AUTONET TV

Battery Replacement at Hans Imports in North Kingstown

Hello, welcome to Hans Imports. Today's focus is batteries. It seems like everything in North Kingstown runs on batteries. Of course, the batteries we're most concerned with here at Hans Imports are those in our customer's vehicles. Just like the batteries in our smoke detectors or TV remote, they wear out and need to be replaced . This can be thought of as the power output used to start a cold vehicle engine. The number of cold cranking amps you need depends on your vehicle and where you live in RI, specifically how cold it is. (Many North Kingstown drivers have first-hand experience trying to start their car on a cold winter morning.) The two factors are that the colder your vehicle's engine is, the more power it takes to turn the engine over to get it started. It has all that cold, sluggish oil to contend with.

The other factor is that the chemical reaction in the battery that creates electrical energy is less efficient when the temperature dips. Let's say it's 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27 degrees C) in North Kingstown. At that temperature, 100% of the battery's power is available. At freezing, only 65% of battery power is available, but it requires 155% as much power to start the engine as it did at 80 degrees F (27 degrees C).

As you can see, the colder it gets, more power is needed, but the available power drops.

So if you live where it's cold in RI, you need a battery with more cold cranking amps than you do where it's moderate or hot. The battery that originally came with your vehicle was based on averages. At Hans Imports, we like to remind North Kingstown drivers that they should always get at least as many cold cranking amps as their vehicle manufacturer recommends but may want to upgrade if they live where it gets real cold.

Hans Imports
7275 Post Rd
North Kingstown, RI 02852
(401) 295-7785
www.hansimports.net

Fuel Saving Tip: Fuel System Cleaning Near North Kingstown, RI

A lot of fuel is wasted in the North Kingstown area by dirty fuel delivery systems in vehicles.

Let's start at the tank. The gas tank gathers dirt, rust and sediment over the years. That's why there's a fuel filter to clean the fuel after it leaves the tank. A dirty filter will rob the engine of the clean gas it needs to run efficiently.

The fuel intake components get coated with gum and varnish over time. This results in fuel being delivered inefficiently and some of that gunk getting into the engine. A fuel system service at Hans Imports will leave your intake components as clean as a whistle.

The big fuel thief is dirty fuel injectors. They deliver fuel to the engine at a specified pressure and in a particular spray pattern. When they're clogged, the fuel doesn't get atomized the way it's supposed to and doesn't get burned as efficiently.

See your owner's manual or ask your North Kingstown service advisor at Hans Imports when a fuel system cleaning is recommended.

Hans Imports
7275 Post Rd
North Kingstown, RI 02852
(401) 295-7785
www.hansimports.net

The Hans Imports Guide to Proper Fluids for Your Vehicle

The automotive professionals at Hans Imports would like to give North Kingstown drivers an update on some of the things happening in automotive fluids. You know, vehicles are becoming more sophisticated every day.  Fluids such as, oil, coolant and transmission fluid are becoming more specialized at about the same pace.

The North Kingstown do-it-yourselfer has to be pretty careful so that they do not actually harm their vehicle with the wrong type of fluid. That is why so many RI ] owners rely on the advice of their friendly and knowledgeable Hans Imports service advisor to not only get the correct family of fluids, but to suggest the formulation that is best for their vehicle and their driving habits in the North Kingstown area.

Let's start with engine oil. North Kingstown drivers who have been paying attention will have noticed a number of new oil weights on the RI scene in the last several years. Modern engines are built to much tighter tolerances and have very complicated valve trains. The oil must be thin enough to lubricate complicated parts when the engine is cold. The weight of an oil is expressed in terms like 20-W-50 or 5-W-30. The vehicle manufacturers recommend the weight of oil for each vehicle they make. The recommendation is based on engine design. Your North Kingstown service center will know what weight your vehicle manufacturer recommends - and it's important to follow those recommendations. Your service advisor at Hans Imports can also offer suggestions for special formulations and can tell you all about conventional and synthetic oils.

Antifreeze, or engine coolant, is another area that has become more complicated. For a long time, vehicle manufacturers only recommended a couple of different types of coolant. Now, several different formulations are needed because of the high-tech materials that vehicle manufacturers are using to build the cooling system. Using the wrong type of coolant in your vehicle can actually void your warranty, so it's important to get that right.

Transmission fluid is becoming specialized for North Kingstown vehicles as well. New transmission designs have particular requirements that require specific formulations. Recently, new, somewhat confusing, standards for brake fluid have also been released.

Not too long ago, there was a good chance that all of the vehicles at your house would use many of the same fluids. However, as automotive technology advances, the array of basic automotive fluids RI drivers need will grow. And, some of the formulations will cost a little more for North Kingstown drivers. Fortunately, Hans Imports will continue to update their training to keep pace with technology so that you'll get the right fluids your vehicle needs. It's all part of the commitment we make to your driving peace of mind.

 Hans Imports
7275 Post Rd
North Kingstown, RI 02852
(401) 295-7785
www.hansimports.net

Wheel Balancing at Hans Imports

So you love your job, and your family life is great. Congratulations! You have achieved balance. But can you say the same for your wheels? North Kingstown drivers can tell if their tires are out of balance by vibrations at higher speeds on RI roads. If one of the front tires is out, you feel the vibration in the steering wheel. If it's a back tire, you'll feel the vibration in your seat.

Tires and wheels are pretty heavy. When a tire is mounted on a wheel at Hans Imports, it is usually not perfectly balanced. So the technician will spin the tire on a machine to determine where it's too heavy. He will then place weights on the wheels in strategic locations to balance it out. When a tire is out of balance, it actually bounces down the road instead of rolling smoothly. Since the average size tire rotates at about 850 revolutions per minute at 60 mph/97 kph, it is actually slamming into the pavement 14 times a second. That's where you get your vibration.

Most people in North Kingstown are surprised at how smoothly their car rides after balancing all four wheels.

Most high-quality tires sold in North Kingstown hold their balance pretty well. They just get out of balance gradually with normal wear and tear. If you suddenly feel a vibration, it is probably because you lost a wheel balancing weight along the way. Definitely get a balance at Hans Imports in North Kingstown if you feel a vibration, change your rims or have a flat repaired. Putting off a needed balance job leads to excessive and tire wear, wear to your shocks, struts, steering and suspension parts. Wheel balancing not only improves your ride and handling, but also can save you some repair bills and possibly an accident. Additionally, you will get better fuel economy.

Some North Kingstown area drivers have their tires balanced at every rotation. Others do it every other time. Check your owner's manual for your requirements, or ask your friendly service advisor at Hans Imports. Doing this will put you on the path to mechanical wheel balance.

Hans Imports
7275 Post Rd
North Kingstown, RI 02852
(401) 295-7785
www.hansimports.net