| Repairs performed from major to minor. Here is a few examples of some major repairs. All repairs performed to the highest of standards. All parts, nuts and bolts all returned to the proper locations, even the hard to get at ones! |
| The Facts About Inflating Your Tires WithNitrogen |
MATT HELMS: Don't buy sales pitch for nitrogen
BY MATT HELMS DETROIT FREE PRESS JUNE 27, 2006
FREE PRESS COLUMNIST
Filling your tires with nitrogen is being advertised as a way to save fuel and lengthen tire life. Is it worth paying for?
QUESTION: Am I crazy or is there any scientific reason for filling your tires with nitrogen? I've seen all kinds of
claims on television touting benefits such as increased mileage to the point of saving enough money to pay for a
new set of tires. Since plain old air is more than 78% nitrogen anyway, how can the extra 20% make all that
difference? Sounds like a rip-off to me! -- Bob Pearse, Canton.
ANSWER: When it comes to tires on the vehicles everyday folks drive, nitrogen gets way more credit than it is due.
First, let's get one small benefit out of the way.
Bill VandeWater, a sales engineering manager for Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, says his company has done testing
and found one major positive effect: Tires filled with nitrogen lose pressure slightly more slowly than those filled with with plain old
air, by about a third.
But in Bridgestone Firestone's study, the average plain-air tirelost about 1 pound per square inch a month. It's easy to adjust for that
by checking your tire pressure once a month.
The folks trying to sell us on nitrogen have taken that small difference in pressure loss and extrapolated tons of other gains you'd just
as easily receive if you keep your tires inflated properly with compressed air.
Here's a reality check on nitrogen:
- Companies selling nitrogen often advertise how it's used in auto racing and aircraft tires. But, let's be real: Your last trip on I-696
aside, when was the last time your car reached speeds that either of those kinds of vehicles can go?
"Those are very extreme applications," says Dan Zielinski, a spokesman for the Rubber Manufacturers Association, a Washington,
D.C.-based trade group. "Driving on" a "highway in the family car, it's difficult to guage what the benefit is."
- Tires properly inflated with nitrogen will improve gas mileage 3%-5% or more. But you know what? So will tires properly inflated
with compressed air.
The point is to keep your tires at the recommended tire pressure, and then check the pressure regularly -- at least once a month --
and adjust as necessary.
- Nitrogen is less reactive and will do less damage to the interior of tires. Fine and dandy, but it's wear on the tread and damage
from the outside that dictates when tires should be replaced.
" A properly inflated tire with compressed air and a properly inflated tire with nitrogen are both safe tires," Zielinski says. Let me say
this again: If you're really concerned about having safe, long-lasting tires that help your vehicle get its optimal fuel economy, you'll
know what the recommended tire pressure is for your car, and you'll check at least once a month to make sure you're countering the
common monthly loss of 1-2 pounds of tire pressure.
"If you check your air pressure once a month, then there's really no advantage to the nitrogen," says Bridgestone Firestone's
VandeWater.
Copyright 2006 Detroit Free Press Inc.
BY MATT HELMS DETROIT FREE PRESS JUNE 27, 2006
FREE PRESS COLUMNIST
Filling your tires with nitrogen is being advertised as a way to save fuel and lengthen tire life. Is it worth paying for?
QUESTION: Am I crazy or is there any scientific reason for filling your tires with nitrogen? I've seen all kinds of
claims on television touting benefits such as increased mileage to the point of saving enough money to pay for a
new set of tires. Since plain old air is more than 78% nitrogen anyway, how can the extra 20% make all that
difference? Sounds like a rip-off to me! -- Bob Pearse, Canton.
ANSWER: When it comes to tires on the vehicles everyday folks drive, nitrogen gets way more credit than it is due.
First, let's get one small benefit out of the way.
Bill VandeWater, a sales engineering manager for Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, says his company has done testing
and found one major positive effect: Tires filled with nitrogen lose pressure slightly more slowly than those filled with with plain old
air, by about a third.
But in Bridgestone Firestone's study, the average plain-air tirelost about 1 pound per square inch a month. It's easy to adjust for that
by checking your tire pressure once a month.
The folks trying to sell us on nitrogen have taken that small difference in pressure loss and extrapolated tons of other gains you'd just
as easily receive if you keep your tires inflated properly with compressed air.
Here's a reality check on nitrogen:
- Companies selling nitrogen often advertise how it's used in auto racing and aircraft tires. But, let's be real: Your last trip on I-696
aside, when was the last time your car reached speeds that either of those kinds of vehicles can go?
