Monthly Archives: June 2021

Tire Tread Depth

Tire Tread Depth Jun 27th, 2021 When talking about stopping power, we tend to focus on our brakes. But our tires are where the rubber meets the road. So having good brakes isn't enough: we have to have tires with enough traction to translate braking power into stopping power. Let's focus on stopping in wet conditions. In order for a tire to have good contact with the road, it has to move the water out of the way. If it can't move the water, the tire will actually ride on top of a thin film of water. To move water out of the way, the tire has channels for water to flow through. Look at a tire and you'll see channels that run around and across the tire. They're designed to direct water away from the tire so it can contact the road better. The deeper the channel, the more water it can move. A brand new tire has very deep channels and can easily move a lot of water. As the tire wears down, the channels become shallower and can move less water. When it wears down eno ... read more

Happy 4th of July from Carmasters Automotive!

 Happy 4th of July from Carmasters Automotive!

The Fourth of July is a special and fun-filled day for every fellow American. Whether you plan to watch fireworks, have a grill out, go to Virginia Beach or all of the above, you will likely run into traffic during this time of the year. With lifted group restrictions, people are ready to come together again. We are looking forward to the 4th ourselves; however, it is crucial to prioritize your safety during the holiday.   Below are some tips that we suggest you follow to ensure you are safe for the 4th of July:   Plan ahead for your trip. As mentioned before, there will be more drivers on the road, and parking may be difficult to find in most places. There are plenty of helpful apps that will help you with planning, navigating, and streamlining your drive. We recommend Waze for real-time navigation and traffic conditions and SpotHero to find your parking beforehand.    Be alert when driving. Independence Day is known to be one of the most dangerous days ... read more

The Foggiest Idea (Fogged Windows in Cold Weather)

Jun 15th, 2021 In cold weather, you may notice your windows fogging up. Then you can't see where you're going, and suddenly you and those around you are in danger. So, what causes your windows to fog up in cold weather, and how can you stop it? Fog is simply moisture condensing on a cold surface. When the air inside your vehicle is moist and warmer than the outside air, it hits the glass that's cooled by the outside temperature, and you get fog. If your windows fog up, you probably already know to try the defroster for your windshield. You may also have an electric defroster for your rear window and outside rearview mirrors. Electric elements in the window and mirror glass heat up, so the moisture doesn't condense on the glass. If the defroster isn't working on all the windows, turn up the temperature setting on your heater. Hot air holds more moisture. Switch on the air conditioning. As the air moves over the cooling coils, the moisture is removed. Turn your ve ... read more

Diesel Engines

When someone mentions diesels around Norfolk, images of smoky, rattly trucks may spring to mind. The fact is that the modern, clean diesel engine is much more refined than in the old days. Sure, diesel engines remain a very popular choice with heavy duty pick-up truck drivers in Norfolk, but they are finding their way into nearly every segment of the VA automotive market. Why is that? Well, it's science. Diesel fuel contains more energy than the same amount of gasoline. So it takes less diesel fuel to do the same amount of work as gas.  so Norfolk diesel drivers get more miles per gallon/kilometers per liter and lower emissions. In Europe, where fuel is very expensive and good fuel economy is very important, around half of passenger vehicles are powered by diesel engines. This goes for small economy cars all the way up to the world's most luxury vehicles. The driving experience is also very good with diesel engines.  In fact Norfolk residents may not even be able to ... read more

Radiator Hoses

Your radiator hoses carry coolant between your engine and radiator.  It’s an important job.  If a hose fails, you could lose your engine coolant which might lead to overheating and very expensive engine damage, so you want to make sure you always have good hoses. Radiator hoses are very resilient, but they are subject to very harsh conditions.  Think about it, the temperature might be below freezing when you start your engine and the coolant could be up over 100 degrees Fahrenheit within a mile.  These extreme internal temperature fluctuations contribute to hose degradation from the inside.  Oil splashing on the outside of a hose will cause the hose material to soften over time.   Ozone can also eat away at the hose.  The bottom line is that hoses don’t last forever and will need to be replaced. If you see steam coming from under your hood, you probably have a cooling system leak somewhere.  Other signs are puddles of coolant und ... read more

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