So, how to tell if your brake pads need changing? There’s no disputing the fact that the brakes of your car are one of the most vital parts of your vehicle to keep in excellent working condition.

Now, how to tell if your brake pads need changing?

Unless you are prepared to pull off the wheels yourself and know exactly what to look for, it is very hard to visually check the condition of your car brakes and if the brake pads need changing. The best way to judge is by ear.

When you hit the brakes and you are rewarded with a horrible squealing noise. This usually is a warning that things are not good with your brake pads and you need to have them check out by a mechanic.

In the event when you hear a metal on to metal sound, damage to your brake disc rotors may have been done. Do not take the risk and drive like that. You need to repair the brakes immediately. If you keep on driving like that not only will cause extensive damage, but you are taking a gamble with your life too!

Other things to look out for:
A change in the way your car brake pedal feels when you apply the brakes
A slow response time when you brake.
A shudder or vibration when you apply the brakes.

If you are not sure or do not know how to tell if your car brake pads need changing, always remember that replacing the brake pads is better done sooner than later! Your local car mechanic will be able to do a more thorough check over of the car brakes and can let you know if there are any problems.
When it comes to changing your cars brakes:

If in doubt check them out!

Have you ever wondered why good quality engine oil and regular oil changes are important to your car’s running? To answer that, we need to look at engine oil does for your car’s engine.

Like blood in human bodies, oil is essential to any engine. No blood, no body! No oil, no engine! No engine, no car!!!!

There are two significant enemies for any engine –

1. Heat

2. Friction

When your engine runs without sufficient oil, the engine generates excess heat. This heat is responsible for abrasion inside the engine caused by the friction as a result of the heat.

Abrasion can be regarded as the number one enemy of your car’s engine. In order to prevent excess heat and therefor friction or abrasion inside the engine of your car, you will need to use a good quality oil.

Not only is good engine oil essential to your cars health, but it will save you money in the long run as well but cutting down costly repairs and even increasing your fuel efficiency! In order to ensure that the engine of your car is maintained in the best possible condition you must not only make use of the best motor oil available but also change it regularly I recommend every 5000 – 10 000 Klm. Engine oil lubricates all parts of the engine that move. Sludge as well as acid, moisture and ash collect inside the engine and your oil loses effectiveness. Not only do regular oil changes eliminate these contaminates but treatments can be added during the oil change which can prevent buildup or begin to breakdown any extreme buildups that have formed. Ultimately this results in the smooth and optimum performance of your car and that is why good quality oil and regular oil changes are important to your car’s running.

I prefer Penrite oils,they have a great track record over the years and have some really reliable, reputable research to back their claims.

Also it is really important to check with the manufacturer of your vehicle what oil they recommend. It’s not necessarily the brand but the weight and other specifications that matter. If in doubt always check with your cars manual or give your mechanic a call.

How often should I service my car, is such a common question and one that has many answers depending on who you talk to! Car service schedules can depend on the make and model of your vehicle as well as the age and driving conditions it is subjected to. Some log books even drag it out to every 15 000 klm! As a general rule though, coming from a local brisbane mechanic who has been in the industry for over 30 years, I strongly recommend you should have your car serviced every 5000 klm or every 4 – 6 months. You’ll be amazed at how quickly you can rack up the kilometers and even if you don’t do a lot of driving it pays to have your car serviced at least every six months to be sure there are no small issues which may need your attention.

Most people don’t realise that not only does your car use oil and coolant but these fluids also age and lose effectiveness, and it’s not just your oil and coolant either, brake and clutch fluids as well as transmission and diff oils do the exact same. What does this mean for your car? Well with these fluids not doing their job effectively it can mean wear and tear on engines , transmissions and cooling systems which can result in major repairs and costs! So, the easiest way to avoid any major problems with your car is service every 5000 klm or at least every 4 – 6 months! Your car and your wallet will love you for it!

I’m often asked by alot of my customers, “What are your top car maintenance tips so i won’t end up having to pay for expensive repairs?” and it seems that the majority of customers asking me for these car maintenance tips are female. It seems that our female customers take a keener interest in maintaining their cars then their male counterparts!

To help answer any questions you might have about car maintenance tips and preventing expensive repairs,i thought i’d post a series of tips over the coming weeks. Please feel free to contact me if you have any particular questions you’d like answered.

First things first! My number one in car maintenance tips is READ THE MANUAL/ SERVICE LOG BOOK! Like any major purchase it pays to read the instruction manual. This will make sure you get the best performance and life out of your car. Whether you car is new or used, definately make time to sit down and read the manual or log book, this will give you a basic understanding of how the car operates, what’s under the bonnet, how often you should have your car serviced and whats entailed in your car log book service.