"Those are very extreme applications," says Dan Zielinski, a spokesman for the Rubber Manufacturers Association, a Washington,
D.C.-based trade group. "Driving on" a "highway in the family car, it's difficult to guage what the benefit is."
- Tires properly inflated with nitrogen will improve gas mileage 3%-5% or more. But you know what? So will tires properly inflated
with compressed air.
The point is to keep your tires at the recommended tire pressure, and then check the pressure regularly -- at least once a month --
and adjust as necessary.
- Nitrogen is less reactive and will do less damage to the interior of tires. Fine and dandy, but it's wear on the tread and damage
from the outside that dictates when tires should be replaced.
" A properly inflated tire with compressed air and a properly inflated tire with nitrogen are both safe tires," Zielinski says. Let me say
this again: If you're really concerned about having safe, long-lasting tires that help your vehicle get its optimal fuel economy, you'll
know what the recommended tire pressure is for your car, and you'll check at least once a month to make sure you're countering the
common monthly loss of 1-2 pounds of tire pressure.
"If you check your air pressure once a month, then there's really no advantage to the nitrogen," says Bridgestone Firestone's
VandeWater.
Copyright 2006 Detroit Free Press Inc.
| So remember at Done-Right, there's never any bull or any sales pitches just to get you to buy a product. Just the facts from technicians trained to the highest of standards. Isn't that what you would expect from the professionals that you pay for services. |
| (517)676-8831 |
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More makes serviced than shown. Please call for appointment
| This is an excellent example of what not to do! Notice the boards that are supporting the truck. I guess he thinks because he has 2 boards, it's probably safe! Please don't try this with your vehicle! |
| Do you own one of these cars? At Done-Right Auto and RV, Inc., You can be assured that what ever make or model you drive that you will receive repairs performed to the highest of standards. If you care how the service is being performed on your vehicle, then you are looking for us. All repairs are performed to factory standards and if a repair can not be performed on your vehicle because of any limitation, you will not be charged....We Promise!!! |
This F-350 came to the shop on Nov. 28, 2006. He had been to a
specialty shop that primarily performs brake service. In fact, it had
returned to that shop 2 more times after the original service. Each time
he returned, the shoes were coated with gear lube due to the seal
leaking. Each time the parts were changed, with no reason for the
problem found and then corrected, obviously. This all happened in just a
few month period. We disassembled the truck and here's what we found.
In the picture to the right, you can clearly see the that the seal is in
backwards. Both sides were installed the same way. The words
"OILSIDE" are very visible on the seal. This mistake was made three
times by likely the same mechanic at a specialty brake shop. We also
found that the brake shoes installed were the wrong width. This truck is
a dual rear wheel truck with a diesel engine equipped for heavy towing.
Whether the wrong shoes were installed as a mistake or an attempt to
save the customer money, it was reckless and dangerous. There is more
to performing a professional brake job than slapping on some shoes.
The person that performed this service wrong three times needs to find
a new occupation. Just remember that when you are going to a shop
that has the lowest price, there is usually a reason for that. To have a
properly equipped facility and a staff that is trained and updated is
expensive. Lots of places are just winging it! The best technicians and
the best parts are always found to be the cheapest, aren't they?
specialty shop that primarily performs brake service. In fact, it had
returned to that shop 2 more times after the original service. Each time
he returned, the shoes were coated with gear lube due to the seal
leaking. Each time the parts were changed, with no reason for the
problem found and then corrected, obviously. This all happened in just a
few month period. We disassembled the truck and here's what we found.
In the picture to the right, you can clearly see the that the seal is in
backwards. Both sides were installed the same way. The words
"OILSIDE" are very visible on the seal. This mistake was made three
times by likely the same mechanic at a specialty brake shop. We also
found that the brake shoes installed were the wrong width. This truck is
a dual rear wheel truck with a diesel engine equipped for heavy towing.
Whether the wrong shoes were installed as a mistake or an attempt to
save the customer money, it was reckless and dangerous. There is more
to performing a professional brake job than slapping on some shoes.
The person that performed this service wrong three times needs to find
a new occupation. Just remember that when you are going to a shop
that has the lowest price, there is usually a reason for that. To have a
properly equipped facility and a staff that is trained and updated is
expensive. Lots of places are just winging it! The best technicians and
the best parts are always found to be the cheapest, aren't they?
