WNY Auto Service

by Dirk Gibson

Your car is a machine through and through. Sooner or later, it is going to need repairs to keep it up and running. Although you can do these yourself in some situations, most of us prefer to simply take our cars to a mechanic. Of course, first you have to find a good one.

You can open up the phone book or do a search online and find a ton of car mechanics in your area. The problem is figuring out who is good and who is not. There is no easy answer, but there are a couple of steps you can take that will lessen the risk of getting a bad mechanic Read the rest of this entry »

Q: Dear Doug, It seems that every time I visit the dealership’s service center, the mechanic suggests that I rotate and balance my tires. Is this really necessary? How often should this be done?

Maria S., Springville

A: Hi Maria,

This is a great question, Maria. Many dealership service centers automatically recommend this service, no matter your driving habits or Read the rest of this entry »

Q: Dear Doug,

Do I really need to change the oil in my car every 3 months or 3,000 miles or is this just a scam to get me to spend more money than necessary?

Lynn, Springville, NY

A: Hi Lynn, Keeping your car properly lubricated is one of the most important things you can do to extend the life of your engine. That being said, many of today’s vehicles are engineered so that they can go much longer than Read the rest of this entry »

Q: Dear Doug, I’ve heard a lot about synthetic oil. Is that better for my truck?

George A., East Concord

A: Hi George, All motor oils are made up of base oils and additives. In general, a synthetic oil is comprised of various additives and substances that improve performance, keep the engine clean, reduce friction, flow through the engine easier, prevent rust, and better maintain viscosity than traditional oils. For the best performance Read the rest of this entry »