In order to produce motion, car engines turn chemical energy into mechanical power. However, any mechanic will tell you that cars don’t do this all that efficiently. In fact, around 70 per cent of petrol is converted into heat instead of energy — certainly enough to cook your car parts if it wasn’t for the cooling system. It’s for this reason that the cooling system is so important. However, the cooling system isn’t just about dissipating heat — it also needs to ensure the engine remains at a consistent temperature (about 93 degrees Celsius) to optimise performance.

The basics of car cooling

At 93 degrees Celsius, the engine has the following benefits:

• The combustion chamber is hot enough to vaporise the fuel entirely, allowing for more efficient combustion and less emissions.
• The engine’s lubricating oil is thinner, so the engine parts are able to move more freely. This enables the engine to use less power.
• The metal parts will wear slower.

Most modern vehicles use liquid cooling systems, circulating fluid throughout the engine. The liquid absorbs the heat, cooling the engine, and then makes its way into the radiator.

Car cooling plumbing explained

Much of the plumbing in your car is there as part of the cooling system. It all starts at the pump, which delivers the fluid to the engine block before making its way around the cylinders through various engine passages. As the fluid leaves the engine, it passes by a thermostat which regulates the amount of water going into the radiator. If the fluid is cool enough, it makes its way straight back into the pump. If not, it is sent to the radiator where the heat is lost to the atmosphere and the cooled fluid is eventually sent back into the engine.

Using the right fluid

The fluid used to cool the engine needs to have a very low freezing point and a very high boiling point. Unfortunately, water freezes at too high a temperature to be effective for car engines. As a result, most cars use a mixture of water and ethylene glycol, more commonly referred to as ‘antifreeze’.

What causes overheating?

Overheating will occur when the cooling system’s capacity to absorb, transport and dissipate heat is compromised. As a result, many things need to be checked during your car service to ensure cooling is taking place correctly. Some of the reasons behind overheating could be:

• Low coolant level: If coolant levels are low, then there simply won’t be enough water running through the engine to cool it down. All service stations have watering cans on hand that allow you to add more water quickly and easily.
• Coolant leak: If the coolant is leaking, you’ll have another problem altogether. The coolant levels will start getting low and eventually run out completely; what’s more, you won’t be able to fix it simply by refilling. You’ll need to locate the source of the leak and have it fixed, and you may need to get a car service in order to achieve this.
• Poor heat conductivity inside the engine: This can occur due to an accumulation of deposits in the water jackets.
• A defective thermostat: If the thermostat is not working correctly, it won’t be able to properly regulate the flow of water through the radiator. This may result in overheated water being sent back into the pump.
• Poor airflow through the radiator: This will inhibit the radiator’s ability to release the heat from the coolant.

Lube Mobile are "The Mobile Mechanics" equipped and trained to perform any Car Repair or Car Service. We have a mechanic come to you at a time and a place convenient - 6 days a week. Convenience, Quality and Service are guaranteed. For more information or to make a booking, visit Car Service.

Usually, when we think about what makes a car work, we turn our attention to the internal combustion engine. After all, the engine generates the power required to get the car moving. However, mechanics will tell you that your car’s suspension is, in many ways, just as important — without it, you would not be able to control your car while it moves.

Even the flattest roads have irregularities that interact with the wheels of your car on the surface. As the engine makes your car move backwards and forwards, bumps in the road cause the wheels to move up and down. If it wasn’t for suspension, all of that vertical energy would be transferred to your vehicle’s frame, resulting in the wheels losing contact with the road altogether. Gravity would then pull the car back down, slamming your car back down to earth — not good for the health of your vehicle. Your car’s suspension absorbs all of that vertical energy, enabling your car’s frame to remain undisturbed while the wheels bounce about on the road’s imperfections.

