Sherman Oaks Auto Repair

If you don't know much about vehicles, routine checkups can seem intimidating. Yet, not everything is complicated. Checking your oil is a simple task you can handle in only a minute or two. Follow these steps, and you'll be a pro in no time. 1. Properly Prepare Your Vehicle To ensure an accurate reading, you need to do some prep work. First, make sure you are parked on a level surface. Next, consult your owner's manual to find out if your engine needs to be cool or not before checking the oil. Typically it should be cool, however, this is not a requirement in some newer models. 2. Find and Remove the Dipstick With the engine off, pop the hood. Underneath, you will find a dipstick: a long metal rod used to check the oil. Often, it has a loop on top for you to easily grab. If you are having difficulty locating it, refer to your owner's manual. Once you have located the dipstick, pull it out. Have a paper towel or any type of rag on hand, as the metal will be covered ... read more

What Are The Benefits of A Tire Rotation? Tire rotation involves routinely repositioning the vehicle's tires in particular patterns, such as side to side and front to rear. This practice is usually for safety and upkeep. It may also be a requirement to keep them covered under warranty. According to auto technicians, you should have tire rotations done every 6,000 to 8,000 miles depending on the terrain. Apart from the above benefits, here are other reasons why you should do it. Ensures the Longevity of the Tire Tread The wearing of a tire tread depends on the wheel position on the vehicle. You do not want to have the tire replaced when sections of its surface are still left unused. When you rotate tires, you ensure even wear and tear over time. It extends the life of the tire as each position uses a specific section of the tire. Good Driving Performance The depth of the treads is vital for tire traction. It, in turn, affects t ... read more

Let's say you wake up in the morning and grab your car keys, but you are having trouble starting your car. At this point, you might be wondering what's wrong with your car. It's important to be aware of the possible underlying reasons so that you would know what to expect. Let's dig in. Possible Reasons Your Car Won't Start There can be a variety of reasons that can cause trouble starting the car, let's discuss some of them: #1. Your Car Battery Is Dead If your car battery is dead, your car won't start! It's quite a common issue. Your car's battery is responsible for providing power to the electrical components of the car. The car battery can be dead because of the expired lifespan or you might have left the headlights on overnight. There could be any other issue too. #2. The Fuel Filter Is Clogged It's possible that the fuel filter is clogged thus, your car won't be able to run the way it should as the gasoline can't reach the eng ... read more

What is a cooling system, and what exactly does it do? A cooling system flush is a mechanical system that keeps your vehicles from overheating. This process is very important as energy in your vehicle has a conversion process from where gasoline becomes heat energy that fuels your car. This energy and the cooling system work together to prevent your engine from overheating but at the same time, allows your engine to become heated quickly in times of cold weather where your car is at risk of being damaged from the severe cold. In order for your cooling system to blend in and deal with both burning hot and freezing cold temperatures and use them to their advantage, it uses a substance called antifreeze, which has elements of ethylene glycol inside which absorb heat and cool the engine, as well as using the absorbed heat and oxygen to warm the engine when the car is cold. How often is the cooling flush system needed? Your cooling flush system will always be intact and needed, so the q ... read more

Happy New Year! You may be starting 2021 with one or more resolutions, and including a few for your car is a great idea to consider. As a regular driver, there are many ways to improve your safety, efficiency, and driving habits. Consider some of the following ideas to make some resolutions for your own car: Learn Basic Maintenance Can you change a tire or check your oil? Learning simple tasks to keep your car in good condition is vital for optimal performance. Keeping a spare tire and a few tools on hand will get you out of a difficult situation while rotating your tires, and keeping an eye on your engine's performance and oil levels are of utmost importance and may save you a towing fee or calling roadside assistance. Get Regular Tune-ups Ensuring that your car is performing at its best isn't a luxury but necessary to avoid unnecessary repairs and damage. Getting regular tune-ups will prevent many common problems that could leave you stranded or in a situation that will c ... read more

