“You get what you pay for.” It’s about as tired a cliché as you’re likely to hear, but at the same time, it’s usually true.

Take your typical oil change, for instance. You always can find a shop advertising a cheaper oil change than our $35 version. But here at CARS, our oil changes are anything but typical. To better understand how and why our oil changes are truly better for you, let’s see how “ours” stack up against “theirs.”

First, let’s look at who’s actually doing the oil change. For your money, you’ll often get a minimally trained high schooler or recent graduate. The tech probably knows how to change the oil and sell an air filter, but s/he simply isn’t trained or experienced enough to detect a ball joint that’s about to fall off the car or a suspension problem that’s chewing up your $200-a-pop tires.

At CARS, a general service technician with a higher level of training performs every oil change and conducts a complete vehicle inspection (details below). And then, an ASE-Certified Master Technician reviews the oil change and the vehicle inspection details just to be sure everything is OK. Our pros possess the skills and experience to identify developing issues, and they know the difference between major and minor concerns—such as a fluid leak—that might confuse a rookie.

Second, the vehicle inspection you receive at most quick lubes is limited. This is a reflection of their business model, which is to focus on a few areas that they can inspect and upsell quickly while maintaining a level of profit. At CARS, our business model is to deliver comprehensive auto service, which is why we conduct a complete bumper-to-bumper inspection and a road test. (See for yourself: View our checklist vs. their checklist.)

Our inspection begins with a road test, during which we make sure your brakes, steering and suspension are performing solidly. Then, we put the car on the rack and inspect everything under the vehicle. We visually check for fluid leaks, evaluate your steering and suspension (in addition to the road test), and examine the brakes, tires, and exhaust system. Under the hood, we inspect for maintenance needs, worn belts and hoses, and for signs of any developing issues. We ensure all the lights work—brake lights, head lights, tail lights and turn signals—and we check all fluid levels. Tire pressure is inspected and corrected on all five tires. We even take on the extras, such as lubing door hinges,  securing loose license plates, tightening loose visors and mirrors, clearing debris from the air intake cowling and the air filter, and more—all at no charge.

One more important note: If your vehicle is low on a particular fluid or a tire is low on air, we don’t just fill them up and send you on your way. We look to see why it is low, and we discuss it with you. Think about the significance: Your teenager is leaving for college and pops into a traditional quick lube. They top off all the tires, but they don’t look for the source of the leak because they don’t sell tires. They don’t see the defect in the tire, and they send your college student merrily down the road. Now, imagine your child on the Pennsylvania turnpike at 2 a.m. The tire deflates, shreds and nearly causes a terrible accident.

Third, while many of our oil change competitors like to talk about convenience, we believe that’s all it is…talk. On the other hand, we offer convenient, no-appointment-necessary oil changes, plus free loaner cars, complimentary shuttle van rides, and vehicle pickup and drop-off for the times when you need more than a lube, oil and filter. If we discover a pressing repair need during your oil change, we can take care of it. There’s no need to go anywhere else.

Did you know? We can even help if you’re driving a vehicle under warranty: We’ll let you know if we detect any warranty repairs, and we’ll even take the vehicle to the dealer for you. You don’t need to worry about setting up a second service visit!

Now that we’ve discussed our superior service and attention to detail, let’s talk parts. Specifically, let’s look at the oil filter, which protects your engine from common contaminants like dirt, metal shavings, bugs, and more. However, not all oil filters are created equally. They actually come in several quality levels. CARS uses only high quality filters manufactured by Purolator and branded by Valvoline. Care to guess what you’re getting for a $9 or even a $19 oil change? Yep, the lower quality filters.

Lower quality filters simply can’t perform as effectively as the top-of-the-line versions. They aren’t as good at keeping debris from entering the engine and shortening its lifespan, and they don’t last as long as the better-built versions. (Learn more about the quality differences among oil filters.)

This can prove problematic for drivers who tend to let more than 3,000 miles slip by between oil changes. We know some of you prefer to extend your oil change intervals to 4,000, 5,000 miles or more. That’s OK, but then a quality oil filter becomes even more important for you.

You can see how a so-called “budget” filter can become a real budget-buster if it fails to do its job, leading to premature engine wear and costly repairs.