Car suspension parts

The car suspension parts are located on the chassis — the underpart of your vehicle which contains many important systems, including the steering system. The two essential parts of the suspension include:

• Springs: Most commonly coil springs, which compress and expand in order to absorb the vertical energy while you’re driving. However, while springs do a great job of absorbing energy, they’re not so effective at dissipating it. Without a dampening device, the energy from the bump would cause the springs to continue bouncing, making for a very bumpy ride indeed.
• Shock absorbers: These are necessary to control the vertical energy absorbed by the springs.  Shock absorbers reduce the magnitude of bumps by turning the suspension’s kinetic energy into heat which can be dissipated via hydraulic fluid.

Front and rear suspension

Because the front wheels and the back wheels of a car exist on two separate axles, cars usually have different suspensions for front and rear. The MacPherson strut is one of the most common suspension types for front wheels; it combines the coil spring and shock absorber into one unit, making for a lighter suspension system for smaller cars. Larger cars are more likely to use a double-wishbone suspension, which has two wishbone-shaped arms, each with its own coil spring and shock absorber. Generally, in modern cars, any suspension that can be used at the front of a car can also be used at the rear.

Problems with car suspension

When you get a car service, your mechanic will check to make sure that your car’s suspension is functioning correctly. Some of the problems that might arise with car suspension include:

• Worn shock absorbers, which may cause your car to ride poorly on rough roads, bouncing about a lot. When your car is parked, try pushing down on one of its corners; a vehicle with good shock absorbers will only bounce two or three times before stopping.
• Spring fatigue, which may cause your car to appear lower than usual and result in incorrect wheel alignment.
• Worn ball joints, which may be the problem if you’re noticing strange clunking sounds while driving. Ball joints can wear if they’re not lubricated properly, or simply because it’s been too long since they were last replaced.

Lube Mobile are "The Mobile Mechanics" equipped and trained to perform any Car Repair or Car Service. We have a mechanic come to you at a time and a place convenient - 6 days a week. Convenience, Quality and Service are guaranteed. For more information or to make a booking, visit Car Service.

You spin the steering wheel and the car turns. Simple, right? Well, not exactly. When it comes to cars, many drivers don’t think twice about how the movement of the steering wheel is transferred into movement of the wheels, but ask a mechanic and they’ll explain to you that there’s actually a lot going on down there. In this article, we’ll take a look at two different steering systems — the rack and pinion system and the recirculating ball system — to give you a better understanding of how it all works. We’ll also look at the role that power steering plays in modern vehicles.

The basics of steering

You might not realise it, but when your car turns, the front wheels will not be pointing in exactly the same direction. The reason for this is simple: the outside wheel is always going to be following a circle with a larger radius and, as such, it will always be making a wider turn than the other. As a result, the steering needs to be designed in a way so that the outside wheel turns a little less than the inside wheel. This is the most fundamental consideration when a steering system is being designed.

The rack-and-pinion system

A rack-and-pinion steering system, commonly used in smaller vehicles such as sedans, is made of the following parts:

• The steering shaft, which is attached to a…
• Pinion gear, which is connected to a…
• Rack, which has at each end a…
• Tie rod, which connects to a…
• Steering arm, which helps turn the wheel.

Here’s how it works. When you turn the steering wheel, the steering shaft causes the pinion gear to spin, which in turn moves the rack, providing the linear motion necessary to turn the wheels. Because the rack is connected to both wheels, running across the length of the car (from side to side), it is able to control the angle of each wheel depending on which way and how hard the vehicle is turning.

The re-circulating ball system

More likely to be seen in larger vehicles such as trucks and 4WDs, the re-circulating ball system actually isn’t that much different to the rack-and-pinion system. The steering mechanism has a worm gear within a gear-teethed block containing a threaded hole. The gear teeth cut into the outside, engaging the sector gear, which then works to move the Pitman arm. When the steering wheel is turned, the shaft rotates the worm gear inside of the block. The worm gear is fixed so that, when the wheel is turned, it moves the entire block instead of screwing further into the block. The turning block transmits the motion through the Pitman arm, allowing the wheels to turn.

