FLYING DOG BLOG
A new breed of service.

August 17, 2009

Why TOTAL Oils for Your European Car?

Many automotive manufacturers now have specifications for the oils that they recommend that exceed the American Petroleum Institute (API) ratings for oils commonly available in the US.

A common assumption, including in many repair shops (even some who specialize in foreign cars), regarding currently available 5W30 oils is that they are all the same viscosity and appropriate for German cars. However, this is a myth because most 5W30 oils available today are closer to a 5W20 weight and are therefore not suitable for use in your German car. The bearing clearances and valve train components are designed for a thicker film of oil than the average 5w30 can provide. 5W30 synthetics suitable for BMW, VW, Audi, and Mercedes are closer in viscosity to a 5W40 weight oil.

A number of European auto manufacturers have approved oils that they recommend/require for use in their engines; TOTAL oils are on the approved lists for Audi, BMW, VW, Mercedes, and Porsche. We are pleased to be able to make these oils available to our clients.

At Flying Dog Garage, we invest many hours in gaining an understanding of these ratings so as to recommend the correct oil for your car. If you drive a German car, and even if you don't, we'd be glad to talk with you about the oil best suited for your car.

June 13, 2009

Our new Flying Puppy has a name: Scarlett!

Darby (left) and new little sis Scarlett

Thanks to everyone who participated in the "Name the Puppy" contest! We got over a hundred suggestions and appreciate the help in coming up with just the right name for our newest Flying Dog, a four-month-old rescued Border Collie. Thanks and congratulations to Mick Teti-Beaudin, who suggested the winning name, which fits the little whippersnapper perfectly.

May 14, 2009

The case of the “check engine” light and the sticking purge valve…
or why you can’t just plug in “the machine” to tell you what’s wrong

A client brought a Saab in to the Garage with the “check engine” light on. The code stored in the engine control module indicated a gross or large leak in the Evaporative Emissions (EVAP) system. This code can often be caused by a loose gas cap, but on this car, this code has been ongoing. The purpose of the EVAP system is to store excess hydrocarbons from the fuel (keeping them out of the atmosphere) until they can be sucked into the engine and burned.

The first thing we do after a visual inspection of the system components is perform an EVAP system leak test. We have a piece of equipment designed for this purpose. This test uses nitrogen injected into the EVAP system when it is sealed. (An inert gas like nitrogen won’t mix with the gas and create a hazardous situation like air would.) There is a floating ball in a sight glass that will indicate if there is currently a leak or not. If there is a leak, the testing equipment doubles as a smoke machine, which will inject a smoke solution into the system. At that point, we would perform another visual inspection looking for the escaping smoke.

the smoke machine (great for leak detection,
not so much for creating rockstar ambience)

To run the test, we have to seal the system. The computer in the car does this by closing a couple of “doors” and looking at a pressure reading from the fuel tank pressure sensor. The first “door” is the purge valve in the engine compartment. The purge valve is normally cycled rapidly at certain times when the engine is running to allow engine vacuum to suck hydrocarbons stored in the EVAP system into the engine to be burned. When the computer runs the test, it first closes the valve, cycles the valve and then closes it again.

The other “door” to be closed is the shutoff valve at the back of the car. This parts seals off the atmospheric vent to seal the EVAP system when the car’s engine computer wants to run the EVAP test to see if the system is sealed properly. If the computer sees a fault in the fuel tank pressure reading, it sets a code.

The EVAP test indicated that this particular car was sealed up well. Hmmm …that’s not what the computer thinks. I’ve seen sticking purge valves fool the computer into thinking there’s a leak before. One thing about cars; they often have pattern failures from model to model. A pattern failure is a common part that seems to fail frequently.

Saabs have a fair frequency of sticking purge valves causing the check engine light to come on and set this code. So how do you verify an intermittent fault like this, especially when a new part is $182 dollars? Sometimes that is the challenging part. In this case, I also happen to drive a Saab, and it has a purge valve of the identical part number. The part is accessible and easy to swap. I know this customer well so I simply swapped the part between my car and hers and instructed her to drive her car for a few days. I figured we would see whose check engine light came on. Well, mine came on the next morning. When the light came on, I was a little annoyed as I had momentarily forgotten about the swapped part. I connected one of my scan tools when I made it to the shop. It turns out I have a gross leak in my EVAP system! Mystery solved: We need to replace our client’s purge valve.

One final note: On occasion, there will be more than one fault in the system. When we find a fault like the one described above, we have to replace that part and retest the system if possible to make sure the repair fixes the problem completely.

May 2009

Technology note: Your car and your technician in the 21st century

Technological advances in cars often times makes them a challenge to fix, but technology also offers the resourceful technician some advantages as well, one of which is the internet. Flying Dog Garage subscribes to professional forums on automotive technology issues, where members post articles and links about car repair, as well as information about their own experiences working on specific makes and models for their clients.

These professional networks are excellent sources for information and insights about tricky diagnoses and problems which may be common to certain kinds of cars. For example, I recently consulted the International Automotive Technician Network (IATN) for information about a Saab repair and found helpful information from a technician in California who works only on Saabs all day, every day.

The forum is searchable for previous discussion threads about problems likely to arise with particular cars, or users can submit their own help requests to get ideas on how to proceed with a situation that might be new to them. In other words, as the technology for your car gets more complicated, the resources available to your technician advance as well.

