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 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

Even if you don’t live in an area prone to snowfall, experts at Milex Complete Auto Care advise drivers to take some simple steps to prepare their car for dangerous icy roads.   Driving during heavy snowfall is problematic, but automobile experts agree that sleet and freezing rain can be more hazardous for drivers. While most of the United States does not record measurable snowfall, many states are susceptible to freezing rain and sleet. This is especially common in areas in the southeast where the coldest temperatures hover around the freezing mark.  That produces more icy conditions that significant snowfall.   Freezing rain is a dangerous weather condition. It can create black ice, a clear coating of ice on the roadways that is invisible to drivers. While snow plows can clear the roads of fluffy white snow, the only solution for black ice is to wait until temperatures warm up and melt the ice away. Freezing ra ... read more

Before you potentially hit the open road to visit family for Thanksgiving, Mr. Transmission and Milex Complete Auto Care have some tips to keep your family safe this holiday season.   As COVID-19 numbers spike throughout the United States, Americans are changing their typical Thanksgiving travel plans and creating new traditions. Many states are limiting the number of people allowed to gather in one place to help flatten the curve, and the Centers for Disease Control recommends families enjoy virtual Thanksgiving celebrations. If people do choose to celebrate with family, the CDC recommends eating outdoors, wearing masks, and frequent handwashing. The American Automobile Association estimates a decr ... 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

Caring for A Car Battery One of the most integral features of an automobile’s anatomy is the car battery. Simply put, without a battery, your car will not start, so it is important to keep your battery as healthy as possible. But you might have some questions about the battery inside your vehicle. What is the Lifespan of a Car Battery? While the lifespan of a battery truly varies from vehicle to vehicle, and is dependent on many outside factors, the average life of a car battery is approximately four years. The two main factors that cause excessive wear on a battery are volatile weather and poor driving habits. Excessive heat can cause the mixture of water and acid inside a vehicle battery to evaporate and cause harm to a battery’s internal components. This will result in a shorter lifespan for the battery. While you might not ... 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

Getting into the Groove with Winter Tires When purchasing new tires for your vehicle, it may be very tempting to just buy a set of quality all-season tires. Surely, they’ll work in all conditions, right? They literally have all-season in the name! What you might not realize, is that depending on where you live, owning two full sets of tires, both an “all-season” set, and a set of “winter” tires, may be very beneficial for your vehicle in the long run. What are Winter Tires? How do they Differ from All-Season Tires? There are several key differences between a winter tire and an all-season tire, the first of which is the rubber compound that the tire is made. As winter temperatures begin to dip below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, the rubber in an “all-season” tire begins to stiffen, which reduces overall grip on the road. Winter tires are made of a different rubber which can withstand colder temperatures, maintai ... 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

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