Power steering

In both the rack-and-pinion system and the re-circulating ball system, the rack has a cylinder with a piston in the middle, with two fluid ports each side of the piston. By adding high-pressure fluid to one side of the piston, the extra power is gained when turning. In order to work, the system will also need a rotary-vane pump to control the hydraulic power, and a rotary valve to help sense the force on the steering wheel. During a car service, your mechanic should check for hydraulic fluid leaks to ensure power steering remains efficient.

Lube Mobile are "The Mobile Mechanics" equipped and trained to perform any Car Repair or Car Service. We have a mechanic come to you at a time and a place convenient - 6 days a week. Convenience, Quality and Service are guaranteed. For more information or to make a booking, visit Car Service.

Cars. They’re funny things. For some, cars are an obsession; people devote huge chunks of their lives to upgrading them, modifying them, reading about them, photographing them and, occasionally, even driving them. For the majority of the population, however, cars aren’t a hobby; they’re a necessity. Without them, we’d be unable to get from point A to point B quickly and conveniently, instead having to take crowded and time-consuming public transport or expensive cabs. So when our cars break down, it can be a major problem. All of a sudden that’s one extra problem to deal with in our already busy existence. Luckily, that’s where mobile mechanics come in to the picture. Here we look at a few reasons why you should call a mobile mechanic for repairs or a car service in Melbourne , Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth or anywhere else in Australia.

Mobile mechanics are convenient

The great thing about mobile mechanics is that they will come to you. Whether you’re at the home or the office – or anywhere with an address, for that matter – all it ever takes is a phone call and pretty soon you’ll have a mobile mechanic there to fix your problem. In the meantime, you get on with whatever needs doing in your busy life.

Mobile mechanics are versatile

The great thing about a large mobile mechanic service provider is that they will have access to a wide range of mechanics with in-depth knowledge about various car problems. This way, if you phone up and tell them what your problem is, they’ll be able to send out an expert in that particular area of vehicle repair. Of course, mobile mechanics have a great all-round knowledge too, so even if you don’t know exactly what the problem is they’ll be able to help you out.

Mobile mechanics are on-call

Many of the biggest problems you’ll come across in the course of driving your vehicle are unexpected ones. They’re the ones that happen on the side of the road when you’re on your way to work, or when you’re driving home from a family dinner on the weekend. In these situations, you may not be able to get your car to a repair shop, and you require someone to come out to you as soon as possible in your present location.

Mobile mechanics are transparent

One of the coolest things about mobile mechanics is that you get to watch them working on your car from start to finish if you so wish. The benefit of this is that you can ask questions and learn about your car as you go along, giving you a greater knowledge of how your vehicle operates and what steps you can take in the future to prevent problems from happening again.

Mobile mechanics offer a warranty

A good mobile mechanics will offer a guarantee with their work. Generally a 12-month, 20,000km nationwide warranty is what you’re looking for in these situations. This way, you’ll be able to drive away with the peace of mind everybody wants with their vehicles.

Lube Mobile are "The Mobile Mechanics" equipped and trained to perform any Car Repair or Car Service. We have a mechanic come to you at a time and a place convenient - 6 days a week. Convenience, Quality and Service are guaranteed. For more information or to make a booking, visit Car Service.

I was sitting around waiting for a car service in Sydney last week when I started thinking about some of the most memorable Australian TV commercials of all time. These are a few that came to mind…

Aeroplane Jelly (1956)

The original famous Australian TV commercial, the image of the cute little girl swinging while singing "I like Aeroplane Jelly, Aeroplane Jelly for Me" would be seared into the brains of most Aussies.

Vegemite (1954)

The ultimate Australian spread, Vegemite’s rise to fame was helped by the famous 1954 ad with two marching twin girls singing, "We’re happy little Vegemites as bright as bright can be." And aren’t we all?

