Them's the Brakes (Brake Rotor Resurfacing)
July 23, 2023
Your vehicle's brakes wear out. It's inevitable. You'll notice it when you step on the brake pedal and feel it harder to stop, or there's vibration when you are braking. Most modern vehicles have disc brakes that each use a brake pad that press on a disc (disc brakes!) called a rotor. The fric... More
Watching Your Check Engine Light
July 16, 2023
Did you know that most of the cars driving around Anna, Illinois, carry more computer power than the Apollo 121 Lunar Module that landed on the moon in 1969?New cars sold in the Anna area have as many as 12 networked computers and over five miles (eight kilometers) of wiring. In fact, for the la... More
Automotive Tips from Charlie's Fast Lube Anna: When to Replace Your Wiper Blades
July 9, 2023
There are several important factors that go into how often Anna drivers should replace their wiper blades. Of course, the more you use your wipers, the faster the blades will wear out especially if you use them on an icy windshield. Whether its a lot of bugs and road grime from Illinois freeway ... More
Stopping "Brake" Downs (Brake Pad Replacement)
July 2, 2023
If someone tells you to put the brakes on something, you know it means stop. And stopping is one of the most important safety maneuvers you can do in any vehicle. That means your brakes have to work properly. Let's face it. You stop dozens of times every time you drive. And over time, that t... More
The Charlie's Fast Lube Anna Guide to Saving Fuel: Car Weight
June 25, 2023
The team at Charlie's Fast Lube Anna in Anna, and Illinois car owners are all talking right now. Better gas mileage. Fewer emissions. Anna drivers want to save the environment and their pocketbooks.And we all knowor should knowthat preventive maintenance will help maximize fuel economy. But is t... More
Automotive Tips from Charlie's Fast Lube Anna: When to Replace a Damaged Tire
June 18, 2023
Repair or Replace? Thats a question Anna drivers ask when they have tire damage. Some punctures cannot be repaired because of their size or location. Punctures larger than a quarter of an inch (6.4 mm) are considered too large to be safely repaired. Punctures in the sidewall or near the shoulders... More
Mercury Rising (Hot Weather Vehicle Concerns)
June 11, 2023
The heat is on, and your vehicle takes a beating when it is. Several of your vehicle's systems are under extra stress in hot weather, so here are a few to make sure are getting the care and maintenance they need. It makes sense that the cooling system is one to make sure is in top shape. Vehicl... More
Tire or Re-Tire? (Getting Tires Ready for Hot Weather)
June 4, 2023
Heat isn't easy on vehicle tires, and as the seasons change, make sure yours are ready to take the heat. Let's talk first about inflation. Heat causes air to expand, so heat alone can raise the pressure in your tires. If you are driving on overinflated tires, they won't have as much contact wi... More
Coolant Service at Charlie's Fast Lube Anna
May 28, 2023
Anna residents' vehicles have to operate in a wide range of Illinois temperatures which requires the engine coolant to be able to perform 'no matter what.' Think for a moment about the environment where the coolant does its thing. Very hot, high pressure, corrosive...And all the while, it has to... More
Vive la Differential at Charlie's Fast Lube Anna in Anna
May 21, 2023
There are a lot of drivers in Anna who are due for a differential service, but had never heard of a differential before. With front-wheel drive being so common in Illinois these days, the differential is just taken care of during a transmission service, so most Anna folks don't even have to thin... More