auto shop Archives | Big Oak Citgo

Our process is greater than the sum of its parts…

Original, Aftermarket, Re-manufactured, Rebuilt, and Used parts, that is.

When repairing your car, we select parts from a variety of sources and the choice is based on a thoughtful and thorough process. If you sit in our waiting room and overhear Mike or Tom on the phone with a parts house, you may think it’s a simple undertaking for him to order a set of spark plugs or a headlamp assembly for the car on the lift in the shop. In reality, a great deal of time, expertise, and understanding have gone into the decision-making process for each and every part that we stock or order as we work on your vehicle. With the collective experience of our technicians & service-writers behind us, we can provide you with the best possible value on every repair we undertake.
Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at how we determine the best parts to use for a range of repairs and maintenance. To learn more, read on:

OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) Parts

We purchase these parts directly from dealerships.
These are the exact parts used when your vehicle was built.

Aftermarket parts made to OEM Specifications

These parts are made to the original manufacturer’s specifications and typically function in exactly the same way the original parts do, they are simply made by a different manufacturer.
Sometimes they are even made by the same manufacturer but under a different brand name, therefore only the name on the box is different.
Example: Toyota owns a parts manufacturer called Denso. Denso makes all the spark plugs for Toyota and their subsidiary companies. Consumers can buy Denso spark plugs for a fraction of the price of the Toyota brand despite them being identical. The part is literally the same exact part made in the same exact plant and only the name on the box differs.

Innovative aftermarket parts

Some aftermarket companies have created a niche for themselves by improving on issues in the original parts design.
This option offers solutions for notorious issues that plague certain makes and models.

Remanufactured parts

These are previously-used parts or “cores” that have been remanufactured to the original blue prints and manufacturer’s specifications.
Once remanufactured, the parts are put through the same testing process that the original part was put through when it was made.
In certain applications, remanufactured parts dominate the market.
Rebuilt parts
With rebuilt parts, the cause of failure is identified and resolved – only the failed components are fixed before the overall part is resold.
In this instance, it’s important to be mindful that other age-related issues may remain, unrelated to the immediate reason for failure.

Used parts

These parts were used on a previous vehicle and are typically purchased as-is.
When we purchase used engines and transmissions from trustworthy vendors, the parts are usually tested briefly before being shipped out.
It is always a good idea to purchase additional parts & labor warranties when using these parts, therefore we typically purchase a full year of parts & labor coverage in these instances.
In many applications, repairing a vehicle with used parts is by far the most affordable option.

If you have any questions about our process or about your vehicle’s replacement parts specifically, please contact us and we will be happy to provide you with personalized advice.

In addition to helping you find the best parts for your repairs, we can ensure your vehicle remains safe and reliable with our comprehensive maintenance services. Our service advisers will be happy to assist you — make an appointment by calling 215-295-4535 or visit www.bigoakcitgo.com to make an online appointment request.

When Your Check Engine Light Comes On, Take Your Car to Your Yardley Auto Repair Shop

The warning lights on your dashboard are the closest your car can get to telling you something is wrong. There will no doubt come a day when the computer system in your car will literally tell you something is wrong, but until that day comes you have to rely on the lights. The moment your check engine light comes on, you know that something is wrong. The trouble is that you really have no more information than that.

Now, if your oil light goes on, the solution is rather straightforward, you stop and add oil to your engine. You then take your car to your Yardley auto repair station and have them discover the reason your oil was low. The same holds true when your gas light goes on, you stop and fill your tank. But for some reason, many people simply ignore the fact their check engine light is on. Unfortunately, this is not how you should react when that light goes on.

Perhaps people think that the engine light will go off if ignored long enough. But this is rarely the case. There are any number of things that can trigger your check engine light including:

A damaged oxygen sensor
Misfiring spark plugs
A loose gas cap

If you are lucky, simply tightening your gas cap will resolve the issue. But this is unlikely. What you need to do is take your car to your Yardley mechanic to discover what is wrong.

The entire purpose of your check engine light is to alert you to a problem. When the light goes on you don’t have to immediately stop and have your car towed to the nearest mechanic, but you should schedule an appointment when you get a chance.

Ignoring your check engine light is foolish enough, even more concerning is the fact there are those who go through the trouble of covering the light with black tape. Like that is going to resolve anything. Just suck it up and take your car in to have the issue fixed, it is the right decision.

If Your Car is Overheating, Bring It to Your Yardley Mechanic as Soon as Possible

There could be any number of reasons why your engine is overheating, but the main cause usually involves the cooling system failing to some extent. If your car is overheating, bring it to your Yardley mechanic as soon as possible. Here are some reasons your car is overheating.

There could be a leak in the cooling system. A cooling system leak is by far the most common reason your car suffers overheating. The leak could be from any number of places, the radiator, hoses, water pump and freeze plugs top name just a few. In order to find the leak, we will perform a pressure test.

You could have a faulty thermostat that is causing your car to overheat. The thermostat in your car responds to the engine temperature, opening when the radiator fluid gets hot enough. If it gets stuck, your engine will overheat.