Mortein Fly Spray (1962)

If there’s one cartoon character all Aussies can associate with advertising, it’s Mortein’s Louie the Fly. He came straight from rubbish tip to you, and he’s still spreading disease with the greatest of ease even today.

Cottees Cordial Ad (1983)

"My dad picks the fruit that goes to Cottees!" is another ad jingle most Australians grew up with. Even better was when Kieran Tanner, the young boy who sang the original song, showed up all grown up on Big Brother several years later!

Decore Shampoo (1986)

Go on, admit it — you’ve sung like a superstar in your shower, giving it everything you’ve got and letting the bathroom acoustics do their work. Makes sense, then, that Decore would advertise their shampoo with a bunch of Aussies doing exactly that — only this time for all of Australia to see!

Uncle Toby’s Instant Porridge (1990)

A buck-toothed Scottish child staring into the camera spouting "That’s no how you make porridge!" wasn’t the most conventional approach to advertising, but it certainly stuck out in our minds.

Qantas (1998)

The original big budget ad, Qantas launched their "I Still Call Australia Home" campaign in the lead-up to the 2000 Sydney Olympics with Aussie icon Peter Allen’s famous 1980 song being sung by the Australian National Boys and Girls choirs in breathtaking locations.

Yellow Pages

How do you spell Goggomobil? Ask any Australian and they’ll probably begin telling you "G, O, G, G, O" before breaking into uncontrollable laughter. Years later, the Yellow Pages also launched a campaign where a business owner, annoyed her secretary had missed out on the Yellow Pages ad, shouts "Not happy, Jan!" They sure know how to launch a catchphrase.

Lube Mobile

The car service Melbourne , Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth and surrounding areas mobile mechanics have had many memorable and catchy ads over the years, but the one that stands out the most is the one that ends with the distinctly Aussie, mulleted child singing the company’s digits 13 13 32 — or "firteen fifteen firty-two"!

Moccona (1997)

When I say "Really", you say… Shropshire?! It sounds strange, but that’s exactly what millions of Aussies would do after the success of the Moccona Exotics coffee ad, where a flirty Australian woman mistakes a dark-skinned, proper British man with a slightly camp accent for a burly African-American.

NSW Drink Driving (1998)

If ever a TV commercial sent chills up the spine of those watching it, it was this one. When a drunk father comes home late at night after hitting a pedestrian, his daughter wanders into the loungeroom. He screams, "Go to bed, Jessica!", and the little girl’s reaction is pure fright.

Carlton Draught (2005)

The battle of the beer ads has brought some pearlers over the years, but none have been as impressive and downright epic as Carlton Draught’s "Big Ad". Depicting two armies in maroon and yellow clothing marching towards each other in a giant field, the lyrics "It’s a big ad, very big ad" and "This ad better sell some bloody beer!" to the tune of ‘O Fortuna’ is funny enough, but when the aerial view shows one army in the shape of a body and the other forming the shape of a beer entering the mouth, it’s genius is truly revealed.

Lube Mobile are "The Mobile Mechanics" equipped and trained to perform any Car Repair or Car Service. We have a mechanic come to you at a time and a place convenient - 6 days a week. Convenience, Quality and Service are guaranteed. For more information or to make a booking, visit Car Service.

In this age of easily created and changed content in a web 2.0 framework, where there is literally trillions of pages and only a few people allocated to checking on the truth of marketing claims, the word ‘qualified’ is often tossed around with little to back it up. When it comes to something with as large an impact on your personal safety and household budget as your car, you want to be sure that the word ‘qualified’ in a mechanic’s description means exactly what you expect it to! Today we are looking at simple steps that anybody can take to ensure that their mechanic is qualified to undertake car repairs and perform routine car services on your vehicle.

