As cold weather sets in, Milex Complete Auto Care recommends stocking your car with an emergency kit to keep you safe if you encounter car trouble. The return of La Niña for the third consecutive year is expected to bring mild temperatures in the southeastern part of the United States and stormier weather in the north. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association forecasts below-normal temperatures from the Pacific Northwest eastward to the western Great Lakes and the Alaska Panhandle, and wetter-than-average conditions for areas of the Ohio Valley, Great Lakes, northern Rockies, and Pacific Northwest. Winter Weather Affects Cars With a stormy winter on the horizon, drivers need to prepare for cold temperatures. Winter weather can do a number on your vehicle. When the temperature falls, the fluids in your car can thicken and hamper performance. Fluctuatin ... read more

Before you head out for your summer road trip, Milex Complete Auto Care recommends making sure your tires are ready to hit the pavement.   Prior to packing your bags and stocking up on road trip snacks, it’s important to make sure your tires are ready for the trip. The condition of your tires will impact your car's performance and safety. The experts at Milex Complete Auto Care compiled a checklist you can use to get your tires ready to travel.   All-Weather Tires. If you put snow tires on to provide traction during the winter months, replace them with all-season tires that will handle well during a summer downpour.   Tire Pressure. Check the PSI on your tires. As the temperature goes up, the PSI in your tires increases. For every 10-degree rise in temperature, the tire pressure goes up by one PSI. Over-inflated tires can cause blowouts or overheat.   Tread. Do a visual check of the tread on your t ... read more

Don’t be lured in by repair shops offering discount brake service. Getting a good brake job will extend the life of your vehicle and save you money on repair costs in the long run. While you want your car to run smoothly when you step on the gas, it’s just as important for your car to stop properly when you hit the brakes. The leading cause of car crashes in the United States is distracted driving and weather, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Safety Administration reported. However, about 22 percent of crashes caused by vehicle-related problems are due to faulty brakes. The experts at Milex Complete Auto Care recommend staying on top of brake maintenance to prevent unnecessary wear and tear on your vehicle and keep you safe on the roads. How Brakes Work The brakes function by absorbing energy from a moving system to stop motion. When you press on ... read more

If you have ever been driving around town and noticed the sensation of your car shaking, there are some steps you can take before making a pit stop at a repair shop.   Your car requires a lot of parts to run efficiently. A single car has more than 30,000 parts, and it’s normal for some parts to wear down over time. Regular maintenance is key to ensuring your car runs smoothly and gets you from Point A to Point B. Many experts recommend getting your vehicle serviced every six months but use the owner’s manual in your car as a guide, according to the American Automobile Association.   Shaking is often one of the first clues that your car requires attention. However, there are a wide variety of reasons your car could be shakin ... read more

Setting teens up for success by teaching them some common car repairs and safety precautions will help ensure young and inexperienced drivers stay safe on the roadways.   Parenting teenagers comes with its own unique set of challenges as young adults struggle to establish their identity and gain some independence. Teens are doing their best to manage expectations during the pandemic. They are coping with remote school, isolation and canceled sporting events. Despite this unique year, one of the biggest milestones for any teen is still getting their driver’s license.   The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration hosted National Teen Driver Safety Week the week of October 18 this year. Parents can be the biggest influencers on teens’ choices behind the wheel, NHTSA reports. As a result, th ... read more

Don’t Put Off Regular Maintenance Most of us have been guilty of at least one of the following while driving a vehicle: Driving past your recommended allotted mileage between tire rotations or oil changes. Having an indicator light illuminate your dashboard, hoping that it just goes away. Maybe there are unfamiliar sounds coming from your car or it doesn’t just feel right.  You feel you can hold off on any repairs when you get back out on the road more often or some of the current stay-at-home restrictions are lifted.  We get it. You will eventually get around to it because, relatively speaking, it doesn’t seem as important right now. While fewer people are on the roads these days, that may feel like another excuse to put off routine maintenance to your vehicle. You shouldn’t be waiting until “things get back to normal” in order to service your vehicle. By putting those things off, you a ... read more

What You Need to Know About Spark Plugs If you’ve ever spent any time around automobiles, you’ve likely heard the phrase “spark plug,” mentioned. No, this isn’t referring to a person with a fiesty attitude, it is actually a very integral piece of an automobile’s internal combustion system, that helps your vehicle start – and without one, it won’t start at all. While that is the most basic function of a spark plug, there is actually much more to know about how it works, its life span and when you know it is time for a replacement. What is a Spark Plug? A spark plug dates back to the mid 1800s, and has been credited to several inventors who created various versions of “spark ignition” in an internal combustion engine. At its mos ... read more

What Those Lights on Your Car Dashboard Mean Often, lights are a good thing. They can brighten a room and we often talk about the light at the end of the tunnel or shining light on a situation. But lights on your car’s dashboard often aren’t so comforting. They are helpful, of course, and it’s a good thing that car manufacturers have them there. But they’re definitely not to be ignored. When those lights turn on, it’s often a cry for help from your car, and a sign that something is amiss. We wanted to mention a few of the common lights that cars – especially newer ones – often have. Keep in mind that if all of your lights turn on, as you start your car, that’s normal. It’s when one of those lights stays on, that it can be problematic. Here are a few rules of the road. Think of those lights as traffic lights. The analogy almost works. If you see any icon light up on your car dashboard, and the co ... read more

Five Ways You Could Accidentally, Inadvertently Damage Your Car Routine maintenance or some standard problems with your car will lead you to bring in your vehicle at your local Milex Complete Auto Care or Mr. Transmission shop.  However, there will sometimes be some unexpected circumstances that require service that can be preventable. With our busy daily lives, we don’t always think about simple things we may be doing that can hurt the performance of our car.  Here are a few things to keep in mind and prevent an unnecessary trip into the shop for service. Driving near empty. Many people will wait to fill up on gas to when the needle hovers around “E,”. Maybe that is the sign that it is time for a refill.  Other times you may be too busy to stop, or the price at a certain station may be a few cents high.  Aside from taking ... read more

Something as simple as a penny can save you hundreds of dollars when it comes to keeping your car running smoothly. Keeping your tires in their best shape is a job that you can do hand-in-hand with your local Milex technician. Following these easy steps will ensure you get the most life out of your tires and your car. It will also help you get the most out of every gallon of gas. That’s right, your tires affect your gas mileage! If you are driving around on under-inflated tires, you are using more gas than you need. Not to mention, poorly maintained tires will wear out earlier than if you take proper care of them. You can get as much as an extra year of life out of your tires if you just know the best way to maintain them. Tire Pressure Once a month, check the pressure of all five of your tires. That’s right. Five! You should include the spare when doing the job. Wh ... read more