San Carlos Auto Repair

Oil changes and more in San Carlos.  For many years, the conventional wisdom has been to change your car's oil every 3,000 miles. This advice has been passed down through generations of drivers. But is this maintenance schedule still relevant today? No, you do not always need to change your oil every 3,000 miles. Advances in engine technology and oil formulations have extended oil change intervals for many vehicles to 5,000, 7,500, or even 10,000 miles. In this blog, we’ll debunk the 3,000-mile myth, explore modern oil change intervals, and provide tips for maintaining your vehicle’s health. If you're interested in scheduling an appointment with us, please visit our schedule page. The Origin of the 3,000-Mile Rule The 3,000-mile oil change rule originated in the mid-20th century when engines and oil formulations were less advanced. Frequent oil changes were necessary to keep engines running smoothly and to prevent buildup of sludge and contaminants. Howeve ... read more

Photo by Joshua Naidoo on Unsplash   Cracking the Code: Toyota's Codes Have you received diagnostic readers as gifts recently?    These tiny devices attach to your vehicle’s diagnostic system, allowing you to get the service codes behind warning lights on your dashboard. While they don’t have the range and depth of the sophisticated diagnostics we use at A+ Japanese Auto Repair, they can give a clue about what’s going wrong in your vehicle and where to proceed.    Understanding the problem is the beginning of finding an answer   It’s not enough to have the code. You will also need to understand what parts the code corresponds to and how the different codes in play wo ... read more

Whether it's a vehicle's first winter or fifteenth, it's important to properly prepare it to handle dropping temperatures and inclement weather. Here's a maintenance checklist to make sure cars are ready for winter. Test the Battery  Batteries expend more energy in cold, winter weather than they do during warmer months. A weak battery may die more quickly when temperatures drop. Before it gets too cold, drivers should consider testing the voltage of their car's battery and replacing it if necessary. Check Lighting Conditions When winter comes, most car owners take lower temperatures and other conditions into account. However, it's easy to forget that winter also means fewer daylight hours. Before the days begin to shorten, it's important to make sure that a vehicle's lights are in good shape, which means clearing up foggy or yellow lights and making any necessary repairs or replacements. Top Off Antifreeze Antifreeze keeps the engine from reac ... read more