oktirecastlegar

[oktirecastlegar]

Quality Since 1998

We have had the privilege to serve the Castlegar area since 1998, and are proud to be locally owned and operated. Since 1998 we've seen Castlegar change from a small sleepy community to a bustling city full of great opportunities. The one thing that has not changed in those 15 years is our philosophy on quality, reliability and honesty. Through quality service and honest advice we have built a strong client base who trust us with taking care of all their automotive repairs. 

We would like to thank all of our customers who choose to trust us with all of their automotive needs. It has been a joy to become friends with the majority of our customers, and moving into the future we look forward to making new ones. 

We welcome you to try our services and look forward to welcoming you into the OK Tire family.

[oktirecastlegar]

5 Ways to Prepare for Spring

Spring is just around the corner and your car should get some much needed TLC before then. We've compiled 5 simple and important things your car needs to ensure that it is ready for Spring.

1) Fresh Start Inside & Out

Outside

During the winter months your car goes through a lot on the winter roads. Dirt and grime will build up and could damage your vehicle's protective paint causing unwanted scratches and early rust.

Give your car a thorough scrub with a quality car soap and finish it off with a good coat of wax. This will protect your vehicle's paint throughout the spring and summer months.

Inside 

After a season of tracking snow in and out of your vehicle the inside of your car has become a hot bed of mildew, mould and bacteria. Make sure to vacuum the inside of you car and, if possible, steam clean the seats and flooring, ensuring a fresh start.

2) Check It Out

Get an oil change and safety inspection done on your vehicle early on in Spring. Changing the oil will ensure that your vehicle's engine is well lubricated and will reduce the wear and tear that your vehicle experiences over the years. A reputable shop will complete a thorough safety inspection of your vehicle during a regular oil change and give you a hard copy of the results.

Make sure that they inspect;

Braking System

Cooling System

Belts & Hoses

Suspension

Fluid Levels (top up as necessary)

Transmission fluid

Filters

3) Change Your Rubber

Now that winter is over its time to put on your summer tires again. Winter tires are made out of a softer material to grip to compact snow and to push away slush. Since they are typically softer than summer tires they tend to wear faster in warmer conditions and perform poorly as a result.

Summer tires on the other hand are designed to handle warm to hot conditions and the tread is designed to handle rain soaked roads. The tread design will reduce the chances of hydroplaning. Investing in a good quality tire will ensure your safety and will ensure that you receive numerous seasons.

4) Check Your Blades

 A very simple but often overlooked part of getting ready for spring is to check the quality of your blades. Most manufacturers will recommend that your wiper blades are replaced every year. This ensures that you can safely see out of your windshield during the rainy months of Spring.\

5) Inspect the Air Filters

Your air filter is like the engine's respiratory system. Once it becomes clogged your engine has a difficult time breathing, which will lead to poor fuel economy and engine performance. Hold your air filter up to a light, if the light is blocked because of the amount of dirt in the air filter then it is time to change it.

[oktirecastlegar]

Save Money the Easy Way!

The easiest way to prolong your vehicle’s life and to avoid those hefty repair bills down the road (pun intended) is to practice regular maintenance on your vehicle. Every 5,000 kms your vehicle’s oil and oil filter needs to be changed. Why might you ask? The life of regular oil that is in most vehicles has a lifespan of only 5,000 km. After 5,000 km the viscosity of the oil begins to break down, which could lead to engine parts starting to cause friction with each other, which is very bad.

Don’t just look for a mechanical shop that will dump your oil and send you on your way though. Choose an auto repair shop that will perform a safety inspection at the time of each oil change. These preventative safety inspections will lower the chances of major headaches in the future. There is nothing worse than breaking down on a road trip with a carload of kids! Also, make sure that you receive a hard copy of the safety inspection for your records. 

At OK Tire & Auto Service (Castlegar) we ensure that we inspect many of your vehicle’s systems to ensure safety and to be proactive with future repairs.

Areas that we inspect are;

Brake system

Suspension 

Cooling level including strength

Coolant & fluid leaks

Exhaust system

Battery strength

Top up all fluids

. . . & much more.

So next time your vehicle is due for its maintenance, make sure to have more than just your oil drained!