Terre Haute Auto Repair

  Everyone knows to change your engine oil between 3,000 and 7500 miles depending on the manufacture’s recommended interval. What about your Transmission Fluid? What is the recommended service interval for transmission fluid? Some manufactures recommend 50,000 miles, some say 100,000 miles, some don’t list a recommendation at all.   Automatic transmissions have many mechanical moving parts, electronic solenoids, valve bodies, torque converter, and clutches that all wear out. Transmission fluid is the life blood to the transmission and its even red in color, just like blood. Transmission fluid becomes contaminated with clutch material and breaks down from heat caused by different driving conditions. When the transmission fluid becomes contaminated and broken down, it cannot lubricate moving hard parts properly, witch causes more wear and contamination.   Transmission replacement or rebuild costs can be upwards of $3,000.00.  Changing your transmission f ... read more

At Finzels Mastertech we get asked all the time, "Whats the best way to warm up my vehicle". Your vehicle will actually reach operating temperature faster by driving it verse letting it idle in the driveway. When your vehicles thermostat is working properly and your antifreeze protection level is set to -34' or a 50/50 mixture, your vehicles heating system works at its best. Your vehicle uses the heater core as a bypass, the warmest antifreeze is sent to the heater core. That means that until your vehicles engine temperature reaches 195', your heater doesn't work to its fullest potential. Driving the vehicle under a load gets the engine temp up quicker. Without the added load of driving, the extended idle time needed to get the engine to 195' just wastes fuel. Of course in extreme low temperatures its good to give it a few minutes (2-5) to get things loosened up, meaning hydraulic fluids like transmission fluid and power steering fluid. In cold ... read more

Synthetic Oil vs. Synthetic Blend, Which Oil Should  I Use? Years ago changing your engines oil was a pretty simple task, many of us might have even done it in the driveway. Just drain the oil, spin on a new filter and put some oil in, do it every 3 months or 3,000 miles and your all good. Today things have changed, conventional oil, synthetic oil, or synthetic blend? 0w20, 5w20, 0w30,5w30, 10w30, 0w40, 5w40, 10w40? What oil should you use?  Every vehicles engine calls for a specific oil type and oil weight. You should refer to the owners manual to find out what your vehicle calls for. Even though the oil cap says 5W30, is it supposed to be Full Synthetic? Synthetic Blend, or Conventional? The next question is, where is the Oil Filter?  The best answer for these questions is to take it to the trained professionals at Finzels Mastertech. Having your vehicle serviced  at Finzels Mastertech and at the right intervals will extend the ... read more