Taking the Heat (Heater Hose Maintenance/Repair)
June 13, 2021
If you have an internal combustion vehicle, you know it has a lot of hoses that carry various fluids. And if you have a heater in your vehicle, you'll have heater hoses. A heater hose connects to and from the engine so some coolant can be circulated through a little radiator called a heater core... More
Lean Times (Shocks and Springs)
June 6, 2021
You may have noticed your vehicle going through lean times. By that, we mean it's literally leaning to one side. When you notice that, you should get it checked out at your service facility soon because you could have a serious problem. Many things can cause a vehicle to lean. You may have pro... More
It's About Time: Following Service Intervals at Tuffy Lake In The Hills
May 30, 2021
There are a lot of things in life that Lake In The Hills residents have to do on a regular basis. We wash dishes every day, do our laundry and mow our lawns every week, and pay the bills every month. We should go to our Lake In The Hills dentist twice a year and see our doctor for a check-up onc... More
Give it the Boot (Ball Joint Boot Replacement)
May 23, 2021
Your vehicle may be wearing boots right now and you might not even know it. They're called ball joint boots. They're actually protective, flexible things that protect parts of your suspension (called ball joints) from all the hazards the road can fling at them. If one of those ball joint boots... More
Got it Covered! (Timing Cover Maintenance)
May 16, 2021
You may have heard at one time or another about something called a timing belt or timing chain in your engine. And you may know that if they fail well, let's just way that there can be some major engine damage. So obviously, we want our timing belts and chains to be in tip-top shape. One part t... More
Picking the Right Tires in Lake In The Hills
May 9, 2021
Shopping for tires in Lake In The Hills can be bewildering because there are many choices. Let's simplify. There are four main classifications of tires, each designed for different purposes.First off, there are summer tires. Those who buy summer tires in Lake In The Hills are looking for maximum... More
If You Drive Like a Maniac (Aggressive Driving is Bad for a Vehicle)
May 2, 2021
When someone mentions driving like a maniac, they're not talking about you, surely? Besides the safety issues of aggressive driving, you should know that your vehicle will last a lot longer if you'll just mellow out a little. Here are four traits good drivers follow if they want their vehicles t... More
To Fix or Not To Fix: That Is the Question.
April 25, 2021
No matter what vehicle you drive, when certain things break, you have to make a decision. Should I get it fixed now, later or never? Air conditioning is one of those things. You can certainly live without air conditioning, but it sure is nice to have on a sweltering day. Let's say your air con... More
Fuel Saving Tip: Fuel System Cleaning Near Lake In The Hills, Illinois
April 18, 2021
A lot of fuel is wasted in the Lake In The Hills 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... More
Tuffy Lake In The Hills Service Tip: Why Synthetic Oil Is Good For Your Vehicles
April 11, 2021
Hello Illinois! Today's vehicle care topic is: Synthetic Oil vs. Petroleum Based Oil. Synthetic motor oil is a substitute for petroleum based oil. If you aren't currently using it, why not? Synthetic motor oil maximizes engine power and fuel economy. To see why, we'd need a microscope, so we'll ... More