How Often Should You Change Your Oil

 

Sorrento Mesa Auto Spa is well known for high quality auto washing and detailing, but they also offer a lube service. But often should you be changing the oil on your car? Well, this depends on a few things of things: whether it is older or newer, takes diesel or regular gas, the type of driving conditions, as well as the way you drive it.

Most auto manuals will tell you that you need to change the oil every 7,500 miles in a car that takes gasoline and every 3,000 in one that takes diesel. Pay attention to the fine print and it will say that these numbers are for optimal driving conditions (slow steady speeds in good weather). Most of us don't drive in such conditions especially if we ever are in stop and go traffic in the city or drive over 60 mpg on the highway.

This is why most oil change establishments will tell you to get an oil change every 3,000 miles no matter what. A new engine with little or no wear might be able to get by on 7,500 mile oil changes. But as an engine gets older, blowby increases. This causes unburned fuel to dump into the crankcase which dilutes the oil. So if the oil isn't changed often enough, you can end up with accelerated wear and all the engine problems that come with it (loss of performance and fuel economy, and increased emissions and oil consumption).

Taking Care of Your Paint Job

Getting a car washed is all about keeping our car's new and shiny for as long as possible, and washing is an integral component of keeping the paint on a car in top condition. This is because environmental elements can wreak havoc on any car's paint job. Things like dirt, rain, grime, dust and even sunshine all contain corrosive properties that will dull the color and shine of your car paint.

There are several preventative measures you should take in order to ensure that your car's paint does not get damaged. One way is to go for a car wash at least once a month. Here at Sorrento Mesa Auto Spa we will give your car a thorough wash but also a gentle one. Another thing that you should do is have the car waxed regularly. This is also a service we can do at Sorrento Mesa Auto Spa. Waxing will create a protective layer over the paint and make sure that the elements can't damage it.

It's also important to take care of any scratches or nicks on the coat of the paint as soon as possible. You can usually buy a matching color from the manufacturer and fix most problems with a little tool or a toothpick. For really small problems you can buy a polishing compound. If stick to the regular schedule of washing, waxing and fixing scratches that you will be able to keep your car looking new long into the future.

(Photo Credit landscaping ideas decorating) 

The Ins and Out of Your Car’s AC

At Sorrento Mesa Auto Spa, we don’t just know how to detail a car, we know all about the ins and out of your car—including your air conditioner. Summer might be almost over for most of the country, but San Diego is poised to enjoy warmer weather for the next few months—which is why it is important for your air conditioner to be working!

Frist thing’s first, you’ll want to understand the major components of a car’s air conditioning system:

·         The compressor compresses and circulates the refrigerant in the system.

·         The refrigerant carries the heat.

·         The condenser changes the phase of the refrigerant from gas to liquid, expelling head removed from the car.

·         The expansion valve works simultaneously to lower the pressure of the refrigerant liquid, meter its flow and atomize it.

·         The evaporator transfers heat to the refrigerant from the air blown across it, thus cooling your car.

·         The receiver/dryer functions as a filter for the refrigerant/oil by removing moisture and other pollutants.

Bring a coupon and stop by for a car wash or detailing today!

{Photo Credit: Alan D}

Why Idling Your Car Can Hurt Your Engine

{How much time do you waste at stop lights?}

If you’re in Sorrento Mesa, visit us for auto repair! We aren’t known as the best of the best in local auto detailing for nothing, we also have tips to keep your car engine healthy.

Did you know that one of the most harmful things you can do for your engine is to idle your car? For every two minutes a car spends idling, it uses around the same amount of fuel it takes to go about one mile. The average person idles their car 5 to 10 minutes per day—and that amount grows during the wintertime. There is no need to “warm up” your car; all you have to do is drive it!

As a rule of thumb, if you are going to be parked for over 30 seconds, turn off your car’s engine. Excessive idling can damage engine components like cylinders, spark plugs and exhaust systems. Because an engine doesn’t operate at its peak temperature, fuel is actually only partially combusted when idling—which can lead to build up of fuel residues on the walls of your cylinders, damage engine components and increase fuel consumption.

Many people incorrectly assume that shutting off and subsequently restarting your engine will use more gas, but frequent restarting has little impact on the engine’s components, like the battery and starter motor.

Save at the Pump!

You might visit Sorrento Mesa Auto Spa for car wash and detailing, but we also have tips for saving gas. Everyone wants to save at the pump, so follow our tips to maximizing mileage:

·         Be mindful of your tank. Stop pumping when the automatic nozzle clicks, as additional gas will spill out or evaporate. Also, be sure to tighten your gas cap. Gas can evaporate if your cap is loose, damaged or missing.

·         Use lower octane gasoline. Premium gasoline doesn’t generally improve your car’s performance or economy so unless your car’s manual states premium is required, don’t waste the money.

