Posts by dakotaridgeauto

Today’s vehicles have more electrical components and do-dads than ever before.  This really strains your electrical system, making it hard for the battery to keep up. Think about it: electric seats, seat heaters, power locks, windows and sunroofs.  And then we have all the power outlets for our cell phones, computers, and DVD players. We…

Simple Question: What is synthetic oil, and should I use it? Dakota Ridge Auto Answer: Regular oil, also called conventional oil, comes from dead dinosaurs. Conventional oil molecules are long hydrocarbon chains of various lengths. Imagine a bunch of pencils – some used and some brand new. Synthetic oil is often more highly refined petroleum-based…

Some new vehicle manufacturers are now recommending much higher oil change intervals than they have in the past. As much as 5,000 to 8,000 miles or more.  Following these recommendations is very important to avoid engine damage.  When you go too long between oil changes, oil starts to turn to sludge.  This causes small oil…

Sometimes you may notice a little steam or vapor coming out of your vehicle’s vents when running the air conditioning or heater.  Is this something about which you need to worry? The answer is it may or may not be troublesome. Sometimes it can be caused by water accumulating in the vent system after it…

Question When should I replace my windshield wipers? Answer Well, most people wait until they fail.  The problem with that is that you find out they have failed when you need them most – a little too late. Wiper blades are really an important safety system.  As you can imagine, 90% of our driving decisions…

Reports say that the median age for cars on the road is over nine years and that two-thirds have over 75,000 miles.  In recent years those numbers have continued to rise. Many people are keeping their vehicles longer.  The economy has influenced that, but the fact that modern cars and trucks are more durable and…

Big advances in automotive technology have led to the development of high-tech fluids to keep pace. A simple example of this is the cooling system. For decades it was primarily made out of iron, steel and rubber hoses. There was one kind of coolant that protected these components from corrosion. Now cooling system components are…

Most people don’t service their air conditioning until after it fails.  Maintaining your air conditioning system means that you always have enough refrigerant to properly do the job.  Small leaks in the air conditioning system allow the refrigerant to escape and the system can’t cool the air as well. Along with the refrigerant, a special…

Batteries are a huge part of modern life. Think of how many battery chargers you have. Of course, our purpose here is to talk about your car battery. When people come into Dakota Ridge Auto and need a new battery, they’re really not that happy about having to spend the money. But the fact is…

Question: What is a differential and why do I need to have it serviced? Answer: First – your vehicle does have a differential.  If it’s rear wheel drive, your differential is on the back.  If it’s front wheel drive, your differential is built into your transaxle (transmission).  If you have all wheel drive or four-wheel…