The air filter in your car is a key component of the supply system of your car. As the vehicle’s lungs, it prevents impurities from entering the engine and provides a steady flow of clean air. But when should you change the air filter? And why?

Why do you have to replace the air filter in your car?

When the air filter in your car gets clogged or worn out, this affects the quality and quantity of the air going into your engine. The dirty air obstructs the combustion chambers and prevents proper fuel combustion. The engine has to work harder, which leads to a decrease in gas mileage and engine performance. Just as your lungs can get clogged up from pollutants in the air, your car’s engine suffers when the air it “breathes” isn’t clean. That’s why changing the air filter is so important.

An air filter in poor condition causes the internal ducts of the engine to deteriorate, which affects how fast your car can go, in addition to making your exhaust smoke blacker and thicker. This could result in you having a series of problems on your hands: excessive fuel consumption, harmful emissions, even engine failure.

Your car has two air filters: one for the engine and another for the cabin. It’s important to change both of them regularly—both for engine performance and your own health. You don’t want your engine (or your body) absorbing air that’s full of dust and debris.

Have you ever wondered what you’re inhaling when you drive? If, like most people, you spend several hours behind the wheel every day, the air quality inside your car isn’t something to be taken lightly. Without a clean and functional cabin air filter, you could be breathing in all kinds of unwelcome particles: dust, pollen, mould spores, bacteria and even volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Why not spare yourself all of that?

How often should you change the air filter in your car?

You should change your air filter every 20,000 km or once a year. But if you’re driving mostly on city streets or dusty roads, it’s a good idea to change the air filter in your car more often, or to at least inspect it regularly. A quick cleaning to clear out the built-up particles is part of the recommended maintenance of your car: simply blow them out with an air compressor or a give the filter a quick vacuuming, and you’re good to go.

Neglecting to change your air filter could cause serious damage to your engine, so you’re better off replacing it frequently. In fact, you should follow the maintenance schedule for your vehicle to the letter. This way, you can rest—and drive—a little easier.

Tips for knowing when to change your car’s air filter

Do you sense a lack of power and consistency when you accelerate? Is the smoke that comes out of your tailpipe dense and black? Does your engine skip and slow down unevenly? Does your car’s fuel level seem to drop right before your eyes? These are all signs that it’s time to change your car’s air filter.

Just like changing your oil, changing your air filter is one of the car maintenance tasks that you can easily do yourself. Check your owner’s manual and be sure to use an original brand filter. And make sure you don’t throw out your old filter! Your mechanic can recycle it. Running short on time and don’t want to do the auto air filter replacement yourself? Your dealer will happily do it for you.

Whether it’s to change your car’s air filter or tend to any other car maintenance task, you can always count on your Ok Tire.

Running a car through a car wash might wash the dirt off of it, but it doesn’t keep the car in pristine condition like a thorough detail. Unlike a car wash, detailing not only keeps a car clean, but it also protects a car’s paint and interior, so they’re not as vulnerable to natural elements and to use. Detailing is important because it extends the life of a vehicle and helps it maintain its maximum resale value. Regular professional detailing will help customers enjoy their cars, add value to their cars, and save money in the long-term.

• Customer Satisfaction – Who doesn’t love driving a new, shiny car? Cars are one of our biggest investments and expenses, so many people want to take good care of them. 
• Saves Money – While it obviously costs money to get a car detailed, doing it regularly will actually save car owners money in the long run. More people are driving their cars longer, and regular maintenance is very important to keeping a car on the road. Once someone is ready to sell their car, a clean and well-maintained car will always have more value.
• Safety and Wellness – A clean car removes dust and any other hazardous particles which protects drivers and riders from allergies and other sickness. Clean glass on the windshield, windows, and mirrors helps drivers see better and avoid accidents. 

But What is Car Detailing?

Professional car detailing is the art and the craft of cleaning and restoring a vehicle to like-new condition. Car detailing services are much more precise and labor-intensive than getting a car wash. A car wash is normally an automated system that a car passes through to clean the exterior. Professional auto detailing is always done by hand, and includes exterior and interior car detailing services. 

