American Lube A/C maintenance package includes:

Full Freon evacuation
Vacuum test the system for leakage
Recharge with manufacturer-recommended Freon
Add A/C oil and 1oz. of A/C dye for detection of future small leak

Air Filter
Alert! Air filters need changing every 15,000 miles or once a year, whichever comes first.

The air filter is an important part of a car's intake system. Your engine needs an
exact mixture of fuel and air to run. The air filter prevents out dirt and other
foreign particles from entering the system and possibly damaging your engine.

What happens if I neglect the air filter? Gas mileage will suffer.

Mist
"In-car air quality service".

Harmful allergens live inside the ventilation system and passenger cabin of almost every vehicle on the road. Is your health in danger?

Every time you turn on the fan, harmful spores and other microorganisms are blown into the passenger compartment and into the air you and your passengers breathe.

American Lube protects you and your passengers with regular maintenance on vehicle air quality systems.

Cabin Air Filter
Alert! Cabin air filters should be changed per manufacturer recommendations, usually every 15k miles or at least once per year.

Cabin air filters are a recent innovation in vehicle compartment comfort. A clean cabin air filter ensures the removal of contaminants and reduces restriction of air flow in your vehicle's heating and cooling systems.

They also prevent pollen, spores, road dust and soot from entering your vehicle –reduce the amount of contamination in the air you breathe – and help keep your vehicle interior cleaner.

Bulbs
At American Lube, safety is the #1 goal. That's why inspecting lights on your vehicle is part of every service we perform.

Our technicians inspect brake lights, tag light, turn signal lights, marker lights, taillights, back-up lights, fog lights and headlights. Then, we replace bulbs at your convenience.

Keep in mind: driving with a burned-out bulb is one safety hazard that can earn you a ticket.

Wiper Blades
How do you know it’s time to change a wiper blade?

Changing wiper blades is necessary when: the blade doesn’t provide appropriate visibility, when it squeaks, or leaves marks on your windshield.

Keep an eye on little things like this can save you time and money.

Engine Flush
Did you know? Up to ½ of a quart or more of oil is left in the engine after a regular oil change. 

This oil is in the form of sludge and deposits that settle in the oil pan or attach themselves to the engine walls; it can also be oil left in the valve train or upper part of the engine.

Oil sludge and deposits can clog oil return ports, block oil from getting to critical areas and build up around piston rings and valve seals causing the engine to burn valuable oil.

Leftover engine oil is the primary source of particulates and debris that cause internal engine friction and wear – robbing you of fuel economy and engine performance. (This is also why new oil looks dirty immediately after an oil change.)

Service Features:

Heated Bilstein solution is pumped through oil filter port at 42 psi. Bilstein solution flows through the engine’s lube system and dissolves sludge and varnish.  Dissolved sludge, varnish and debris flow thorough the oil pan where they are vacuum-extracted to the Bilstein engine service system. 

Service Interval:

Every 15,000 miles or once a year, whichever comes first
After new vehicle break-in period
After late or infrequent oil changes
After head gasket repairs, to remove water contamination
When radiators, radiator hoses, or thermostats are replaced due to overheating
When changing over from a regular oil to synthetic oil
After engine flooding
Before emissions testing

Serpentine Belt
Alert! Most manufactures recommend replacement of the serpentine belt or drive belts every 75,000 miles, or when there are visible cracks on the belt itself. 

What is the serpentine belt?
On most cars, the serpentine belt drives the alternator (which charges the battery); the power steering pump (pumps power steering fluid into the rack & pinion); and A/C compressor.  On some cars, the serpentine belt also runs the water pump (pump’s coolant into the engine block).

A serpentine belt or drive belt runs by the harmonic balancer, turned by the engine’s crankshaft. The serpentine belt goes through a series of pulleys in a certain design depending on the manufacturer. The belt is tensioned by a spring-loaded pulley, or by the pulley’s themselves.

Many of today’s cars run on one long serpentine belt, but there are still some vehicles that use different drive belts to run different components.

Service Features:

Inspect belt tensioner
Inspect pulleys for squeak noise and possible replacement
Replace serpentine belt or drive belt
Test drive for safety precautions

Tune-Up
Spark. Fuel. Air. These are the three factors that keep your engine running at optimum capacity:

Spark is provided by an ignition coil, coil pack, or distributor. These parts provide the electricity needed for the spark plug to ignite. Some vehicles use the distributor method which uses an ignition rotor, ignition cap and ignition cables to provide spark to the spark plugs. Some vehicles have coil packs that, with the aid of ignition cables, distributes spark to the spark plugs. In most newer vehicles, ignition coils provide spark directly to the spark plug without ignition cables, caps, or rotors. 

Fuel is pumped to the engine by the fuel pump, which usually moves from the rear of the vehicle, through a fuel filter, then through fuel lines – eventually leading to fuel injectors (located on top of the engine cylinder by the spark plug).

Air is sucked into the engine through an air filter, then through an induction system. Because the engine is a compressed block, it needs air in order for it to work. 