There are any number of blocked passages that would cause your car to overheat. Rust, dirt and other debris can impede coolant flow and cause problems. There are also other contaminants that can cause premature failure of your cooling system.

A radiator fan that wobbles, has broken blades or just doesn’t work is yet another reason for cooling system failure.

Your cooling system consists of a number of hoses that carries engine coolant throughout the engine. If any of these hoses has cracks or splits and leaks, it causes a disruption in the flow of coolant and the engine will overheat.

These are just a few causes of engine overheating.

Your Yardley Auto Repair Shop Can Change Your Timing Belt

If your Yardley auto repair shop informed you that your car’s timing belt needed to be changed, you might wonder if it was really necessary. But your timing belt is a critical component of your engine and if it breaks, your engine will fail. You certainly don’t want to be cruising down the Interstate at 75 mph and have it break, that would definitely be an unwanted issue.

Your timing belt is responsible for the synchronization of your engine’s functions, it controls the crankshaft and camshaft and the opening and closing of the many valves in your engine. When a timing belt does break, the valves will open at the wrong time and hit the pistons, causing potentially serious damage.

Unfortunately, this will not be obvious signs that a timing belt is near the end if its life. Which is why it is highly recommended you have yours changed every 60,000 to 100,000 miles or per manufacturer’s recommendations. Timing belts are largely ignored by car owners, but should be high on the list of maintenance. In many cases, it is totally worth having the water pump and other hardware replaced at the same time in an effort to save money.

Now, if you are lucky, you might suffer symptoms of a faulty timing belt before it breaks including loss of power, loss of fuel economy, engine vibration and misfiring.

While having your timing belt replaced will set you back several hundred dollars, replacing your broken timing belt and fixing the damage it has done could easily run thousands of dollars.

Your Morrisville Auto Repair Shop is Here to Give You a Few Very Good Reasons You Should Bring Your Car in for Those Regular Oil Changes

We all know that you need to have the oil changed in your car, truck or SUV every 3,000 to 5,000 miles, but many of us just don’t know why. In fact, you spend a lot of time moaning and groaning about having to get your oil changed and procrastinate as much as you possibly can. This is something we just don’t get. An oil change is certainly one of the least expensive auto maintenance services your car needs. Yet despite its low cost and short turnaround time, it still seems to be a thorn in the sides of most. Your Morrisville auto repair shop is here to give you a few very good reasons you should bring your car in for those regular oil changes.

There are numerous components to your car’s engine, and they are all moving in some way or another and without oil would seize up in a matter of moments. Your engine gets very hot from the thousands of little explosions taking place, oil helps pull the heat from the combustion chambers and basically prevents your engine from blowing up. But as the oil collects heat and carbons, it begins to turn from a slick liquid to sludge. No matter how good your oil is, it will eventually degrade and break down. And this is why you need to change your oil on a regular basis.

If you play the waiting game and procrastinate too long, your oil will only get worse, and the damage that can happen will most certainly cost a whole heck of a lot more than an oil change. This is something you need to seriously consider.

Protect Your Investment by Having Your Vehicle Serviced by the Best Auto Mechanic in Morrisville

Whether you are driving a fancy sports car, four-wheel drive truck or the family minivan, your vehicle is a huge investment. So you will want to protect your investment by having your vehicle serviced by the best auto mechanic in Morrisville. That quality maintenance service will come from a mechanic who is ASE certified. ASE stands for Automotive Service Excellence and is an organization which awards certification to auto mechanics who are far above ordinary in expertise. Why is this important? Let’s just say choosing an ASE certified mechanic over another mechanic is like choosing a Rolex watch over that watch you saw at Walmart. Here are a few reasons you should seriously consider an ASE certified mechanic.

ASE certifications aren’t just given to any mechanic, to be ASE certified, you have to earn it. First, a mechanic must give solid evidence of at least two years worth of experience, and then they are subjected to the testing phase. There are eight areas in the automotive mechanic field that are covered in the testing phase. The tests cover fields including engine repair, transmissions, suspension, brakes and engine performance.

Automotive technology is ever-changing and can be extremely complex. ASE-certified mechanics are trained in the latest developments in automotive technology. Having a knowledgeable mechanic in your corner is key to protecting your investment.

If you own a high-performance car, you might be throwing your money away by having a non-certified mechanic working on it. An ASE-certified mechanic will take the time and holds the skills to ensure the work is done right the first time.

As a car owner, you want to do everything possible to ensure your automobile gets as much life out of it as possible. This happens when you have a highly trained ASE-certified mechanic on the job.

Your Morrisville Auto Repair Shop Urges You to Keep Your Car Well Maintained

We understand that many households are on strict budgets, which often means having to make tough decisions on what to buy and what not to spend money on. So there are no doubt people who delay or altogether skip routine car maintenance services. As your Morrisville auto repair company, we are here to tell you this will only wind up costing you more money in the future and perhaps even more dire situations.

Poorly maintained vehicles cause thousands of auto accidents every year. The cost for accidents resulting from underperforming vehicles tops well over $2 billion a year. But even if you avoid such an accident, ignoring regular car maintenance will reduce the lifespan of your car or truck. Some experts say you can lose as much as 50,000 miles on the life of your car by not having it properly maintained. This easily adds up to several years of faithful service.