What Car Detailing Services are Included in Professional Car Detailing?

While anyone can detail a car by cleaning the inside and outside as best as they can, a professional detail is done by an experienced detailer with the right techniques and high quality products.

Often, professional detailers set up packages and pricing in advance for the services that they want to offer. Many use a business management app like Mobile Tech RX to keep track of their packages, pricing, estimates, and invoices. You can try the app completely free – it will help you set up your customer database (CRM), your price list, branded invoices, your bookkeeping (through QuickBooks), payment processing, marketing, and more.

Here are common car detailing services that professional detailers typically include in their packages:

Exterior Car Cleaning

• Exterior wash and dry – This washing and drying process is done by hand. The detailer will spray and wipe down the body of the car with specialized products. This includes hand washing the rims, door handles, and glass.
• Polishing – Polishing buffs an abrasive compound onto the car’s paint to remove small layers of clear coat. This makes small scratches and swirls in the paint disappear. 
• Sealing or Waxing – To give the car a glossy shine and to add a protective layer to the car’s paint, a sealant is applied. In some cases, wax can be used.

Other exterior services that can be added include trim repainting, engine detailing, headlight polishing, engine pressure cleaning, bumper repair, glass chip repair and paint touch up.

Interior Car Cleaning

• Vacuuming – Seats, carpets and mats, headliner, rear cargo area, and trunk are vacuumed to clean debris.
• Scrubbing and Brushing – This is done to remove stains on floor carpets and mats
• Steam Cleaning – Steam cleaning is a more effective method of removing tough stains in carpets and seats.
• Glass Cleaning – Cleaning the windshield and windows. 
• Leather Trimming – A leather cleaner and soap are used to clean any leather parts in the vehicle. 
• Perfuming – Many detailers spray a deodorant into the interior of a car to leave the car smelling clean and new.

Aftermarket Parts for your repair or scheduled maintenance

Improving a pre-existing product invites competition resulting in greater consumer selection. With this increased range of choices, the price of the product may decrease, and the availability increases. This means when you need a part you have more options available in stock and at a lower cost. As trained professionals, OK Tire technicians are skilled at working with both OEM and aftermarket parts on all makes and models of vehicles. Ask your Service Advisor if you have questions regarding the parts used on your vehicle during your repair or maintenance work.

The Concept of Parts Unknown

The idea of parts unknown or strictly using parts provided by your vehicle’s manufacturer is not necessarily relevant to aftermarket parts. Most manufacturers either buy or produce the same parts purchased by Aftermarket Service Providers. Working with an Aftermarket Service Provider ensures that you receive the best part for your vehicle, not simply the part someone else wants to sell you.

Car maintenance can’t be overlooked, that’s why it’s hard to completely list all the benefits. Here are six reasons why preventive maintenance is important to keep your vehicle running smoothly, giving you peace of mind.  

Increase Safety

The more you maintain your car, the more safe you will be on the road. This will prevent parts from breaking and larger problems from occurring. By constantly maintaining your car and checking the systems that might malfunction, you will eliminate the risk of dealing with a malfunctioning vehicle.  

Keeps Car Performing at it’s Best

Aside from increasing safety, regular maintenance will also enhance your car’s performance. You can get better traction on your tires, more stable steering, and even more reliable engine starters. Those things are possible with routine maintenance. 

Saves You Money

By taking care of your car regularly, you will avoid larger, more costly problems. Is it better to spend a little more now to keep your car healthy or a lot more later in life because you missed a key service? The smartest way to save money is to book appointments for preventive maintenance at least twice an year.

Lower The Cost of Fuel

Maintaining your car properly will prevent it from wasting any fuel. However, if you skip one of the key services, you might decrease your gas mileage substantially. This means you will have to fill up your gas tank more often, wasting your time and money. 

Saves You Time

By staying on top of your maintenance schedule, you will be preventing larger issues which could keep your car from running. In the event that you experience a major auto repair problem, you might not be able to drive your car for some time. As a result, it is not only very inconvenient to do anything, but you also waste a lot of time which could be spent doing something you actually enjoy.  