July 3, 2008

Save gas (and money!) this summer

With gas over $4 a gallon, we’re all looking for some good ways to save. Driving less is the best option, but there are other steps you can take if you still have to drive sometimes, like most of us do. Our suggestions:

1. Slow it down a little. The faster you go, the greater the wind resistance, and the harder your engine works. Working harder takes more fuel. Slowing down has the opposite effect, increasing your fuel efficiency.

2. Take that roof rack off when you're not using it. Roof racks for bikes, luggage, kayaks, and the like can decrease your fuel efficiency by as much as 5%, even when the rack is empty. So if you're not on your way out to Fort Custer to enjoy the trails on your mountain bike, you're better off taking the rack off.

3. Fill up with premium only if you have to. If premium gas is required for your car, then use it. But unless your owner's manual says "premium fuel only," your car is designed to run on regular gas and will not perform better on premium fuel. At up to 20 cents more per gallon, premium is pricey; it is also harder on the environment. Check your gas flap or owner’s manual and use the grade recommended for your car. If your car doesn't need it, break the premium habit and pocket the savings.

4. Don't ignore your "check engine" light. It is never a good idea to ignore your car's warning lights, and the "check engine" light can even alert you to problems that will affect your car's fuel economy, like emission control issues or oxygen sensor problems that can add up to reduced gas mileage.

5. Check your tire pressure. Under-inflated tires are a common problem that can add up to a big loss in fuel efficiency. For every 10 pounds your tires come in under the recommended air-pressure level, your car will lose about 4% in gas mileage. The recommended inflation levels can usually be found on the driver's-side door jamb. Check with Greg if you are not sure how to find it. (Careful not to over-inflate.)

6. Make the shift. Try shifting a little earlier into a higher gear. Waiting longer to shift means you're going faster in a lower gear. This means your engine is making more revolutions per minute. More RPMs require more fuel. Shifting earlier keeps your engine at a lower RPM, thus using less gas.

7. Avoid idling. The myth that it takes more gas to start your car than to let it idle is just that: a myth. Idling or leaving your car running in your driveway or parking lot uses a lot of gas, and while it's idling, it is getting zero miles per gallon. Shutting your engine down when you are not using it cuts down on emissions and so is better for the environment, too.

8. Keep up with your car's scheduled maintenance and any needed repairs. Regular service is key to capitalizing on your car's fuel economy. Low fluid levels, filters that need replacing, and other unchecked maintenance issues can add up to big reductions in your car's gas mileage.

 

June 25, 2008

Technology upgrade: Pico Scope diagnostic tool now at Flying Dog Garage

Even if you are not a techno-geek, your car will appreciate the new Pico Scope, recently acquired by Flying Dog Garage. This laptop-based oscilloscope analyzes electrical signals to help diagnose complex automotive problems.

The Pico Scope is a great tool for improving diagnostic accuracy. Adding it to Flying Dog Garage's repertoire of advanced diagnostic tools reflects our commitment to state-of-the-art technological approaches to automotive service.

The diagram below is an ignition waveform image from a Mercedes, taken with the Pico Scope. The image shows what is happening in the combustion chamber when the car is running and indicates that for this vehicle, there is a valve sealing issue causing the spark to blow out and not properly ignite the fuel mixture:

Pico Scope image, Mercedes ignition system.

December 16, 2007

Thanks to everyone who came out for our grand opening party on December 2. We had a great time celebrating with family, friends, and clients. Thanks again to all of you; we appreciate the support and couldn't have made it through our first six weeks (and counting) without you!

November 13, 2007

Jerry and David, our friends from Sign Crafters, were back yesterday to install our new sign on the corner of Riverview and Brackett. It looks pretty sweet, especially after dark:

   

But don't take our word for it; come on by and see for yourself!

November 11, 2007

Our friends Chris and Sarah brought Sarah's Volvo V70 in on the morning of November 1, making Sarah the first-ever client of Flying Dog Garage! And Chris brought in his Honda CRV a few days later. We snapped this photo of them alongside Sarah's Volvo. Thanks a lot, Sarah and Chris! We appreciate your support!

November 7, 2007

Tomorrow we celebrate our one-week anniversary in business, and it has been a lot of fun so far. I've gotten to meet a lot of great people, vendors and new clients, and I have also enjoyed seeing all the friends who have stopped by for a visit or an oil change or other repairs. I don't wish car trouble on anyone, but I'll admit that it is nice to see you when you bring your car in. And we hope to make the service experience as positive as we can for you at Flying Dog Garage. Thanks again for all the support so far.

November 1, 2007: Opening day!

Today was our first day in business, and I want to thank everyone who came out to see us and for all the supportive emails. It was a hectic day, but all the support we have been getting made it all worth it. Plus, seeing our sign go up over the shop this morning was an exciting moment. Keep your eyes open for our other new sign, scheduled to go up next week on the corner of Riverview and Brackett.

Jerry and David of Sign Crafters installing the sign

Watch this space in days and weeks to come for car care tips and other information to help you make the most of your relationship with your car.

In the meantime, thanks again to all our clients and friends for making our first day a memorable one.

2597 Brackett Avenue
Kalamazoo, MI
269-345-6780

greg@FlyingDogGarage.com

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