You’ll find that your car manual/log book will be full of acronyms and car speak for example ABS (anti-lock braking system) EFI (electric fuel injection) or RPM (revolutions per minute), the great thing about reading through your manual/log book is that it also explains these terms in detail and these terms and phrases will no longer be a foreign language!

Something as simple as reading you car manual/service log book will make you an informed car owner and help prevent expensive repairs, plus you’ll be able to talk the talk with your mechanic when it comes to car maintenance!

The standard car service we provide is much different from other car mechanics. When we get a car in for service, we check the whole entire car every time. For other car mechanics, a service is just a change of the oil and filter but we check everything including spark plugs, brakes, and belts. When you use us for a car service, you will get a full car maintenance report.

Many female customers love the car service we provide for their cars. Many people, sometimes women, are not aware of the various parts of their car and the car maintenance that is required. We explain everything that is needed for our customer to maintain the car in good condition. Without having proper car maintenance knowledge, the customer may have frequent problems and it is obvious that they will think we didn’t provide proper car service. We don’t want to lose our reputation and hence, we educate out customers to take proper care for their car.

Many people think that their new car warranty will be voided when they approach some other car mechanic for servicing the car. But this is not true. You do not need go to the dealer for car services. You can come to us and we provide all the car services and this will not void your new car’s warranty. Our services are always of high quality; we charge lower prices compared to the others in the car mechanics market.

Finding a good car mechanic is often a tough task especially one that is interested in educating you on car maintenance. You need to find a mechanic who can be trusted and who knows what he is doing with your car. Dixon automotive has been in the field for more than 30 years. Our business is a family business. My father always wants to make the customers happy. We provide all kinds of car repair services. Apart from repairing, we offer car maintenance services as well. This will prevent the car from being heavily damaged in the future.

We provide personalized car service for our customer where we tell them exactly what we have done with their car service. Car maintenance information is what we specialize in that is not provided by the others in the market. We educate our customers on what we have replaced and why we have replaced the parts. As a result of our customer oriented car service, we have built a loyal customer base. We have customers driving from different areas just to get their car serviced by us. This is because we let customer know exactly what we have done for their car service and educate them on car maintenance.

As Brisbane Auto Mechanics at Dixon Automotive we offer services that include repairs of all kinds of vehicles, maintenance and services of cars covered by new car warranty and car maintenance services. Dixon Automotive believes that nothings better than the proper maintenance of a car.

Entrusting your car to our Dixon Automotive is a good decision. Your car’s whole entirety is checked every time you refer it for car maintenance or repairs. Unlike other Brisbane Auto Mechanic workshops, where an Auto mechanic would just ask about a minimum questions and then just perform his standard service like oil filter change. At Dixon Automotive we always go the extra mile of the usual service.

Our Auto mechanics at Dixon Automotive always give a one on one consultation with clients. A real trust is established through telling the customer what had been done to the car, showing him exactly what has been replaced of, and discussing what a client needs to do to keep maintaining their car.

At Dixon Automotive we believe in educating the clients so that they can maintain the car between services. Many Brisbane Auto Mechanics will not do this as they believe that it takes away from their income. At Dixon Automotive we believe that loyal customers are more important. Make Dixon Automotive your Brisbane Car Mechanic.

Danielle Dixon gives car care tips on finding the right auto mechanic to help your car maintenance.

A great car care tip that I have as an auto mechanic is have an RACQ memebership on top of your regular car maintenance. The RACQ is one of the best investments you can make in the wellbeing of your car, not to mention your own personal safety. Yearly costs can vary depending on which package you choose to join with, but even the most basic packages include emergency towing and roadside assistance, not to mention great help for those of us who lock our keys in our car on a regular basis! By joining the RACQ you’ll never be stranded on the side of the road and it can save you a fortune in towing fees. You can feel safe in the knowledge that if you have a problem with your car whilst driving you can pull over straight away and know that the RACQ will be there to assist you as soon as they can. I strongly recommend that if you experience any problems or overheating while driving your vehicle that you pull over immediately! Even driving just those few extra minutes can be the difference between costing you a few dollars and a few hundred or even a few thousand dollars! This is a great car care tip so make sure that on top of regular car maintenance with your auto mechanic you also have an RACQ membership so that you know help is just around the corner should you need it.

Dixon Automotive is your Brisbane Auto Mechanic. With over 35 years experience read their car maintenance and care care tips.

Always check oil and water in between services
Most vehicle breakdowns are due to lack of oil and water. Think of these as the lifeblood of your vehicle. Without proper oil or water levels your car can not function properly. You may end up with major problems like cracked cylinder heads or seized engines which can run into the thousands to have repaired. For newer vehicles checking once a week is fine but for older vehicles checking every few days is a must. If you’re not sure how to check your car’s fluid levels please come in to see me or one of my experience Auto Mechanics at Dixon Automotive Services and I’ll be more then happy to show you more about car maintenance and car care tips.