filter and your engine. Dirty air filters are a leading cause of mass air flow sensor failure – and these babies can cost several hundred dollars to replace in Maumee.Change your vehicle air filter at Lange`s Auto Care, Inc. when it's dirty. Your vehicle engine will thank you.Give us a call. Lange`s Auto Care, Inc.825 Ford St Suite AMaumee, OH 43537419-897-9988http://www.langesauto.com    

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Maintenance

Speak Up: Talking with Your Lange`s Auto Care, Inc. Service Advisor

About 80% of the vehicles on Maumee roads today are behind on their preventive maintenance schedules. That translates to about 160 million vehicles in the United States that aren't performing as well as they could be - thousands right here in OH. Some of the maintenance issues are minor. Others represent serious safety concerns. There are many reasons Maumee drivers neglect their routine car care. Some of the more common ones are complacency, lack of confidence, lack of trust and budget issues. Modern vehicles are amazingly reliable compared to their older counterparts. They can run for years without any repairs, and we sometimes translate that to mean they don't need any maintenance. The trouble is that without maintenance, parts in the vehicle are gradually wearing out, fluids are getting dirty, oil is developing sludge — a lot of stuff is happening that we can't see, and it is destroying the vehicle. The first time we learn there is a problem ... read more

Gear Up: Transmission Service at Lange`s Auto Care, Inc. in Maumee

The transmission system in your vehicle allows you to change gears. Lower gears are power gears. They get your vehicle moving and get it up hills. Higher gears get the vehicle up to speed and get it rolling faster. If you have a standard transmission, then you have to do the work of shifting gears yourself. But with an automatic transmission, the vehicle shifts gears on its own. It automatically starts out in low gear and automatically shifts to high gears as it gets rolling. Again, it will automatically shift to a lower gear to climb hills or when you need a burst of speed.How does it know when to change gears? Today's automatic transmissions are computer-controlled. The computer gathers information about what the vehicle is doing and changes the gears as needed.Automatic transmissions are becoming more sophisticated all the time. More gears, or “speeds,” are being added. Almost all vehicles have at least four speeds. Five or six is common. Some are even increasing to sev ... read more

Categories:

Transmission

Maumee Road Trip Preparation

People from Maumee, OH, love their cars. And nothing goes with cars better than a OH road trip. Freedom from daily schedules, new sights and the open road – it's great! But there's nothing like car trouble to bring the fun to a grinding halt.You can't always avoid problems, but you can take steps to reduce the probability of getting sidelined on your trip. Heading out on a OH road trip? Stop by Lange`s Auto Care, Inc. before you head out to make sure everything is in good repair. Let's look at some of the auto maintenance related problems you might encounter on a road trip in OH and what you might do to avoid them.The most common vehicle component to fail is the tires. Of course, you can't always avoid a road hazard that leads to a flat, but you may be able to head off some maintenance-connected tire problems.A good tire inspection at Lange`s Auto Care, Inc. will start with looking ... read more

Categories:

Inspection

OH: What Is the Risk of High Oil Change Intervals?

OH residents may have heard that vehicles don't need their oil changed as often as they used to. That's true. But it's not the whole story.Owing to improved engine technology and higher oil quality, most newer vehicles can go longer between oil changes than their older counterparts.So what is a good time interval for oil changes? How do OH residents know when to change it? And why do we change it in the first place?Oil lubricates a vehicle's engine, which protects it from friction damage. Over time the oil can collect dirt and contaminants that inhibit its performance. But dirty oil isn't the only problem for OH residents. What you really want to avoid is called oil sludge.Oil sludge is caused by moisture in the oil and by hot spots in your engine that burn off oil. This sludge is a gooey gel that can clog engine passageways, which can block lubricants from reaching vital engine parts. The result can be engine wear or even engine failure.Sludge forms rapidly in an engine that is driven ... read more

Categories:

Fluids

Lange`s Auto Care, Inc. Advice: Don't Overlook These 10 Automotive Services

Organization is the key to managing a busy life in OH. So setting up an annual calendar for vehicle care can keep Maumee residents on top of preventive maintenance. But you can't just write “oil change” every few months on the calendar. Modern vehicles have many systems that are vital to the safe operation of a vehicle, and they all need to be inspected. Maumee residents can't afford to overlook any of them.The following is a list of preventive maintenance services that are often overlooked by vehicle owners in the Maumee area. They are not presented in any particular order.1. Lange`s Auto Care, Inc. Power Steering Service. Moisture gradually builds up in your power steering fluid, which can lead to corrosion in your steering system. The fluid also gets dirty, which can gum up your steering system. The fluid needs to be replaced periodically.2. Lange`s Auto Care, Inc. Wheel Alignment. Wheels that are out of alignment will cau ... read more

Used Cars: Lange`s Auto Care, Inc. Advice on What to Do After You Buy

Used vehicles are certainly an economical choice for budget-conscious Maumee drivers. But how can we know we're getting a good used vehicle and not just inheriting someone else's problems?There are good used vehicles for sale in the Maumee area. Vehicles are sold when families upsize, when families downsize or even when someone just wants a new ride. So the used vehicle may be just fine. But some Maumee used vehicle owners sell them because they don't want to deal with developing or existing problems.When you're considering buying a used vehicle in Maumee, ask for service records. Check to see if the recommended schedules for preventive maintenance have been followed. If so, you probably have a great used vehicle on your hands. If there aren't any service records, then assume the worst.Check the vehicle for obvious signs of problems. Kick the tires if you want to but definitely check them for uneven tread wear. This can indicate alignment problems, worn ... read more

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Older Vehicles
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