Automotive Industry News & Information - Downtown Automotive

At some point, while waiting for your tank to fill up, you’ve probably wondered what the difference is between the choices of gasoline at the pump. Typically, you see three buttons, with a number between 85 and 98, in ascending order and ascending prices. These numbers are octane ratings, which you probably know; but what is an octane rating, really?

Your drivetrain is where most of the process of moving your vehicle occurs. The drivetrain includes all the parts powered by the engine to turn the wheels, including the transmission, axles, or driveshafts that combine efforts to propel your car forward (or backward, when you’re in reverse.) At Downtown Automotive in Siler City, NC, our drivetrain specialists are well equipped to keep your car, truck, or SUV reliably on the road and running smoothly along.

The time to know if your brakes are going bad is NOT when you go to stop at that red light or on the parkway when someone suddenly swerves in front of you. It's not always "just" brake pads either, your brake master cylinder could be an issue. How do you recognize the signs that you have a real problem with your brake master cylinder and just what is it? Here atDowntown Automotive in Siler City, NC we not only have the answers, but we also put together a service schedule for you and keep an eye on issues based on your driving habits, vehicle type and your description of issues you are having. We treat your car, truck or SUV as if it were ours keeping you informed of issues we find so you can get them fixed "before" there are larger repair bills so you can keep your vehicle Newer - Longer! Below is everything you need to look for and tips on your brake master cylinder.

Your gas mileage mostly depends on what kind of car you drive; engine displacement and vehicle weight are the largest determining factors on gas mileage, and there’s not much you can do to change either of those. That doesn’t mean attempting to improve your fuel economy is a completely hopeless endeavor, however. With these tips from Downtown Automotive in Siler City, NC, you might be surprised how much your fuel mileage can be improved.

inside view of gas tank of car with gas getting put in

With a few exceptions, today’s vehicles get much better gas mileage than they did even a couple of decades ago, despite getting constantly heavier and more powerful. How do they do it? Here are the points, from Downtown Automotive in Siler City, NC.

Your tires are obviously important. However, it’s often underappreciated how much of a difference they make in the ride quality of your car, truck, or SUV, and what they can tell you about the condition of your vehicle. At Downtown Automotive in Siler City, NC, we like to keep you well informed on what your vehicle is telling you, and how to keep it in good shape. Your tires have a lot to do with that.

mechanic smiling in front of car on lift and another mechanic working on it

We strive to be the best in Siler City, NC. Part of that is providing our customers with the most concise and up-to-date knowledge available. Here are a few quick tips we'd like to share with you to keep your car running in the best condition possible. Don't hesitate to come by and see us with any and all questions you may have. Downtown Automotive is here to help!

At Downtown Automotive in Siler City, NC, we understand how frustrating it is when your vehicle makes mysterious noises that it shouldn’t be making. Here’s a rundown on suspension bushings, to help you figure out what that sound is you keep hearing.