·         Park in a garage when possible. Warm weather affects gas mileage by increasing evaporation levels so try to park in a garage or shady area and consider investing in a windshield shade.

·         For optimum performance, get regularly scheduled maintenance. Use the right type of oil and make sure to check your air filter every time you get an oil change. When it is clogged, your engine has to work harder, thus decreasing fuel efficiency.

We know you want to save by getting a cheap car wash, which is why we provide daily coupons! So come visit us!

{Photo Credit: Barbara Hansen}

Road Trip Essentials

Summer is official road trip season, which means you’ll want to stop by our car detail shop on Mira Mesa Blvd. to make sure your car is looking its best before you hit the road.

Sure, good music and good snacks are essentials, but there are a few other things you’ll want to bring along to make the most of your road trip:

• An A/C adapter for your laptop (available for under $30). This might be a good investment if you want to watch movies, play solitaire or even edit photos (so you can post on Facebook mid-trip!) on the road.

• A portable GPS. A portable GPS can help you find your next road stop and satisfy your food cravings while on the road. Plus, an old school map might be outdated and getting lost is not fun.

• Speaking of food, get access to eateries of all types using the mobile Yelp app on your cell phone browser. Craving Mexican food? Find the closest spot serving up burritos. Have a sweet tooth? Find the nearest ice cream shop.

• Think beyond music. Even if you create the ultimate summer playlist, you will get tired of your music. I promise. Add some podcasts, audiobooks and comedy tracks into the mix to combat boredom. You can thank us later.

{Photo Credit: Shek Graham}

Incredible Before & After Photos



{Before}




{Hard to remove tree sap}





{More tree sap}



{No more tree sap!}




{Like a brand new car!}




{They paid special attention to the wheels}



When this Ford Escape arrived at Sorrento Mesa Auto Spa, it was clear that it needed more than a simple hand car wash. Sorrento Mesa Auto Spa, luckily, offers complete exterior and interior car detailing. Check out the photos of this client’s car transformation and take a peek at the different wash and detail services we offer.

Regular Handwash $13.95

100% Hand Car Wash, Interior Vacuum, Wash Window In & Out, Tire Dressing

Deluxe Package $15.95

100% Hand Car Wash, Interior Vacuum, Wash Window In & Out, Sealer Wax, Air Freshner, Tire Dressing

Supreme Package $19.95

100% Hand Car Wash, Interior Vacuum, Wash Window In & Out, Sealer Wax, Rainbow Wax, Polish Wax, Air Freshner, Tire Dressing

Luxury Package $24.95

100% Hand Car Wash, Interior Vacuum, Wash Window In & Out, Sealer Wax, Rainbow Wax, Polish Wax, Undercarriage Wash, Clear Coat, Air Freshner, Tire Dressing

All Detail Packages Include

100% Hand Car Wash, Tire Dressing

Complete Detail $269.99

Clay Bar, High Speed Buff, Hand Wax, Wheel Cleaning, Int. & Ext. Dressing, Interior Shampoo, Clean & Condition Leather/Vinyl/Rubber

Exterior Detail $160.00

Clay Bar, High Speed Buff, Hand Wax, Wheel Cleaning, Exterior Dressing

Interior Detail $160.00

Interior Shampoo, Interior Dressing, Clean & Condition, Leather/Vinyl/Rubber, Air Freshner

Mini Detail $129.95

Hand Wax, Dashboard Dressing, Floor Mat Shampoo, Air Freshner

Make sure to check our Facebook page and website for coupons!

Welcome!

Welcome to the official blog for Sorrento Mesa Auto Spa, where you’ll find car cleaning tips and tricks for keeping your car in prime condition, coupons for our services and more.

Our auto detailing prices can’t be beat, and we are constantly offering coupons on car detailing and other services, but from time to time you need to speed clean the interior of your car. I know what you’re thinking, there are a million things you’d rather do than clean out this inside of your car, but read these tips and you’ll get the job done in no time.

Gather car-cleaning wipes, a few garbage bags, a flat-head screwdriver, glass cleaner, paper towels, a hand vacuum and a bin and get started:

1.       First, take anything out of your car that isn’t supposed to be there, like that bowl from when you were running late to work and ate breakfast en route. Throw away any trash as well.

2.       Using the glass cleaner, spray the cup holders.

3.       Use the wipes to clean the dashboard, inside door pockets, gearshift, steering wheel, center console and leather seats. Wipe out the cup holders with paper towel.

4.       Take a wipe and wrap it around the end of the screwdriver. Run it along switches and buttons on the dash.

5.       Clean the windows, sunroof, windshield, sunroof and rear windows with glass cleaner and paper towels.

6.       Take your floor mats out of your car and beat them together outside to get rid of any dirt and trash. Then vacuum the floor mats and foot wells.

7.       After replacing the mats, let your car air out and you are all done!