Apprenticeships

The most usual way for a mechanic to become ‘qualified’ in Australia is by undertaking a four year apprenticeship. The apprentice undergoes both on-the-job and off-the-job training, in an ordinary mechanic’s environment supplemented by formal learning at TAFE.

Pre-apprentice studies

Students still at high school can also undertake pre-apprenticeship studies in motor mechanics and various aspects of vehicle care and maintenance. The studies usually replace a traditional school subject, and might shorten the length of time it takes the mechanic to become qualified.

Certificate courses

A completed apprenticeship is generally regarded as the gold standard in qualification for motor mechanics. Having no more than a certificate is not considered enough to be a fully qualified mechanic. However, even qualified mechanics can add to their skills with a certificate course that specializes in one area of car repair; diesel engines, electrical appliance engines, or certificates in panel beating and minor bodywork can add to the value of your mechanic.

Motor Industry Association Memberships

Look for mechanics that are members of their local automobile association and other trade organizations. They aren’t ‘qualifications’ as such – but do add to your confidence in hiring them.

Experience versus Qualifications

As anybody who has worked in any setting knows, there is no substitute for on-the-job training! This is why apprenticeship programs almost invariably include a large on-the-job element in their programs. However, a greater number of years of experience after the apprenticeship has been completed certainly indicates that your mechanic will:

• Have a broader experience in different makes and models of cars
• Have seen a wider variety of problems and their symptoms, perhaps leading to a quicker diagnosis
• Have perfected their systems for performing routine maintenance like car services, and therefore be more cost-effective

Post Trade qualifications

As we mentioned, post-trade qualifications for motor mechanics can include certificate courses in an area of specialization within car repair. In some cases, motor mechanics can use their experience to get substantial credit towards actual qualifications.

Checking on qualifications

The best and easiest method is to ask what qualifications your mechanic has! For some business types, you can check on their license status through the Department of Fair Trading in each state, however motor mechanics do not require a license to practice in every state. Customer testimonials on a company website will provide some indication of qualification, and Googling a company name to find real-life reviews is always a useful method.

Lube Mobile are "The Mobile Mechanics" equipped and trained to perform any Car Repair or Car Service. We have a mechanic come to you at a time and a place convenient - 6 days a week. Convenience, Quality and Service are guaranteed. For more information or to make a booking, visit Car Service.

For most of us, a great mechanic is simply somebody that returns our car to us minus the odd noise or strange problem and doesn’t charge the Earth for it! Today we are delving a little deeper into the world of auto-mechanics, looking at some concrete ways that you can use to identify great mechanics … and keep that number in your contact list!

Apprenticeship completion

Unless they have been working in the trade for a substantial number of years, all good mechanics will have completed an approved apprenticeship course. Completing an apprenticeship means that your car repairer has been subject to a standardized system of tests of their ability, and has passed all of them. It also means that they have at least 4 years of working experience, doing car repairs and car service – not an insignificant number!

Certificate courses

An apprenticeship is usually mandatory for good mechanics. Those that go above and beyond what is required might have a few certificate courses under their belts – learning that is specialized to one area of the car. A good auto mechanic might have done courses on:

• Diesel engines
• 4 wheel drive systems and problems
• Computerised diagnosis of mechanical faults
• Engine machining

This is just a sample of the ways that it is possible to branch out and specialize in car repair. Every course that your mechanic has done will add to their understanding of your car, and allow them to rectify your problem more completely.

Experience

The greater the years of experience after a completed apprenticeship that your mechanic has, the more confidence you can have in their abilities. They will have:

• Seen, diagnosed and repaired a wider variety of faults, on a wider range of different cars
• May be able to diagnose a problem more quickly … cutting down those all important labour hours on your bill!
• Have perfected their systems for routine tasks like car service, again cutting down on the labour hours they have to charge.

What is Important to Customers?

