Tag: Seattle Auto Body Shop

The major gas companies spend a lot of money on their advertisements, many of them trying to convince you that their fuel is worth the extra pennies because of some elusive additives that the bargain brands don’t have. Some people come to our Seattle auto body shop and wonder: is this all marketing, or is there an actual benefit to buying costlier gas?

In truth, you’re not likely to see much of a difference between two different brands of regular gasoline. Though one may boast the power to clean out the gunk that the other one supposedly leaves behind, this represents a somewhat dated notion of the effects that gasoline has on your engine. There is still some debate on the issue, but there have been tests conducted wherein the long term effects of using cheaper gas have been shown to be apparently identical to those of gasolines with more specialized additives. If you need advice, simply buy from whatever pump is giving you the best deal and the most convenience.

Many pickup truck owners believe that, by riding with their tailgates lowered, they can improve their gas mileage. After all, it seems logical enough that a lower tailgate is more aerodynamic and therefore requires less work from your fuel. However, this may not be the great boon you think it is. Our Seattle auto body shop advises that you may not be getting the mileage you were hoping for from your lowered tailgate.

Research has demonstrated that, when you drive with your tailgate up, you may actually be enjoying superior aerodynamics over a lowered tailgate. As air flows over a pickup truck in motion, it rushes over the cab and pushes forward on the back of the vehicle. This benefit is largely lost when you don’t keep the tailgate up. Meanwhile, replacing your tailgate with an aftermarket net is even worse, as it subjects your truck to a surprising amount of drag. Keep your tailgate up, and enjoy better mileage!

We at your Greenwood Seattle auto body shop are mostly concerned with your car, because that’s what we know how to fix.  There’s not much we can do for a driver if his pet suffers an unfortunate injury out on the road.  Therefore, in the interest of protecting our furry and flea-bitten friends, we ask that you heed the following advice when it comes to taking your pets for a ride.

• Keep your pet’s routine.  Stop for walking and feeding at the usual times.  If your dog isn’t accustomed to going to the bathroom on a leash, cultivate this habit.  This can keep your animal calm and easier to control on long trips.
• Get your pet used to the car.  Try some short, dry runs to destinations that the animal likes, like a dog park.  Watch for motion sickness, and see your vet if the animal experiences any problems that don’t go away.
• Secure your pet.  An animal running free in a car is compromising the safety of the entire vehicle.  Cats can get under the pedals, dogs can block your vision, and anything can go flying through the windshield if you brake too quickly.  You can search your pet supplier for the right carrier or harness that will afford safety and comfort to your animal.
• If keeping your dog in a pickup truck bed, clear the area of loose materials and secure the animal with a leash.
• Do not leave an unattended pet in a hot car!

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Summer is upon us, which means long trips in the car with friends or family. Such trips can be really rough on a vehicle. Since nobody wants to end up stranded in the middle of nowhere, be sure to check all of the following before you hit the road:

Engine Oil: Are your levels right? Are you due for a change? This is one of the easiest ways to foster a well-functioning engine.
Transmission Fluids: Many people forget about their other important oils, like the ones that lubricate your transmission. If you’re due for a change in your transmission fluids, seek out an oil-change professional.
Engine Coolant: If you have a reasonably new care, your coolant should be good for between 100,000 to 150,000 miles. Check your coolant reservoir to see if you need to be topped off.
Tires: Be sure that your tire pressure is at a proper level, and that your treads are not too worn down.
Brakes: Do your brakes squeal when you apply them? It’s time for a change. Be sure to take care of this before any long drives.
Battery: If your battery is over a couple years old, check that the terminals are secure and corrosion-free.

If you have any more significant problems with your car, take it into Greenwood Collision’s auto body shop in Seattle.

Do you find yourself feeling a little drowsy behind the wheel as you drive sometimes? You might not think that this is too big of a deal, but it is a good way to get into an accident. According to a study coming from a research team at Virginia Tech, fully twenty percent of all automotive accidents could be linked to sleepiness on the part of at least one driver involved.

You don’t need to actually drift off to sleep in order to get into a crash. Just being a little drowsy can impair your reflex time and judgement. When you’re traveling at highway speeds, it only takes a second or two of lost focus to end up in a disastrous accident.

If you do regularly drive drowsy, there is really only one true solution: You need to get more sleep. For most adults, this means getting about seven or eight hours of sleep every night. Should you find yourself on the road at a bad time, consider getting a friend to take over or pulling over to catch a quick nap. If the worst should happen, consider bringing your vehicle to our Seattle auto body shop for quick and reliable repairs.

Though driving is not generally considered a physically-demanding activity, it does still require a certain amount of movement. Some people, particularly as they reach advanced age, can benefit from doing some warm-ups before they begin to drive, in much the same way they might warm up before participating in an athletic activity. In this way, they can be better prepared to react quickly and avoid muscular fatigue while out on the road.

The big muscle groups to focus on when warming up before a drive include your neck, your torso, and your shoulders. Start by rotating your torso one way, then the other. Stretch your neck by trying to touch your chin to your chest, then rock it back and forth, pushing your ear down towards your shoulder. Finally, link your fingers behind your back so that you feel a healthy stretch in your shoulders.

If your best efforts should fail you and you end up in a collision, bring your vehicle down to Greenwood Collision in Seattle. Our auto body shop will get you back on the road quickly and reliably.

Aggressive driving and road rage represents a significant risk for the driver, his or her passengers, and the other people on the road. Be on the lookout for the following symptoms of aggressive driving that may indicate that you or your driver is heading for trouble:

• Mentally condemning other drivers, or having violent thoughts directed at them.
• Expressing a condemnation of other drivers out loud.
• Disregarding driving safety rules because you do not agree with them.
• Following too close in an effort to get the other driver to speed up.
• Braking suddenly to discourage tailgaters.
• Passing other drivers, then slowing down out of spite.
• Excessively honking or flashing headlights at oncoming traffic.
• Speeding, weaving in and out of traffic, cutting between vehicles to change lanes, or otherwise engaging in reckless driving practices.

In the event that road rage gets the better of you or another driver, and you need to have repairs done on your vehicle, consult Greenwood Collision. Our auto body shop in Seattle can get you back on the road quickly and efficiently.

Road rage is a serious problem. When you let your anger get out of control out on the road, you risk losing control of your vehicle and getting into a serious accident. If you are subject to such rage, consider the following tips to reign in your emotions and stay safe while driving:

• Practice relaxing while you drive. This can be accomplished by listening to the right music, or an audio book. You can also benefit from breathing exercises.
• Accept that there will always be a certain number of people making an idiot of themselves out on the road. Then, make a game out of counting them. This serves well to reduce your stress from observing careless or rude drivers.
• Do not assume that somebody is being intentionally aggressive towards you.
• If another driver actually is hassling you, avoid making eye contact and do not engage.
• Manage your time. A lot of stress is caused by failing to plan ahead, making you more susceptible to rage.

When your road rage gets the better of you and you get into a collision, consider bringing your vehicle to our Seattle auto body shop for repairs.