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Here in Alabama, we really look forward to football season every year! When there’s a snap in the air and the leaves are starting to turn, that’s when it’s time to load up the truck and head to the game…and set up for a tailgate party with some delicious snacks and cold drinks. At Don Duncan’s All American Auto & Tire in Montgomery, AL, we want to help you get down the road with our Oil Change Special. Through the month of October, $34.95 will buy you: --Oil change with five quarts of prem...

You know that winter and bad weather are coming. Is your car ready? Here’s a quick checklist of things to get up to speed on: Motor oil: Motor oil has a tendency to thicken in cold weather, making it harder to circulate to upper engine parts at startup. If you haven’t ever used synthetic oil before, this might be a good time to start. The flow properties of synthetic oil are a lot more consistent, meaning it doesn’t thicken in sub-freezing temperatures or thin out when it’s hot outside. Wip...

You rely on your car every day, and you have a lot of money tied up in it. It’s probably one of the more valuable things you own…so make sure you get the most out of that investment: Oil changes: Changing your motor oil at regular intervals will ensure long engine life by cutting wear and friction and helping to prevent the buildup of sludge and carbon on internal engine assemblies. Cooling system: Older cast-iron engines could overheat with no serious consequences, but not so with today’s a...

Sure, your car is a machine. An inanimate object. But when you rely on inanimate objects as much as we do our cars, it’s hard not to get attached to them and think of them as (almost) family. With Christmas right around the corner, how about a little Christmas love for the family member out in the garage? At Don Duncan’s All American Auto & Tire Centers in Montgomery, AL, we’d like to offer up a few suggestions: ·         Air filter: If your Christmas budget is stretched thin, an air filter’...

Some people love winter. They love the snow, the snap in the air, the short days and cozy nights at home. Others can’t stand it, for many of the same reasons. Regardless of whether you love it or hate it, though, chances are you’re going to have to get out and drive in it at some point. We’ve got a few suggestions to help you through the winter safely:  • Make sure you’ve got a well-maintained car. This includes fresh windshield wipers, proper tire inflation, a strong battery, a properl...

You may have noticed that carmakers are pushing the service departments of their dealerships more and more in advertising. Ford touts themselves as “America’s Newest Tire Store” and GM’s “Good Wrench Service Plus” has been around for a long time. So why is that happening? ·         With discounts and special financing, the profit margins on new cars have dropped considerably, and dealerships have to generate more business through their service departments. ·         At one time, warranty ...

Differential Service – Why Is It Important?    Of all the various things on a vehicle that need regular service and maintenance, the differential is too often neglected. But what exactly is it, and what does it do?    Visualize a rear-wheel-drive vehicle making a right-hand turn. As the car turns to the right, the left rear wheel will have to actually cover a longer distance and spin at a different speed than the right wheel. If the rear axle was delivering the same torque to both wheels, the...

At Don Duncan’s All American Auto & Tire Centers in Birmingham, AL, we sometimes encounter questions about oil changes…what they are, how often they should be done, things like that. Today, we wanted to take a moment and go over a few of those FAQs:    Q: Why is motor oil so important?  A: Without motor oil, your engine would not be able to run at all. Motor oil provides a film of lubrication between moving parts, reducing friction and wear and helping to disperse heat. It also limits the mov...

Often, drivers are mystified by how their cars actually work. It’s to be expected. Even an older car is a complex machine with many sub-assemblies that all work together to move it down the road. As a result, drivers tend to be a little intimidated by auto repair and often tend to not inform themselves by asking the necessary questions of a tech or a garage. Too often, that ends up being a big mistake. Here are some examples of the kinds of things you really should know before any auto repair ...

If you’re old enough, you probably remember the cars from the late 70s and early 80s that weren’t good for much more than 120,000 miles before they started to develop real problems and were junkyard bound. Today, thanks to improvements in design, metallurgy, manufacturing techniques and machining, those days are over and it’s not at all unusual to see vehicles with well over 200,000 miles on the odometer and still running strong. Here’s a quick rundown of some vehicles to consider which hav...