Surveys indicate that while there are quite a few criteria for identifying a good mechanic, there are only a few which really matter to customers! Price is not always the lead factor. Ranking criteria in a recent survey of the quality of mechanics included:

• They are always honest
• They are competent
• The price for car repairs is reasonable#
• The problem is fixed first time
• Work is completed in a timely manner
• If they make a mistake, they respond well to it being pointed out (shops that have a written policy of giving a warranty on labour and parts are a good example of this)
• They explain what the problem was
• There is no difference in their treatment of male and female customers.

Ability to listen to customer

The ability to listen to a customer is something that you have to determine by actually trying the mechanic out. Most people quickly realise if a mechanic is not paying attention to their explanation of a problem, or has made an early assumption. When you find this ability in a car service or repair place, stick with them!

Clear explanations and options

This was part of the survey criteria, and again is something you have to determine by trying out a mechanic. If a mechanic is able to clearly explain what the problem with your vehicle is, you have a much better chance of making an informed decision about the timing and extent of repairs. If your mechanic will put the problem they see in writing (ie, give you a written upfront quote), so much the better!

Lube Mobile are "The Mobile Mechanics" equipped and trained to perform any Car Repair or Car Service. We have a mechanic come to you at a time and a place convenient - 6 days a week. Convenience, Quality and Service are guaranteed. For more information or to make a booking, visit Car Service.

When it comes to taking care of our cars, most of us tend to find a good mechanic and stick with them. Car service is not really something that we like to experiment with – there are just too many safety and satisfaction issues! However, all good things must come to an end … you may have moved house, your mechanic may have swapped jobs, or you might have had a disappointing experience with a previously good car repairer. If you’re on the hunt for a new mechanic, it doesn’t have to be a hit and miss operation; we look at how to separate the best mechanics from the rest.

Look for quality, value and good service
The markers of a good mechanic are mostly the same as the markers of any other good business – they will do quality work, for a good value price, and display good customer service skills while doing so! In terms of car repairs, these three things have a few specific details:

• Quality work in terms of car service means that they utilise quality parts and follow the safest procedures for putting them in
• A good value price will vary enormously – and remember that value is dependent on quality
• You should expect that your mechanic will explain what they have done in a way that is understandable to you, take good care of your car while they have it, and be friendly and courteous – these are the hallmarks of good customers service in mechanical terms.

Get a written quote

All good mechanics will offer you a written quote itemizing the parts that are required, and an estimated number of labour hours to complete the repairs. It is worth getting written quotes from several different shops when you are looking for a new car repairer. If a mechanic doesn’t offer written quotes, move on to the next one. Good mechanics will want to assure you that there won’t be any hidden charges when you come to pick your car up, and a written quote is the best method for doing this.

Do they offer a warranty?

This is one of the strongest indicators that you’ve found one of the better mechanics available! Good mechanics should offer a warranty for their car repairs, both for the parts and the labour performed on your car.

Size does matter

While the majority of car repair shops and mechanics in Australia are small, owner-operator businesses, there are several nationwide chains that you can check out, in all metro and most rural areas. While there are exceptions to every rule, there are quite a few reasons why it is ‘safer’ to go with a larger company for your mechanic, rather than an owner-operator business.

• Larger companies are more likely to offer written quotes
• Larger companies are more likely to offer a warranty on their parts and labour.
• Larger companies have more of an investment in branding and reputation … and therefore more to lose when they disappoint customers! You’ll often find that customer service policies are better established in larger car repair companies.
• Nationwide chains will have service centers all over Australia to back up their warranty – you can take interstate trips without worrying about your car.

Ask around- referrals are best

A simple and easy way to separate the best mechanics from the rest is to ask your friends and family who they would recommend! If you don’t know anyone in the area, look for a mechanic that offers testimonials from their customers on their website.

Lube Mobile are "The Mobile Mechanics" equipped and trained to perform any Car Repair or Car Service. We have a mechanic come to you at a time and a place convenient - 6 days a week. Convenience, Quality and Service are guaranteed. For more information or to make a booking, visit Car Service.