As you stock up on sunscreen and prep for fun in the sun, Mr. Transmission Milex Complete Auto Care has a handy list of road trip tips to follow to stay safe this summer. And we’re here to make sure your car is ready for high temperatures.   Road Trip Tips Memorial Day weekend kicks off the summer season as schools let out for summer and workloads lighten. At least 44% of people plan to travel more than once this summer, and 79% are gearing up to take a road trip, according to a survey conducted by The Vacationer, a vacation resource.   Road trips can be an exciting and memorable experience, but they can quickly become a nightmare if you aren’t prepared. Whether you're planning a short weekend getaway or a cross-country adventure, you should do a few things to prepare for the trip and travel safel ... read more

Before you head out for your summer road trip, Mr. Transmission/Milex Complete Auto Care recommends making sure your tires are ready to hit the pavement.   Prior to packing your bags and stocking up on road trip snacks, it’s important to make sure your tires are ready for the trip. The condition of your tires will impact your car's performance and safety. The experts at Mr. Transmission/Milex Complete Auto Care compiled a checklist you can use to get your tires ready to travel.   All-Weather Tires. If you put snow tires on to provide traction during the winter months, replace them with all-season tires that will handle well during a summer downpour.   Tire Pressure. Check the PSI on your tires. As the temperature goes up, the PSI in your tires increase. For every 10-degree rise in temperature, the tire pressure goes up by one PSI. Over-inflated tires can cause blowouts or overheat.   Tread. Do a vi ... read more

As gas prices reach record highs, service technicians at Mr. Transmission/Milex Complete Auto Care have some tips to help you save money at the pump.   Reverberations from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine are being felt across the globe. While Americans rally to support the Ukrainian citizens and rush to provide aid to help stem the humanitarian crisis, they are feeling the impact of the war on the home front. Economic sanctions imposed by Western countries are curbing Russian oil exports, causing the price of gasoline to soar.   The national average price of gasoline in the United States rose to $4.104 per gallon at the end of the first week of March, shattering the existing record, according to GasBuddy, a fuel savings platform. The previous all-time high was set back in 2008 at $4.103 per gallon, ahead of the Great Recession and housing crisis.   “Russia’s invasion of Ukraine paired ... read more

Understanding when something is wrong with your vehicle, including silent signs, can save you money on repairs and prevent a long stay at the auto repair shop.   Only 39 percent of Americans can comfortably cover an unexpected bill of $1,000, according to Bankrate, an online financial resource. Regular car maintenance is key to preventing breakdowns and ensuring your ride delivers you safely to your destination. Despite saving customers money, many Americans put off car maintenance, especially during the past year. Hectic work and childcare schedules can make it difficult to put car care on your to-do list.   Following the outbreak of the pandemic, many Americans did not keep up with maintenance schedules. They were driving less and coping with the stress of telework and remote schooling. According to the ... read more

The Importance of Changing Transmission Fluid The transmission is one of the key components of a car’s engine. Whether automatic or manual, the transmission’s important duty is for shifting gears, giving the engine power and the appropriate level to drive at a given speed. An automatic transmission shifts automatically for you as you accelerate or de-accelerate, while a manual transmission relies on the driver to shift. Because of its integral role in the operation of your vehicle, replacing or repairing a transmission is an expensive proposition. To avoid finding yourself on the bad end of a big bill, changing the transmission at appropriate intervals is essential.   What is Transmission Fluid? Transmission fluid is, in part, a lubricant that makes the parts inside your transmission move smoothly. If you have an au ... read more

Summer of Gridlock: More Driving Around Town Means More Wear and Tear Many aspects of American society are re-opening. Droves of workers are returning from working remotely to working in offices or at job sites. People are taking vacations and visiting family and friends. But many of those people who are out and about again to commute to work are avoiding mass transportation, and the impact of that is substantial in many ways. Traffic expert and former New York City Traffic Commissioner Sam Schwartz—who coined the term “gridlock”—predicts an unprecedented level of traffic. Significant numbers of commuters in metro areas will choose to drive instead of take buses and trains where they could be too close for comfort with other passengers. Gas prices are low right now, adding addi ... read more

Preparing Cars for a Summer Road Trip Now that summer is here, many people are finalizing their plans for a vacation.  Whether it be a trip to a beach, mountains, campsite or visiting family, people are planning a getaway from the cabin fever that has gripped the country. Even as much of America has “re-opened,” travelers are wise to exercise a high level of care and safety. You may be wary of air travel and opt instead to drive to your destination. Even absent a pandemic, being in the confined space of an airplane with many people emitting many different germs and viruses is an easy way to catch something unpleasant at best and dangerous at worst. It Just Makes Sense If you are opting to drive, you’re not alone. A recent survey by the Out of Home Advertising Association of America (OAAA), r ... read more

Don’t Put Off Regular Maintenance Most of us have been guilty of at least one of the following while driving a vehicle: Driving past your recommended allotted mileage between tire rotations or oil changes. Having an indicator light illuminate your dashboard, hoping that it just goes away. Maybe there are unfamiliar sounds coming from your car or it doesn’t just feel right.  You feel you can hold off on any repairs when you get back out on the road more often or some of the current stay-at-home restrictions are lifted.  We get it. You will eventually get around to it because, relatively speaking, it doesn’t seem as important right now. While fewer people are on the roads these days, that may feel like another excuse to put off routine maintenance to your vehicle. You shouldn’t be waiting until “things get back to normal” in order to service your vehicle. By putting those things off, you a ... read more

What You Should Know About Gasoline Each day in America, 360 million gallons of gasoline are used. A majority of vehicles on the road today need gasoline to run, but when you’re filling up at the pump, do you really know about the liquid you’re putting in your vehicle that makes it “go?” The Different “Levels” of Gasoline When you arrive at a gas pump, you’re often greeted by several gasoline options to fuel your vehicle. There’s “regular” gasoline, which will be the cheapest, the most-expensive “premium” gasoline, often with a “middle” option, both in rating and price, in between. Above these fuel types, there is a corresponding number, typically 87 for regular, 89 for the middle level, and 91 or 93 for premium. These numbers represent octane ratings. Octane ratings refer to the fuel’s type’s res ... read more

Caring for A Car Battery One of the most integral features of an automobile’s anatomy is the car battery. Simply put, without a battery, your car will not start, so it is important to keep your battery as healthy as possible. But you might have some questions about the battery inside your vehicle. What is the Lifespan of a Car Battery? While the lifespan of a battery truly varies from vehicle to vehicle, and is dependent on many outside factors, the average life of a car battery is approximately four years. The two main factors that cause excessive wear on a battery are volatile weather and poor driving habits. Excessive heat can cause the mixture of water and acid inside a vehicle battery to evaporate and cause harm to a battery’s internal components. This will result in a shorter lifespan for the battery. While you might not ... read more