Merritt Island Auto Repair

Gaskets, sensors, oil pans, and valves are parts and components of your car engine that facilitate a car's efficient and safe running. At the bottom section of the engine block lies an oil pan that covers the crankcase and is fastened to the engine using bolts. An oil pan serves as a motor oil reservoir that circulates through the engine to lubricate and cool moving parts. But what is an oil pan gasket? Read on and find out more. What is Oil Pan Gasket? The oil pan gasket is what seals your oil pan to the engine block to prevent oil from leaking as it flows from the pan to the engine and back. It also acts as a cushion to avoid damage that vibrations from the engine may cause. Oil pan gaskets are made from durable materials like steel and aluminized seals with a rubber coating that can withstand high heat and pressure. However, the type of oil pan gasket in your car depends on the oil pan material. For instance, a pressed steel pan uses a rubber gasket, while aluminum pans use ... read more

Your brake pads are a vital piece of your vehicle’s braking system. Over time, these pads require replacing as they wear down with miles. When your brake pads wear thin, you won’t be able to miss them. They’ll squeal every time you brake, and you’ll notice a drop in brake performance.   Routine brake checks and service is the best way to ensure your safety and catch when your brakes wear down. Depending on your car and the nature of usage, you can go anywhere between 30,000 and 70,000 miles before replacing brake pads.    If you live in a crowded city or have long commutes, you may need to replace them more often than those living in rural areas. Road conditions can also impact how often you need to change your brake pads. Furthermore, proper brake usage can reduce the strain on your brake pads. On the other hand, harshly pressing on brakes and making hard stops can cause your brakes to wear down quicker.   Besides physically inspecting ... read more

If you're planning to do a road trip this summer, it is essential that you take the steps to make sure your vehicle is safe to do so. The last thing you want to ruin all the fun is a car breakdown or an accident. Below is the ultimate checklist for your road trip this summer. Inspect all the fluids Your vehicle has many fluids, including motor oil, coolant, transmission fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid, windshield wiper solvent, and more.  These need to be at an appropriate level and free of contaminants for optimal performance. Plus, you'll want to top off on your gas tank too. Check belts and hoses A simple inspection of your timing belt and serpentine belt can be of major significance in preventing a breakdown. A belt failure can cause significant damage and a troubling breakdown. If you need help with this step, feel free to give our auto repair shop a visit. Monitor your tires Your vehicle's tires should be properly inflated before any big trip ... read more

So this is my first Valentine’s Day with my son and it is always a blast with my Daughter! Both of my kids enrich my life and, like most parents, drive me crazy but I wouldn’t have it any other way! We truly enjoy spoiling them with kisses, candy and fun events! Love is in the air and whether you love your vehicle or not, taking care of your investment is always a pretty good idea. Now I do know some people that actually get Valentine's Day things for their vehicles but those folks are few and far between. Most of us do what we need to, or can afford, to keep everything working correctly to keep their families safe while on the road. Checking brakes, doing standard maintenance, changing out coolant and other fluids along with the oil changes are the best way to protect your investment and keep everything running! Until next time... Owner/Operator JP Snead

I’d like to take a moment and speak with the parents out there. If you did not know, my family is on the verge of growing at the end of this month. My son, John Ivan Snead, ‘due’ Nov 1st, but if he follows suit with his sister, he’ll be here early and maybe even a Halloween baby! Having a child is probably the most exciting thing I have ever been a part of, and having a second is not much different than the first. We are excited, hopeful and really just can’t wait to meet the ball of joy! The funny part is, both my wife and I have stopped each other and said, “what have we done?!” It’s funny I know; we are going from a potty-trained 4.5 yr old to a brand new baby! We are over the moon and can’t wait to show pictures when my wife allows it. Thank goodness due dates for services are not like babies being born! Now, I get that some vehicles are treated like babies and cared for even better than some folks treat their children, but I&r ... read more