Most Wilmington drivers wait for their air conditioning to fail before they service it at Atlantic Car Care. That’s because many Wilmington and Burgaw motorists don’t really understand that automotive air conditioners need periodic service. Let me share some of the reasons why they fail.

First, like every machine, the sedans air conditioner parts need lubrication. The lubricant is actually mixed in with the refrigerant (that’s the stuff that makes the air cool). So sometimes, even though the air conditioner is still making cool air, the oil that lubricates the parts has just been used up: and unlubricated parts can fail in all North Carolina cars.

Now here’s a tip for Wilmington drivers: You should run your air conditioner every so often during North Carolina winters. This circulates the lubricant to help keep the seals from drying out.

The air conditioner actually removes some of the moisture in the air. So if you have trouble with fogging on your windshield during North Carolina winters or during a rain storm, running the A/C on the defrost setting should help. Now on some Wilmington cars you can’t run the A/C at the same time as the defroster. Don’t ask me why, but I suspect lawyers were involved.

Also, air and water can get into the A/C system. That can reduce the efficiency of the system and also lead to corrosion that causes damage. Wilmington drivers should periodically purge the system and replace the refrigerant to clear out the air and water.

Wilmington drivers should be aware of early warning signs of trouble: One might be that the air’s not as cold as it used to be. You may hear an unusual noise when the A/C cycles on. Those are signs to get your vehicle into Atlantic Car Care in Wilmington before the damage gets worse.

So following the recommended service intervals in your sedans owner’s manual can help prevent mechanical failure of your air conditioning system. You’re A/C system contains some expensive components like the compressor, condenser, dryer, etc. Anything Heampstead and Burgaw car owners can do to lengthen the life of their A/C is well worth it.

The function of the fuel filter is pretty self-explanatory. It filters your fuel. The fuel filter is in the fuel line somewhere in between the fuel tank and the engine. Both gas and diesel vehicles around Wilmington North Carolina use fuel filters.

For more information about your fuel filter, visit Atlantic Car Care or come by our shop located at 21 New Bern Street in Wilmington, North Carolina 28403.
Please call 9107941390 to make an appointment.

Generally speaking there’s not a lot of dirt in our Wilmington North Carolina auto fuel supply, but there is enough that you want to screen it out. The problem actually gets worse the older your vehicle becomes. That’s because dirt, rust and other contaminants will settle out of the fuel and onto the bottom of the fuel tank. After your sedans is five years or older, it can actually have a fair amount of sediment built up.

That just means that the fuel filter has to work harder as your sedans ages. It’ll get clogged sooner and need to be replaced more often.

A symptom of a clogged fuel filter is that the engine sputters at highway speeds or under hard acceleration. That’s because enough fuel is getting through around town, but when you need more fuel for speed, enough just can’t get through the filter. Obviously, that could be dangerous if your car or truck can’t get enough power to get you out of harm’s way.

For just that reason, fuel filters have a bypass valve. When the filter is severely clogged, some fuel can bypass the filter all together. Of course that means that dirty, unfiltered fuel is getting through to be burned in the engine.

This dirt can then clog and damage your fuel injectors. Now injectors are not cheap to replace, so you don’t want to cause them damage just because you didn’t spend a few bucks to replace a fuel filter.

You know, in a way, the fuel filter can be the poster child for preventive maintenance. It’s a little part, it’s simple and it’s cheap to take care of. But if it’s neglected, it could lead to thousands of dollars of repair bills.

Those auto service schedules in your owner’s manual are there for a reason. If ever you don’t understand a recommended service, just ask your Wilmington service advisor at Atlantic Car Care. We’ll be happy to explain.