Vehicle Maintenance

  • What Does That Check Engine Light Mean?

    check engine light on dash image

    It’s a busy morning, you’ve finally gotten everyone where they need to be and you’re just pulling into the parking lot at work when your dash light starts glaring at you. Your check engine light shines bright, but you have no idea why. Whether you can tell a difference in the way your car, truck, or SUV is running, your car is trying to tell you something. At Sac Valley Diesel in Sacramento, CA, we can help!

  • What Happens When You Don’t Change Your Oil?

    sludge in the engine image

    At Sac Valley Diesel in Sacramento, CA, we recommend always making it a priority to change your oil on time. Here’s a look into why it’s so important, and what happens if you don’t keep up with oil changes.

    Sludge - If oil stays in an engine too long, sludge begins to build up anywhere oil can go. The oil absorbs tiny debris and contaminants, kind of like a liquid sponge - once it’s at capacity, that oil begins to stick, clog, and build up throughout the engine. Small veins that carry oil to components like actuators, turbos, and bearings will become blocked, starving critical components of oil and causing component or engine failure.

  • What is a Carrier Bearing?

    driveshaft carrier bearing

    At Sac Valley Diesel in Sacramento, our goal is to keep your car, truck, or SUV shifting and riding as smoothly as it did the day it rolled off the lot. A big part of that is the mounting hardware that keeps the moving parts in your drivetrain running smooth.

  • What is a Drive Axle?

    vehicle drive axle

    Do you hear a funny clicking sound when you turn the wheels of your vehicle? It could be your car or truck's CV or Drive Axle, and it may be in need of repair. Safety is the number one priority for our customers here at Sac Valley Diesel, and it is our goal to keep your vehicle running smoothly. Driving around with a damaged CV Joint or Drive Axle problem can be extremely dangerous. The axle is a structural component that bears the weight of the vehicle, any cargo, and the acceleration forces between you and the ground. It is so important to have your vehicle inspected regularly by a trained automotive repair professional here at Sac Valley Diesel to ensure its safety.

  • What Is a Shifter Bushing?

    gear shift

    Sometimes your car, truck, or SUV stops performing quite like it used to. At Sac Valley Diesel in Sacramento, we can fix that. A simple but common issue on vehicles equipped with a manual transmission is shifter bushing issues. Your shifter has a bushing on the end of it, where it connects to the actual transmission. Its purpose is to provide tight, smooth shifting. 

  • What Is a Transmission “Flush”?

    transmission fluid being poured into vehicle

    You’ve probably heard the term “transmission flush” before at some point in your automotive experience. But what exactly does it mean to have your transmission flushed, and why does it matter? Sac Valley Diesel in Sacramento, CA has the answers.

  • What is an ASE Certified Technician and Why Does it Matter?

    mechanic standing in garage and holding wrench

    At Sac Valley Diesel in Sacramento, CA, quality and precision are our top priority. We specialize in well-engineered performance and luxury vehicles like BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, Land Rover, and Subaru - cars and SUVs that require the right touch. For this reason, we employ ASE certified technicians, to guarantee we’re the best in the business.

  • What To Do When Your Exhaust System is Exhausted

    exhaust coming from a muffler of a truck on the road

    Whether you drive a Duramax, Cummins, or Powerstroke diesel pickup, you have an exhaust system that is prone to failure. When you have a leak that needs attention, Sac Valley Diesel in Sacramento, CA can help.

  • What to Know About Your Vehicle's Lights

    Vehicles driving on a highway with headlights on

    All the lights on your vehicle have an important job to do. Brake lights, tail lights, blinkers, reverse lights, and headlights are a crucial part of driving. Lights make you visible, make things visible to you, and allow you to communicate with other drivers. All of a vehicle’s lights make driving easier and safer, and all of them are important...not to mention legally required.

  • What to Look For When Buying a Vehicle

    man holding car keys

    In the market for a new car, truck, or SUV? Used cars aren’t always what they seem; here’s some advice from Sac Valley Diesel in Sacramento to make sure you get the used car of your dreams.

  • When and Why Your Vehicle Needs a Tune-up

    man holding spark plug in hands

    Tune-ups are an important and frequently neglected aspect of automotive care. Most drivers don’t really consider the mechanical condition of their car, so long as nothing is wrong with it. However, if a vehicle is tuned-up and maintained correctly, many mechanical failures (and expenses) will be avoided altogether. So whne is the right time to get a tune-up?

  • When Is It Time To Replace a Tire?

    Tires lined up on racks

    At Sac Valley Diesel in Sacramento, we change many tires that should’ve been replaced long ago. Your tires can go for miles and miles, but there always comes a time to replace them. So how can you tell when the right time is?

  • When is it Time to Test Your Vehicle's Battery?

    Mechanic testing a car's battery

    Chances are you don’t pay much attention to your vehicle’s battery until it dies, when you get to perform the dreary dual task of waiting for a jump while simultaneously calling for an appointment to get a new battery fitted. Of course, that’s if you’re sure it’s the battery that’s dead in the first place. The only way to be certain is to take it in to be tested. However, it generally helps to know the health of your vehicle battery prior to finding yourself stranded.

  • When to Replace Your Differentials

    differerential

    At Sac Valley Diesel in Sacramento, we know that maintenance and repair can go a long way toward keeping your trucks on the road. We also know that sometimes, things have to be replaced altogether. The rear end, or differential, isn’t a component that needs to be replaced often; but when it does, a new one will make your truck feel like new.

  • When To Run Diagnostics On Your Vehicle

    Modern vehicles are becoming increasingly complex, and as a result, computer diagnostic systems are becoming a necessity rather than a convenience. At Sac Valley Diesel in Sacramento, CA, our state of the art technology and trained technicians are ready to diagnose any transmission issue you may be experiencing with your car, truck, or SUV.

  • When Was The Last Time You Had Your Coolant Flushed On Your Fleet?

    Routine maintenance keeps your fleet trucks safe on the road and protects you against unplanned trips to your local automotive shop! One thing a lot of people forget about is to have their coolant flushed. Sac Valley Diesel in Sacramento, CA will help you make sure your fleet vehicle is properly flushed every time!

  • Where's that loud noise coming from?

    heavily worn ball joint

    Whether you drive a Porsche, Audi, BMW, Subaru, Land Rover, or other performance and luxury vehicles, your ball joints are an essential part of your car or SUVs performance and safety. From us at Sac Valley Diesel, here’s what to watch out for, to make sure your ball joints are in shape and ready to go. 

  • Why Do Transmissions Break?

    transmission

    Transmissions are complex, and over time they will wear out and eventually break. Knowing what to look for will play a key role in preventing your transmission from failing prematurely. At Sac Valley Diesel in Sacramento, CA we want to give you some insight on how your transmission works and how it can fail.

  • Why do vehicles burn oil?

    oil leak

    When your car, truck, or SUV is burning oil, it can be frustrating and costly. There are numerous reasons an engine will burn oil - these range from an altogether worn out engine to a simple part replacement. At Sac Valley Diesel in Sacramento, CA we want to keep you informed, here's what you need to know about why your engine might be burning oil.

  • Why Does My Transmission Pop Out of Gear?

    transmission

    Manual transmissions are durable, reliable pieces of equipment. Still, sometimes problems arise. Sac Valley Diesel in Sacramento has the answer to a question that plagues many manual transmissions; why does my transmission pop out of gear?

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