Boulder Auto Repair

Weight is the enemy of fuel economy. Everyone from here to Boulder knows this makes sense. Some of us in the Boulder area carry a bunch of unnecessary weight, and I’m not talkin’ what you see in the mirror. Guys; sports equipment and tools. Ladies; well, just take a look around the passenger compartment and trunk. I think my car has about forty-five pounds of French fries on the floor. All that extra weight wastes gas as you drive between here and Boulder, and everywhere else. Lose the junk and save some money. …And you really only need one of those spare tires

Boulder motorists often ask the question: “Will using premium gas make my car run better?” The answer is simple. But first, let’s talk about what exactly premium gasoline is. Different grades of gasoline have different octane ratings. Regular gasoline has the lowest octane rating and premium the highest. Most gas stations around Boulder, CO also carry a mid-grade that falls in between the two. The octane range for the different grades of gas varies by region due to altitude differences. Engines require different octane ratings because of design differences. For example, turbocharged engines usually require premium gas. There’s a sticker on your gas tank filler lid that tells you the minimum octane rating your car maker recommends.Boulder drivers should read their owner’s manuals carefully to see if it’s acceptable to use lower grades. With some cars in Boulder, CO it is; the engine control computer can adapt. Boulder drivers will lose some performa ... read more

The price of gas in CO has got Boulder auto owners talking. It seems that Boulder folks who need a bigger vehicle to carry family and gear, or provide four wheel drive, are hit especially. That is why we thought it would be good to review some things that anyone can do to improve fuel economy. First let’s start with how we drive in the Eldorado Springs area. Boulder auto owners may not realize that they can really save money on gas by just changing a few driving habits. One of the biggest is jackrabbit starts – you know, flooring the gas as soon as the light turns green. That really wastes a lot of fuel. Building up your speed at a slower pace uses less fuel and is easier on your engine and drive train. And don’t drive with one foot on the brake. That’s also a drag on fuel economy, and it wears out your brakes faster too. Another thing Boulder drivers can do is drive slower – but only when it’s safe. Sometimes on th ... read more

Custom wheels are one way that Boulder folks express themselves and personalize their family car. But they aren’t as cheap and easy as sticking decals on your back window. There are several critical factors need to be considered, including cost, the fit of the wheel, modifications that will have to be made to the family car, how the new wheels and tires will affect the operation of the vehicle, your driving habits, and, of course, the style of the wheels. Most Boulder motorists start with the last factor: the style of the wheels. But that should be the last thing we choose. When considering custom wheels, you should first carefully consider your budget. Some wheels may require costly adjustments to your family car suspension system, brakes, or traction systems. You need to know what you can afford before you start shopping in Eldorado Springs or get your heart set on a particular type of wheel. There are t ... read more

Did you know that most of the cars driving around Boulder, CO carry more computer power than the Apollo 121 Lunar Module that landed on the moon in 1969? New cars sold in the Eldorado Springs area have as many as twelve networked computers and over five miles (eight kilometers) of wiring. In fact, for the last decade or so, auto computers have been controlling about 85 percent of your vehicle’s functions. Cars have sensors for manifold air temperature, coolant temperature, manifold air pressure, airflow, throttle position, vehicle speed and oxygen content. All of this electronic wizardry is pretty complicated. So how do Boulder drivers know when there is a problem? It’s simple; the Check Engine light comes on. The computer monitors all the sensors and uses that information to decide what to adjust such as the fuel mix, spark timing and idle speed. In addition, the computer monitors its own circuits. When it finds a fault, it turns on the Che ... read more