Service Features:
Depending on the vehicle, tune up includes replacement of spark plugs, ignition cables, ignition cap, ignition rotor, fuel filter, air filter, PCV valve and a fuel induction service. 

Regular tune-ups reduce:

• Excessive fuel consumption between tank fill-ups
• Knocking or pinging on acceleration
• Rough running or stalling
• Hard starts

Service Intervals:
Replace air and fuel filters more often then spark plugs. 

Service interval on spark plugs, ignition cables, ignition rotor, and ignition cap could range anywhere from 30,000 miles to every 60,000 or even 90,000 miles. 

Ask one of our service advisors for a more detailed service interval.

Fuel Injection
Stepping on the gas pedal opens the throttle valve and allows the engine to suck more air.

The ECU(Engine Control Unit) then increases the amount of fuel sent to the injectors – using information given by sensors that determine the correct air-to-fuel ratio. 

Service Features:

Premium Fuel Induction Service
Features a chemically modified fuel, injected directly to the fuel rail by a service valve. The fuel pump is disconnected and the engine emptied of gas. Technicians connect a fuel induction machine that carries specially formulated fuel cans – this is the fuel your engine will burn until the cleaning procedure is complete. 

Two-Step Fuel Induction Service
This service is performed while the vehicle is running: first, a fuel injection cleaner is poured into the gas tank; second, an intake/throttle body cleaner is pressurized through the throttle valve or sucked by a vacuum line in the engine.

Both services will:

Clean air intake, plenum, fuel injectors, intake valves and combustion chambers
Remove deposits from EGR passages (intake and exhaust)
Provide ultimate fuel system cleaning

Recommendation: Our premium fuel injection service will do a better job cleaning carbon deposits immediately and will keep your engine running at peak efficiency for a longer period of time.

Benefits:
Carbon, gum and varnish (impurities in fuel) deposits are the major causes of air and fuel restrictions. Getting rid of buildup will:

Increase fuel economy
Improve idle smoothness
Restore power and performance
Reduce change of costly EGR failure replacement
Improve emission results

Timing Belt
Engines feature many moving parts – pistons, rods, camshafts, crankshafts, intake valves, exhaust valves, etc.

The timing belt or timing chain synchronizes these parts and keeps your motor running. Like a drive belt, the timing belt goes around a series of pulleys, synchronizing the crankshaft and the camshaft.

Cooling System
Alert! Recommended service interval on most vehicles is 30,000 miles, or every two years. Neglecting your cooling system may lead to deterioration of parts and/or possible engine damage.

Moving parts inside the engine block create friction and heat. That’s why you have a cooling system: to cool the engine and avoid damage.

Antifreeze(coolant) is a chemical that can withstand extreme temperatures and has properties that maximize the cooling process better than water – but antifreeze, like any chemical compound, wears out.

Coolant Cycle:
Antifreeze moves from the radiator assembly through the upper radiator hose, then through the thermostat into the engine block, where it is propelled by the water pump through the heater core. After coolant goes through the heater core, it goes back to the engine block and back to the radiator through the radiator hose.

This cycle happens continually inside your engine, and that’s why it’s critical to maintain the cooling system.

Service Features:
In a cooling system flush, a machine is integrated to the coolant cycle.

The flush varies depending on the vehicle: in some cars, a suction coolant flush machine is used to suck out the old antifreeze completely before refilling the system with the manufacturer-recommended coolant. 

On most cars, the upper radiator hose is disconnected and a coolant flush machine is connected, acting as part of the coolant cycle where the old coolant is collected in a container while the manufacturer recommended coolant flows through the system. 

Both methods consume about 2 gallons of coolant until the system is fully flushed.

The coolant reservoir on most cars is cleaned and washed. All of the used coolant is disposed of responsibly. 

Benefits:
Extend the life of hoses, water pump, heater core, thermostat and radiator
Reduce operating temperature of the cooling system, automatic transmission and A/C
Remove rust, scale and sludge

Differentials
Alert! We recommend differential service every 15-30,000 miles. 

What is a differential?
If you have a rear wheel drive or a four-wheel drive vehicle, you have a differential. 

The differential helps the transmission power the wheels on a vehicle. Rear-wheel drive vehicles have one differential.  Four-wheel drive vehicles have two: one for the front wheels and one for the back.

Four-wheel drive vehicles have a transfer case that controls whether the car should be in two- or four-wheel drive mode. This is done either manually by the driver or automatically, depending on the vehicle, by sensors that determine when four-wheel drive is required. 

The differentials use fluid to run smoothly. Changing the fluid removes debris and helps to keep bearings and gears free of varnish and deposits.

Service Features:

Drain and fill differential fluid

Benefits:

Ensure smooth and quiet operation
Eliminate “slip/pop” noise associated with limited slip differentials
Increase the life of the differentials

Power Steering Flush
Alert! Flush your power steering fluid every 30,000 miles or every two years to keep fresh fluid in the system. 

When you turn the steering wheel in your car, the wheels turn, right?  Sounds simple, but it’s not: lots of interesting things go on between the steering wheel and the tires to make this happen.