Finally, we want you to consider the reason any auto repair shop would offer a $9 or even a $19 oil change: They need the work, and they offer the discounted oil change as a loss leader, like the convenience store selling milk for $1.99. Whether your vehicle needs work or not is generally not the issue. They will be hungry to sell you something. Are you going to know whether you really need it?

We’ve done the math. We invite you to do the same. From the skill level of the technicians to the convenience offerings to the quality of the filter, we truly believe our oil change is the most cost-effective, long-term maintenance choice.

Postcard-worthy image plucked from May through August: Five big guys stuffed elbow-to-elbow inside an SUV, heading out on the biggest fishing trip of the year. The storage area is filled to the gills with fishing poles, tackle boxes, “grain-based liquid refreshment” and sandwiches. It’s definitely a tight squeeze.

Don't hope your air-conditioning system works when you need it most. "Keep your cool" with a thorough A/C inspection.

One more thing: It’s about 70 degrees outside, but for some reason, it feels more like 85 inside this vehicle. The driver cranks up the air conditioner and sets the fan speed to max. It’s now a windy 85 degrees.

The trout aren’t going to be the only ones on the hook if this situation persists: The man at the wheel will be lucky if he doesn’t get gaffed by his fellow sportsmen. Y’see, he neglected to pay heed to the warning signs earlier in the year that his A/C was nearly on the fritz.

Cool vs. coolant

Before we get into the nitty gritty, let’s dispel a common misconception: Engine coolant is in no way related to the A/C system. It’s an easy mistake to make given the word “cool” contained in “coolant.” But coolant is key to the cooling system, which prevents the engine from overheating and experiencing a meltdown. Coolant—a 50-50 mixture of water and antifreeze—carries heat away from the engine and into the radiator, where it is cooled by the passing air or the radiator fan.

The A/C system, on the other hand, uses a gas/refrigerant to cool your car’s cabin, occupants and cargo.

Hot time

During extremely hot days, the A/C system is pushing its limits working to keep your vehicle cool. This is evidenced by the system’s inability to cool your car as effectively on an excruciatingly hot day vs. a mildly hot day. Anything working at full capacity during extended periods will be prone to failure, and such hot-as-Hades temperatures can reveal previously dormant A/C system weaknesses.

Don’t wait until those oppressive summer days to gauge how well you’re A/C works. If you notice it’s not churning out ice cold air on a normal day, a small leak might be allowing refrigerant to escape. This should be checked out by your ASE-Certified CARS technician because, if the refrigerant becomes too low, the A/C compressor can’t kick on, essentially leaving your car with no cooling capacity.

In fact, we recommend an annual inspection to check that the condenser, which is mounted directly in front of the radiator, is not restricted with assorted debris.  If neglected, that debris may contribute to engine overheating.

Another piece of advice: Don’t be misguided by shops that offer to recharge you’re A/C and send you on your way. This action simply adds more refrigerant to a leaking system. Depending on the size of the leak, the A/C likely will work for awhile—a week or even a summer. Eventually, though, the refrigerant will become depleted and you’ll be smack dab in the middle of Hotsville, USA. A recharge might seem enticing from a dollars-and-cents point of view, but it really doesn’t make long-term sense. Plus, it’s rotten for the environment.

Winter woes

Think you can tough it out and survive the summer with compromised A/C? It’s a—pardon the pun—helluva way to spend the sunny months, but it also could jeopardize your safety when the weather turns cold.

That’s because the defroster engages part of the A/C system to function. If the A/C doesn’t work properly, you could be facing a permanently fogged-up windshield come December. The A/C compressor runs with the defroster to help dehumidify the car, resulting in the windows clearing faster. This activity also works to prevent leaks because “exercising” the system allows the sealing substance to remain soft and pliable.

So if it seemed like your car wasn’t cooling during our March heat wave, don’t be like that driving fisherman who found himself being used as bait. Have your system checked out now by CARS to ensure your A/C is A-OK when you really need it.

The warm weather that spring and summer bring means lots of great local activities, whether it’s strolls through the park, kids’ softball games, or tending to the lawn and garden.

Make this dream-like scene a reality: Get a warm-weather checkup.

These bucolic pursuits sure are relaxing, but sometimes you just gotta break free and hit the road. Let’s face it: The road trip is as American as apple pie. Despite torturous gas prices, people still long to experience the open highway. It’s a freedom-filled adventure, for sure. What doesn’t feel so free, though, is having your car conk out in Nowheresville, South Dakota, on the way to Mount Rushmore. It’s enough to make those giant carved presidential heads weep in sympathy.