How do I choose the right motor oil for my car? This is one of the most frequently asked questions by new motorists. Given the wide variety of motor oils available in the market today, settling on the right one for your car may be challenging. Let's help you make an informed decision when choosing the right oil by explaining the differences between different conventional and synthetic oils. Conventional Oil Commonly known as regular or mineral-based oil, conventional oil is a lubricant sourced and refined from crude oil. Synthetic Oil Synthetic oil is a human-made lubricant manufactured from synthetic base oils that have been chemically synthesized. In other words, synthetic oil is made from artificially synthesized chemical compounds, but the base material is derived from distilled crude oil. Is Synthetic Oil the Best Option for My Car? When compared to conventional oil, the answer to this question is a big YES! This is due ... read more

Tires are designed to be filled to specific air pressure in order to function properly. This air pressure helps to ensure that the tire is evenly making traction with the road and also helps to prevent premature wear and tear.  When it comes to your vehicle’s tires, taking care of them can save you both time and money in the long run. The better care you take of your tires, the less stress you’ll find yourself dealing with when something like a tire blowout occurs. Here are some of the risks of driving with tires that have low pressure:  Tire blowouts Uneven tire wear Tire cupping or bulging  Low tread  Decreased fuel efficiency Handling trouble With all of these risk factors, it becomes important to understand what the proper air pressure is for your specific vehicle’s tires and how to check it periodically.  The tire pressure that your vehicle requires will be located on the inside part of your car’s driver side door. You can ... read more

We are in the middle of the fall season, which means that the weather is getting colder, the rain will soon be falling, and the leaves are starting to change color. When the seasons change, it becomes critical to keep an eye on our vehicles and to make sure that we are getting any maintenance or services done so that we can drive safely in the changing environment. With wetter roads and colder temperatures comes new challenges for our vehicles, and there are certain ways that you can help guarantee safe travels wherever you go this fall.  The following maintenance items are important when it comes to getting your vehicle in tip-top shape for fall: Test Your Brakes Driving in wet conditions requires the best working brakes, so having your brake system tested now will help you stay safe through winter.  Replace Windshield Wipers & Wiper Fluid You never know when you'll have to deal with rain, and finding that your wipers don't ... read more

Your vehicle's shock absorbers are super important to the overall comfort and safety of your drive. Their job is to absorb shock from the road (hence their name) and dampen the force that you actually feel after driving over uneven surfaces or bumps. This also helps you keep better control of your vehicle when it comes to steering and braking.  As you can imagine, with a job mentioned above, the shocks are constantly working under a lot of pressure and force, which is why they do tend to wear down over time. When they are worn, they are significantly less effective and they can start to cause damage to other surrounding parts.  When you drive with worn shocks, you may notice that your ride is bumpier than usual. Besides the actual comfort of your drive, worn shocks can actually begin to damage connecting suspension components and wear down your tires unevenly and excessively. This is why it is important to have your shocks replaced as soon as you notice that they aren ... read more

When it comes to owning a Land Rover, Jaguar, Rolls Royce, Porsche, or other brands of modern vehicles, preventative maintenance is a key part of protecting your investment and maintaining the overall health of your vehicle. If your vehicle is kept in top condition, you will ensure that your vehicle is reliable and will save yourself money in the long run on repairs. At Sherman Oaks Exclusive in Sherman Oaks, CA, we are the experts when it comes to maintenance for Land Rover, luxury vehicles, Jeep, Porsche, European vehicles, and much more. Our ASE certified mechanics will help you stay on top of your vehicle’s recommended services. As fellow vehicle owners, we understand that keeping on track with recommended services can be difficult. At our Sherman Oaks car repair shop, we help you take control of your vehicle’s preventive maintenance. We help remind you of when any services are due and get you scheduled into our shop at a time that is convenient for you. Our goal is to ... read more