Automotive Advantage - NAPA AutoCare Center

Engine oil not only lubricates the moving parts within your engine, it also acts as a cooling agent and carries dirt and foreign particles away from the critical components then back to the oil filter.Over time oil "breaks down" and gradually loses its protection value. Running old oil in your vehicle can cause premature engine wear and in some cases severe engine damage. The oil filter should also be changed with your oil to ensure that the engine is receiving an adequate amount of oil and is protected from debris. Oil changes are simply the easiest, most cost effective way to keep your engine in good running condition for years to come.
We recommend having your oil and oil filter changed every 3 months or 3000 miles which ever comes first. At our facility this procedure is performed by a certified technician and includes the removal and replacement of the engine oil and filter as well as an inspection of the fluid levels and tire pressure of your vehicle.

Use only premium motor oil. We use Valvoline.

Don't judge a book by it's cover! Many of those "quick" oil change establishments use oil filters that look fine from the outside, but are lacking much on the inside where all of the work gets done. Make sure the oil filter that is used on your vehicle is original equipment quality. See our display for a graphic example of the difference in quality.

Your cost from $24.95 most vehicles. 4 wheel drive from $27.95 both up to 5 quarts.
Ask About Our Car Care Club Maintenance Package!

Drain & Fill Cooling System Every 2 Years, Or 30,000 Miles, Whichever Comes First

Reason: Antifreeze turns to an acid base as it breaks down, which produces an electrical charge in the cooling system. This eats away at the aluminum surfaces of the intake manifold or cylinder head. This in turn gives you premature head gasket and intake gasket failures. It also can clog radiator and heater core.

Your cost for this service starting at $49.95 with up to two gallons of antifreeze.

Transmission Service Every 30,000 - 35,000 Miles

Transmission filter: Transmission filters ensure that clean fluid is running through the transmission assembly. Over time the filter becomes full of debris and is less effective protecting your transmission.
Fluid replacement: Over time, transmission fluid breaks down and turns to an acid base, which eats away and hardens the rubber seals and o-rings in the transmission and valve body. When these o-rings get hard, especially in cold mornings, you lose fluid pressure to the clutches, which tend to slip and burn. This causes premature transmission burn out. By keeping the fluid clean, most transmissions can go 200,000 miles or more. Most transmission systems hold 12 to 18 quarts of fluid. When you do a traditional service you only get 4 to 6 quarts out of the transmission pan. This is why we run up to 20 (sometimes more) quarts through the system, to get all the fluid out. This helps keeps clutches from chattering and slipping and also keeps seals pliable.

Your cost for this service starting at $129.95 with up to 20 quarts of fluid.

Standard transmissions should be drained and filled every 30,000 to 40,000 miles

Your cost for this service starting at $39.95 with up to three quarts of fluid.

Annual Brake System Inspection

The brake system on your vehicle is the single most important safety system on your car (nobody really wants that airbag to come flying at them, do they?). At Automotive Advantage, Our ASE-certified Technicians will remove all four wheels, dissassemble the brakes to thoroughly inspect all of the brake components on your car or light truck. Things like rotted rubber brake hoses, mechanisms that are not moving as they should and corroded steel brake lines are often overlooked by many of the "discount" garages.

Your cost for this service starting at $49.95

Flush Brake Fluid Every 30,000 Miles

Especially if equipped with antilock brakes. Some ABS (Anti-lock Brake System) units are over $1500.00. One of the reasons they fail is that brake fluid absorbs moisture (water) which deteriorates the electric solenoids in the ABS system along with wheel cylinders and calipers. When brake fluid gets hot the water in the system boils and creates an air pocket which gives you a low brake pedal and reduced braking.

Your cost for this service starting at $49.95

Power Steering Fluid

If you want your steering rack to last longer, especially GM vehicles, flush the system every 30,000 miles. This will help keep the power steering pump and steering rack in good shape. These also have rubber o rings just like transmissions. Approximate cost of a remanufactured steering rack is $200.00 to $400.00 and more + labor of up to 5 hours, depending on the vehicle. Also an alignment needs to be performed when done.

Your cost for this service starting at $54.95

Drain & Fill Differentials Every 30,000 - 40,000 Miles

Including transfer case of 4-wheel drives. This will help eliminate condensation and get rid of metal particles floating in the oil which ruins the bearings and seals.

Your cost for this service starting at $39.95 with up to three quarts of fluid.