But the true cost of not maintaining your vehicle comes in hefty repair bills for ruined brakes, tires chewed up prematurely because of alignment issues and even failed engines. Here is a breakdown:

Oil Changes– $120 a year for regular oil changes vs. $4,000 engine replacement
Tire Rotation– $50 a year tire rotation vs. $400-800 new tires
Timing Belt– $600 to replace belt vs. $3,000 to repair engine when belt breaks
Brake Inspection– $100-$300 replacing brake pads vs. $300-$600 replacing drums and rotors

So now you know that skipping out on those oil changes will wind up costing you dearly down the road. Make the right choice and bring your car or truck in to have regular maintenance performed on it.

Now is an Ideal Time to Take Your Vehicle to Your Yardley Mechanic for Some Necessary Services

We are sure you have noticed, it is something you have been looking forward to for several months. There is no doubt about it, the days are getting longer and the weather is getting warmer as winter begins to release its icy grip. Soon, spring will be here.

And what does that mean?

Well, it means you need to prepare for spring cleaning, set up the sprinkler system, tune up the lawn mower and have your vehicle serviced. You see, the shorter days, freezing cold weather and potholes have taken its toll on your car or truck. So now is an ideal time to take your vehicle to your Yardley/Morrisville mechanic for some necessary services. You heard us, now is the time you need an established, ASE-certified mechanic to work on your car. truck or SUV.

Here are the Areas of Concern

Tires– It is critical you have your tires checked in the spring. Low tire pressure can result in a blowout, diminished handling and will cost you gas mileage. It is probably also about time to have your tires rotated. We will also check to ensure your tires are wearing evenly, uneven wear might indicate a wheel alignment is needed.

Fluids– Low fluids can be detrimental to your vehicle and owners often discover this when the weather warms up, to their dismay. The time is now to have all your fluids checked and replaced if necessary.

Hoses and Belts– All these items deteriorate with age and especially when weather variances change. We will check and replace cracked hoses and frayed belts.

These are just a few things you need to have checked on your vehicle this spring. To ensure your car, truck or SUV is in great working order come this summer, have it serviced now.

The Benefits of Having Your Car or Truck Regularly Maintained by Your Yardley ASE Master Certified Automotive Technicians

In our previous article, we were exploring the benefits of having your car or truck regularly maintained by your Yardley ASE Master Certified Automotive Technicians. In order to keep your car or truck running at peak efficiency and extend the life of your automobile, several maintenance measures need to take place on a regular basis. Here is a detailed list.

Oil and Filter Change

Regular oil changes are one of the most common maintenance requirements for the performance of your car or truck. Regular oil and filter changes are critical to the life of your engine. While the oil in your vehicle lubricates and reduces wear and friction, it also carries heat away from critical areas and helps engines run cooler. Regular oil changes also help combat corrosion and rust and reduces engine noise. Changing your oil and filter has proven to be key in a long and trouble-free engine life.

Brakes

It is fairly obvious that having properly functioning brakes are essential in ensuring your safety. Newer cars have many improved features in regards to braking systems, but they should still undergo regular maintenance checks to avoid failures that could be costly and dangerous. If you notice operational issues with your brakes, seek our help as soon as possible.

Tires

Here is something you rarely think about while driving to work, the entire weight of your car or truck is resting on your tires. Therefore, your tires play a vital role in the overall performance of your vehicle. By having regular tire checks, we can look for faulty issues including underinflated tires, overinflated tires, and uneven wear. Part of tire maintenance includes tire rotation, which leads to longer lasting tires and increased safety.

Regular auto maintenance is important and should not be overlooked. Give us a call and schedule an appointment today.

Reasons to Have Your Vehicle Serviced on a Regular Basis at Big Oak Citgo, Your Yardley Auto Repair Shop

There is nothing more frustrating than encountering an issue with your car or truck or having it break down at the worst possible time. When you think about it, there is really never a good time or place to have a breakdown. But this doesn’t have to be the case. There are ways you can improve the odds of not suffering an auto breakdown and that is to have your vehicle serviced on a regular basis at Big Oak Citgo, your Yardley auto repair shop.

When you purchase a new or even a used car, it is a costly investment that requires care and scheduled visits to your auto mechanic as a way to protect your assets. After all, you will want to do what you can to avoid expensive repairs and the frustrations of breakdowns. Regular car maintenance will also increase the life of your vehicle, which will also save you money in the long run.

You might be on a tight budget and hesitate at the idea of scheduling a maintenance appointment. But consider that a poorly maintained vehicle will cost you hundreds if not thousands of dollars in repairs when something does go wrong, something that could have been prevented with routine maintenance. The Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association discovered that Americans spend about $62 billion annually on repairs for vehicles with underperformed maintenance. It would be a shame to be part of that statistic.

In order to keep your car or truck performing at peak efficiency and extend the life of it, there are several maintenance measures you need to take including oil and filter changes, tire checks, brake checks and more.

Check back and we will get into detail why each of these maintenance measures is critical for peak performance of your car.