There is one major step, however, to guard against your excursion turning into an agonizing expenditure featuring lots more images of Washington, Jefferson or Lincoln (in the form of ones, twos and fives.)

Bring that vacation-destined vehicle into CARS for an extensive pre-trip inspection. We’ll give it our bumper-to-bumper examination and let you know about any developing situations that might leave you stranded.

Plus, we’ll also review any issues that might be robbing your car of fuel economy and your wallet of crisp, green presidential portraits.

The Big 6
While we leave “no stone unturned” during our inspections, it’s a good idea for drivers to know and understand the six systems most prone to failure in hot weather:

• Cooling system. More likely to fail than any other mechanical system, typically due to neglect. Flushing is mandatory maintenance for this system because contaminated or sludgy coolant can’t properly cool the engine, leading to overheating.
• Car battery. Summer heat is a bigger killer of batteries than winter cold. Add vibration to the list, too, which can be countered by securely mounting batteries. Car batteries usually last 4 to 5 years. If yours is older than 3, get it tested by your ASE-Certified CARS technician, who’ll help determine how much life it has left.
• Ignition system. The insulation surrounding ignition wires and spark plugs often crack and weaken with age, allowing electrical current to stray from its intended path. This situation can lead to engine misfire, rough idling and acceleration hesitation. The problem is compounded by humid or rainy days, which makes it easier for current to stray.
• Tires. Under-inflated tires not only impair handling and braking, they’re prime candidates for highly hazardous blowouts. Hot road temperatures compound the problem.
• Air-conditioning system. Nobody wants to have a sunny day road trip ruined by sweltering cabin temperatures. The A/C system works super-hard to keep a car cool when it’s like an oven outside. If you’ve noticed that even normal-temp days are challenging your A/C, a small leak might be allowing refrigerant to escape.
• Fuel pump. Pumps put out plenty of heat all the time, which is exacerbated on those red-filled thermometer days. To combat this effect, keep your gas tank at least one-quarter full. When the tank dips below that level, not enough fuel is available to cool the pump. It’s also a smart idea to keep the tank as full as possible on vacations in case those directions aren’t quite accurate or you take a wrong turn at Albuquerque.

Last-minute details
The last-minute details are: DON’T WAIT TIL THE LAST MINUTE! (Ha, gotcha.)

Seriously, it’s best to schedule your pre-trip inspection at least a week—preferably two—in advance. Should a major concern arise or repair be required, it provides our technicians plenty of time to ensure a repair is completed before you head off into vacationland. Otherwise, you might face the not-so-relaxing choice of driving the vehicle in compromised condition, delaying your trip or driving an alternate vehicle.

You’ll also appreciate the extra lead time so you can test drive your vehicle near home following the repair. This helps ensure all systems truly are “go.” The best technicians can make an occasional mistake and the highest quality parts do fail once in awhile.

Safety. Peace of mind. CARS can help you achieve both during your time away.

Tinted windows aren’t just for young hoods or Mr. Big anymore.

That juvenile-delinquent or crime-syndicate stigma is fading fast when it comes to tinted windows … and for good reason. For starters, they can counter the sunlight’s damaging rays and ease the burden on your vehicle’s air-conditioning system.

Tinted windows can counter the sunlight’s damaging rays and ease the burden on a vehicle’s air conditioner.

With unseasonably warm weather dodging in and out of the forecast, there’s no better time to think about what some added shade could do for your vehicle when the mercury stays elevated in the coming weeks.

• Vehicles with tinted windows offer passengers increased coolness (temperature- and style-wise), by getting the car cabin to a comfortable temperature faster.
• Air-conditioning systems operate more efficiently because window tint blocks out a significant amount of sunlight-generated heat.
• Your eyes will feel a whole lot better due to reduced glare from sun, snow or other driver’s headlights. Plus, tinted windows help block damaging UV rays, which are linked to many health hazards.
• Interior fabric will be better protected from fading while leather surfaces will be more resistant to cracking.
• Tinted windows look cool.

CARS can make your car a star with our professional window-tinting service. Don’t let that hot sun do a number on your vehicle. Spend the summer in the “shade” by scheduling a window-tinting appointment today.