Turn around, don't drown. Venturing through flooded roadways with your vehicle is a gamble you don’t want to take. The force of floodwaters can be unexpectedly strong, with the power to shift heavy objects, from boulders to entire homes.   When you drive into a flooded area, you're putting yourself at risk of losing control of your vehicle. A mere six inches of swiftly flowing water has the strength to topple an adult, while a foot of water can sweep a small car off its wheels, according to the National Weather Service. At least 38% of the people who died in floodwater in 2022 were driving.   Floodwater can stall your engine, ruin your electrical system, and compromise your car's safety features. It can damage roadways and hamper your ability to navigate safely. In the worst-case scenario, you could find ... read more

Before you pack the car for your summer road trip, Mr. Transmission and Milex Complete Auto Care have some tips to help improve your car’s gas mileage, boost efficiency, and ensure a comfortable ride.   Half of Americans are slated to take a trip this summer, according to an online survey of nearly 2,600 adults by The Points Guy and Healthline Media. Of those likely to take a vacation this summer, 49 percent said they are interested in taking a road trip. Last summer, the American Automobile Association forecast that Americans would take 700 million trips as states slowly reopened following closures during the pandemic. As more people are vaccinated and COVID-19 numbers reach record lows, it is likely even m ... read more

What People Should Know About Brake Systems   Brakes are the unsung hero of the car. Stepping on the accelerator and moving down the road is the fun part and gets all the glory, but even more important is the ability to stop or slow down. Effective braking is something we take for granted—until it’s too late. Thankfully, brakes are good about giving warning signs when they are wearing, indicating that it’s time for a refresh. Understanding how different types of braking systems work is a good foundation for knowing when it’s time. Each braking system comprises different parts that work together to brake safely.   How Do Braking Systems Work? When you press the brake pedal, you activate a cylinder, which sends brake fluid to your brake calipers, to engage your brake pads. The brake pads apply pressure to your rotors. The resulting friction is what slows ... read more

The Effects Freezing Temperatures Have on Your Car’s Fluids Depending on the area of the country in which you live, winter weather and frigid temperatures have the potential to wreak havoc on your vehicle. We often think about the dangers of snow and ice on the road or any problems of starting the car in the cold.  But people don’t always consider the impact freezing temperatures have on their vehicle’s fluids. Here is some information to know about your car’s fluids and what to monitor during the coldest points of the winter. Regular Gasoline Fortunately, with gasoline, there’s an extremely high probability that your tank will not freeze solid. Due to its chemical makeup, gasoline has a significantly lower freezing point than water. Different fuels have different chemical balances, but the estimated point of freezing for gasoline is approximately  ... read more

August is Brake Safety Awareness Month, which is a great time to make sure your car’s brakes are in proper working order.  Although the issue of if your brakes are functioning correctly sounds like an easy question, there are several things to monitor when looking and listening for signs that perhaps you need new brakes. Are you seeing or hearing the following? Thin brake pads. You can actually tell by looking at your brakes if you likely are going to have problems. All you need is a ruler. If your brake pads are less than a quarter of an inch thick, you should replace them. Low brake fluids. If the brake fluid level in the master cylinder is low, you may have a problem. Another red flag that you probably need new breaks is if there’s a copper content of 2000 ppm or greater in your brake fluid. Scraping or grinding noises when you press down on the brakes. If you hear this, it’s time to get brake pads as soon as possible. If you don’t, you could do enou ... read more

Your brakes are one of the most important components of your car’s accident prevention systems. They are your first line of defense when it comes to avoiding collisions. This is why it’s so important to take good care of your car’s brakes by performing scheduled maintenance on them. August is Brake Safety Awareness Month, so we at Milex Complete Auto Care want to make sure you’re informed about the best way to monitor the condition of your brakes. Your brakes are made up of five components: the pads, rotors, calipers, lines and the master cylinder. Luckily, most of these parts usually last a long time; the parts that need the most routine maintenance tend to be the pads and rotors. Your brake fluid is what powers your brakes, by providing the force to stop your tires’ movement. During routine maintenance, the brake fluid, brake pads and rotors should all be checked. You can also check your brake fluid ... read more