Keeps Car Value

It is important to keep up with your vehicle’s maintenance if you plan to sell it soon or in the distant future. This will not only make driving your car a pleasant experience, but your car will also maintain its value. You will get more money if you take the time to prepare before you sell your car.

The simplest and most economical way of protecting the original investment is through preventive maintenance. Some examples of things you can do to maintain your vehicles include:

• Regular tune-ups
• Oil changes
• Checking fluid levels
• Inspecting brakes
• Monitoring tire treads and pressure
• Examining lights, signals, and wipers

A certified technician can handle all your maintenance needs. Ok Tire has experts who are ready to assist you and willing to explain everything you need to know about your vehicle. We will provide you with the information you need to repair your vehicle and keep it running for many years to come.  

Need an Inspection to see if you need any maintenance? Contact Us Below!

In the event your vehicle’s TPMS is activated, an indicator light will become illuminated on your dashboard, and possibly even chime to alert your attention. When this occurs, it is vital to have your TMPS diagnosed for any possible service/maintenance.

Many factors affect the air pressure of a tire; driving conditions, weight/towing, weather, and the age of the tire/valve stem/TPMS system itself. Tires may naturally leak air throughout the year, which is why it is important to check their pressure monthly to ensure the current inflation matches the specifications of your vehicle. Improperly maintained tires and TPMS could result in some detrimental effects on your vehicle’s performance and overall safety such as; irregular tire wear, possible tire failure, reduced fuel economy and decreased handling characteristics of your vehicle.

Tires are the only point of contact your vehicle has with the road. Therefore they are a fundamental part of your vehicle’s comfort and safety systems. Properly mounted and balanced tire and wheel assemblies will ensure you receive the maximum comfort, tread life, and security that quality tires can deliver. They are much more than “round, black and hold air”; Tires are an integral part of vehicle safety!

Visit your local OK Tire Store for all your Tire & TPMS needs.

Tire Pressure

Studies have shown that up to 70% of vehicles on the road today have one or more underinflated tires, which can increase your fuel consumption by 4 to 8%.

Wheel Alignment & Balance

Wheels not properly aligned “drag” along the road instead of rolling smoothly. This can cause accelerated tire wear and an increase in fuel consumption of up to 25%.

Air induction system

A dirty air filter can increase fuel consumption by 2% or more and decrease the airflow available to your engine, causing an increase in environmentally harmful emissions. Using quality fuels with cleaning additives also helps, but does not replace a thorough, professional cleaning of the complete air induction system.

Gas Caps

17% of vehicles on the road today have loose, damaged or missing gas caps. This causes 556 million litres of fuel to vaporize into the atmosphere annually in North America. Fuel evaporation is one of the leading causes of hydrocarbon emissions. Topping off your gas tank can also cause unwanted emissions; never fill the tank past where the gas pump automatically shuts off.

Tune-up / Engine Management

Have your vehicle’s ignition and emission systems checked regularly for faults, and always follow the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended replacement intervals for all of these system components. A properly tuned vehicle can increase fuel economy by 6 to 13%.

Fuel and oil leaks

Don’t ignore a fuel or oil leak. Fossil fuel evaporation is one of the primary causes of ozone-depleting VOC’s and Hydrocarbons.

Don’t ignore a warning light

Today’s vehicles have very sophisticated engine management systems capable of making thousands of corrections per second to keep all systems operating in their optimum range. In some cases they can also compensate for a failure in one part of the system; this usually triggers a warning light to the driver even though the vehicle seems to be operating normally. Your vehicle’s onboard computer is telling you there is a problem and is trying to compensate for it! Have your vehicle inspected as soon as possible to identify the problem and correct it.

Cooling systems

Today’s engines run at much higher temperatures than before. Ignoring maintenance of your vehicle’s cooling system can allow the engine to run too hot, causing the right environment for Nitrous Oxide (NOX) emissions. Potentially severe engine damage can also occur from a cooling system failure with little warning, leaving you stranded.