The power steering pump is a great example. It helps pump fluid through the system by creating system pressure, routing pressurized fluid into a cylinder that helps push the wheels in the direction you desire.

The pump produces pressure between 800 and 2000 pounds, along with high heat (which leads to fluid breakdown and failure). Problem in the power steering pump? Symptoms include whining noises, erratic steering and pump leaks. 

The rack and pinion makes up the rest of the power steering system. It includes the steering wheel, the steering shaft, pinion and the rack.

Many miles of turning and twisting cause power steering fluid to degrade and accumulate contaminants. The contaminants include metal particles, rubber, dirt and moisture.  If left in the system, they can cause failure, expensive parts and repairs.

Service Features:

The power steering flush service replaces your power steering fluid entirely, removing the old fluid and debris along with it. 

Benefits:          

Extend the life of your system
Prevent premature wear of parts
Keep seals soft and pliable
Promote smoother, quieter performance

Transmission
Alert! Recommended service interval for automatic transmissions is every 30,000 miles. Manual transmissions require service every 15-30,000 miles. 

The transmission transmits the power from the engine and propels the axles, making your tires move. There are two types of transmissions: manual and automatic. American Lube services both!

What does the transmission fluid do? 

Creates hydraulic pressure to allow the vehicle to go forward/reverse 
Absorbs and dissipate heat that develops during driving creating wear and tear on mechanical and electronic parts
Lubricates mechanical parts to ensure proper performance
Increases the life of the transmission 

When should I replace transmission fluid?

Replace fluids when they become dark or discolored—this is an indication that the fluid is burnt and can no longer dissipate the heat.

As the fluid ages, contaminants such as clutch material and metal debris build up and viscosity breaks down … leaving your transmission vulnerable to failure and expensive repairs.

Old transmission fluid can create poor performance. These decreases are difficult to detect. Often, drivers don’t notice them until they experience a major transmission breakdown. 

Service Features:

Conventional service only changes 25% percent of fluid, leaving you with 75% contaminated fluid inside the transmission. 

American Lube offers full transmission fluid exchange which dissolves and suspends gums and varnish in the transmission valve body, torque converter, pan, filter, cooler, and cooler lines. 

We remove all fluid and debris from the system and install new fluid. On an automatic transmission, we use 10-15 quarts of ATF (automatic transmission fluid), to flush the system. On a manual transmission, we do a simple drain and fill process, using 3-5 quarts of gear oil 

Benefits:

Eliminate hard shifting, shattering and transmission slipping
Run the transmission at cooler temperatures
Decrease wear-and-tear
Increase the life of the transmission

Tire Balance
Alert! Every 6,000-8,000 miles. That’s our recommended service interval for tire balance.

Think of tire balance every time you rotate your tires. Periodic balancing minimizes the impact of unbalanced wheels on your car (it’s not uncommon to lose a wheel weight). 

A tire is out of balance when one section of the tire is heavier than the rest. Out-of-balance tires cause cars to vibrate at certain speeds, usually between 50 and 70 mph. In fact, just 1 oz. of imbalance on a front tire is enough to cause a noticeable vibration in the steering wheel at about 60 mph!

Service Features:
The certified technician mounts the tire on a balancing machine, which spins the wheel to locate the heavier part. The technician compensates for the heavy part by attaching a lead weight on the opposite side.

Customers are pleasantly surprised at how smooth their car drives after balancing all four wheels.

Tire Rotation
Alert! American Lube recommends tire rotation every 7,000-8,000 miles.

Tires are essential to all vehicles. As most passenger vehicles are front wheel drive and have the engine mounted in the front, all friction and thread wear goes to the front tires. Periodic tire rotation prevents uneven tire wear and extends the life of your tires.         

Service Features:
Certified technicians remove your rear and front tires and rotate them accordingly.

While the tires are off, we also inspect brakes, ball joints, tie rod ends, possible alignment problem, axles and visible nails on tire thread. After inspection, tires are bolted and torque to manufacturer’s specs.

Tire Plug
American Lube offers tire plug service to repair leaks.  The plug usually lasts for the life of the tire – and this service provides a quick and inexpensive way to save your tire.

Service Features:
A certified technician performs a visual inspection for suspicious objects, sometimes using soapy water to identify bubbles.

Once the leak is located, the technician removes the object, installs the plug and cleans out the excess tar.

Battery Replacement
Car battery gone bad? Or, can it be saved? You’ll know for sure after American Lube technicians test the cold cranking amp and determine the exact battery capacity.

If a new battery is in order, American Lube technicians will:

Remove and responsibly dispose of the old battery
Install a new, durable battery from Interstate Batteries
Inspect and clean battery terminals
Check alternator output

Battery Maintenance
Just like the belts, hoses and fluids that keep your car running at peak performance and efficiency, your car’s battery needs regular maintenance, too. American Lube battery technicians ensure lasting performance with regular inspections and maintenance:

Perform visual inspection of battery and cables
Clean corrosion from the battery
Add water to fill holes, if necessary
Test electrolyte in each cell using a hydrometer
Determinate if the terminals need replacement
Service or replace terminals