Replace Fuel Filter Every 15,000 - 30,000 Miles

Clogged fuel filters can prematurely burn out fuel pumps and can cause many other less noticeable driveability problems.
Fuel filter prices vary by vehicle (from $8.00 to $45.00 + labor). Pumps, (from $100.00 to $400.00 + labor). At that price it is easy to see why replacing fuel filter is important. Also note, try not to run fuel under 1/4 of a tank. Most pumps are mounted inside the gas tank and run cooler with fuel above 1/4 tank. This also helps to extend the life of your fuel pump. This also helps keep the screens in the injector(s) clean. Feel free to call us for the explanation of this.

Tuneup At 30,000 - 60,000 Miles

Don't be misled by the "$49.95 tune up specials". Most vehicles do not need spark plugs until 30,000 to 60,000 miles depending on the type of plugs used from the factory. At 30,000 the ASEcertified Technicians at Automotive Advantage will perform a throttle body cleaning, inspect spark plugs and replace if needed, replace pcv valve and air filter also if needed. They will inspect the distributor cap, rotor and ignition wires as equipped, test the computer system for any codes that might be present, adjust timing if applicable and set idle to specification.
The oxygen (02) sensor is a sensor which the computer uses for fuel trim. (economy).It keeps the fuel to air mixture in balance to make the burn more efficient without letting it go to the point of being too hot.
(More fuel = cooler combustion = more emissions = poor economy) We also test your oxygen (O2) sensor performance. We test these with a lab scope. We recommend replacment at 60,000 miles, the sensor may still work but switch way too slow around this mileage. This effects fuel economy and performance. This will also help keep your catalytic converter from overheating and burning up prematurely.

The MotorVac Process

In a three-segment process, MotorVac will perform a diagnosis of a fuel system and clean all parts of a vehicle's air intake, fuel and exhaust system from the inside out, from throttle plate to catalytic converter. The service RESTORES NEW VEHICLE PERFORMANCE, FUEL ECONOMY, AND WILL HELP CARS AND TRUCKS MEET STRINGENT EPA EMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS.

First Step: Fuel Rail Flush, This first step is critical. Many people are unaware that injectors have tiny screens on the top that trap dirt. Single line injector cleaners and fuel additives just move the dirt around as opposed to a MotorVac CarbonClean System that removes the contaminants and filters it out. With the engine off this cleaning removes the gum, varnish, olefins, wax, and dirt from inside the fuel rail, including the tiny screens inside the tops of the injectors, and cleans the fuel pressure regulator.

Step Two: Intake Plenum Cleaning & Soak, Also done with the engine off, this step of the process cleans the intake runners, throttle plate area, idle by-pass, and allows detergent to soak while the fuel rail flush is being performed.

Step Three: Fuel Delivery & Combustion Chamber Cleaning, With the engine running, detergent is now being sent through the injectors (or carburetor) where the pintles are being cleaned. The detergent then enters the combustion chamber where it de-carbonizes the intake valves, rings, and pistons. Unlike flammable solvents, much of the detergent survives combustion and therefore continues to clean down stream to the O2 sensor and catalytic converter.

Your cost for this service starting at $119.95 with a MONEY BACK GUARANTEE!

At 60,000 miles

We recommend top cylinder carbon cleaning and throttle body cleaning ( MotorVac service). Remove and test EGR valve (exhaust gas recirculation valve) and clean carbon from passageway and valve. This helps eliminate engine ping or knock, improves fuel mileage substantially and helps eliminate a lean running engine, which can cause severe damage and also can improve power and performance of an engine.

Your cost for this service starting at $149.00 depending on model.

Also At 60,000 Miles

We suggest replacing ignition wires due to high resistance which burn out ignition coils. (especially GM cars. Cost of coils around $88.00 each x 3 in a 6 cylinder car plus labor) On a GM vehicle we would suggest replacing the wires closer to 50,000.
Flush cooling system and replace thermostat. Average cost $8.50 to 13.50 for a thermostat and gasket plus $32.50 to $50.00 labor most cars and trucks. Reason: Thermostats can go bad with no tell tale sign. Sometimes they stick open or open to soon. The computer looks at engine temperature. If the temperature is too low the computer will keep the engine running richer than it should. The computer thinks the engine is still cold. This dilutes oil and carbons engine and adds to the clogging of the catalytic converter all prematurely. It also effects automatic transmission. The transmission has a lock-up clutch that won't engage if engine temperature is under 170 degrees for most vehicles. Also some overdrives won't shift into 4th gear. The other reason is if the thermostat doesn't open you overheat. Which, by the time you realize it, it may be too late.
Repack wheel bearings where applicable every 30,000 to 40,000 depending on vehicle. Adjust rear brakes and clean the linings. Rear drum brakes should last 80,000 or more miles if adjusted properly. Proper adjustment in the rear brakes can make the front disc brakes last longer too.

Prices quoted here are approximate only and are subject to change without notice.

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