Change your oil regularly!

Engine oil traps and holds acids, sludge and 19 other harmful by-products created by your engine in addition to lubricating and cooling all of its moving parts. Follow your vehicle’s oil change interval; it is its lifeblood!

Engine efficiency and emission levels go hand-in-hand with today’s modern vehicles. Improved engine designs, computerized engine management and controlled fuel metering all contribute to reducing the hazardous substances that our cars emit into our atmosphere. These improvements also provide reliable power, economy, and performance.

Numerous advanced technologies are present in your vehicle to actively reduce the number of harmful emissions leaving through the exhaust of your engine. Secondary air injection, EGR valves, and catalytic converters all play a significant role in reducing the levels of harmful toxins. Having a properly functioning fuel delivery system helps to keep your engine run cleanly and efficiently.

Dirty fuel injectors and other fuel system components can cause numerous problems for the performance of your engine. These include a lean fuel mixture, misfires, rough idle, higher carbon emissions (bad for the environment) and poor fuel economy.

One of the most critical components for controlling exhaust emissions is the oxygen sensor. The oxygen sensor measures the amount of oxygen present in your vehicle’s exhaust and sends a signal to your vehicle’s engine management system. The onboard computer can then adjust the air/fuel mixture to ensure optimum performance with the lowest emissions. Worn oxygen sensors do not operate to their full capacity and therefore send the wrong signal to the onboard computer system. Neglected sensors can cause serious and expensive damage to your vehicle’s catalytic converter along with poor emissions and fuel economy. Most manufacturers recommend replacement anywhere between 50,000-90,000kms.

A properly maintained vehicle not only runs better but is also more fuel-efficient thereby saving you money and reduce harm to the environment. Regularly scheduled maintenance combined with diagnostic and emission control testing will help prevent early component failure, ensuring that your engine runs to the manufacturer’s specifications.

The steering and suspension systems of a vehicle are not only an essential component of the safety triangle of your wheel assembly, (namely the Tires, Brakes, and Suspension)but add considerably to the overall driving enjoyment of your vehicle.

Improvements related to increased strength and durability of elements and advances in tire design and construction have made substantial contributions to riding comfort and to safe driving in recent years.

Today, there are two basic types of steering systems:

1) Standard mechanical (reciprocating ball) steering: Standard mechanical steering uses a series of links and arms to ensure both wheels turn in the same direction at the same time. It has not changed much over the years, and its principles are quite simple

2) Rack and pinion steering. The standard mechanical steering can be either power-assisted or non-power. Rack and pinion is almost always power-assisted and combines the steering box and center link into one unit. The steering wheel, through the steering column, is directly connected to the rack except in some of the modern vehicles they are drive by wire an electrical motor is located on the rack and is sent signals from a sensor located in the steering column. Inside the steering rack is a pinion assembly that moves a toothed piston, which in turn moves the steering gear.

The essential functions of a vehicle’s suspension system:

Maintain correct vehicle ride height

• Reduce the effect of shock forces
  
• Maintain proper wheel alignment
  
• Support vehicle weight
  
• Keep the tires in contact with the road
  

However, for this to happen, all of the suspension components, both front, and rear, must be in good working condition.​

Update your vehicle with a full range of car and truck accessories available at OK Tire.
For the sporting enthusiast, OK Tire offers quality ski racks, quick-mount canopies, and hitch baskets. For the family vehicle, ask about new floor mats or DVD players. Alternatively, if you are looking to make your vehicle stand out, ask your OK Tire Specialist about grilles, light bars and diesel engine cold air kits.

The Accessory Specialists at OK Tire are passionate about their vehicles and will help you every step of the way to ensure that you get the look and functionality that best suits your needs and desires.

Favorite automotive accessories include:

• Detailing supplies
• WeatherTech® Acrylic rain deflectors
• Custom wheels
• DVD Players
• Acrylic capped ABS Hood Deflectors

Popular vehicle enhancements include:

• Diesel engine kits
• Shocks and struts
• Painted callipers
• Trailer hitches
• Tonneau covers