Let’s focus on stopping in wet Wilmington conditions. In order for a tire to have good contact with the road, it has to move the water out of the way. If it can’t move the water, the tire will actually ride on top of a thin film of water.

That’s called hydroplaning. At Joe Shilling Inc we want our customers to know that if it’s really bad, you can actually spin out of control. At best, you won’t stop as fast.

So how does a tire move water? It has channels for water to flow through. Look at a tire and you’ll see channels: channels that run around the tire and channels that flow across the tire. They’re designed to direct water away from the tire so it can contact the road better.

And the deeper the channel, the more water it can move. A brand new tire has very deep channels and can easily move a lot of water. As the tire wears down, the channels become shallower and can move less water. When it wears down enough, it can seriously affect your ability to stop on wet Wilmington roads.

So that’s why it’s so important for Wilmington drivers to replace the tires on their SUVs when they get worn. Consumer Reports and other advocate groups call for a standard of 3/32 of an inch and they have the studies to prove it.

By comparison, you’ve probably seen the wear indicator that’s molded into tires. When tires are worn 3/32 of an inch, the tread wear bar is visible. So the recommended standard has twice the tread depth as a completely worn out tire.

And that little bit of additional tread makes a big difference. Stopping distances are cut dramatically on wet roads. A safe stop from DE freeway speeds with 4/32 of an inch of tread would result in a crash with worn out tires.

There’s an easy way to tell when a tire’s worn to 4/32 of an inch. Just insert a quarter into the tread. Put it in upside down. If the tread doesn’t cover George Washington’s hairline, it’s time to replace your tires. With a Canadian quarter, the tread should cover the numbers in the year stamp.

You’ve probably heard of this technique using a penny and Abe Lincoln’s head. That measure gives you 2/32 of an inch – half the suggested amount.

Of course, tires are a big ticket item for Wilmington car owners. Most of us want to get as many miles out of them as we can. But there’s a real safety trade-off. It’s your choice.

At Joe Shilling Inc in Wilmington DE (19809) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 302.764.2100. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

Car batteries wear out just like any other battery and need to be replaced. There are a couple of things Wilmington SUV owners should know when looking for a new car battery: one is cold cranking amps and the other is reserve capacity.

Let’s start with cold cranking amps. This can be thought of as the power output used to start a cold SUV engine. The number of cold cranking amps you need depends on your vehicle and where you live around Wilmington, specifically how cold it is where you live. The two factors are that the colder an engine is, the more power it takes to turn the SUV engine over to get it started. It has all that cold, sluggish oil to contend with. The other factor is that the chemical reaction in the battery that creates electrical energy is less efficient in the cold.

So the colder it gets in Wilmington, more power is needed, but the available power drops.

If you live where it’s cold, you need a battery with more cold cranking amps than you do where it’s moderate or hot. You should always get at least as many cold cranking amps as the manufacturer recommends, but may want to upgrade at Joe Shilling Inc if you live where it gets real cold.

An important note: Batteries may also list the Cranking Amps – CA – number. It is the Cold Cranking Amps – or CCA – that is the important number here. CCA is the number to use in your comparisons.

Now with all this talk of cold temperatures in Wilmington, it’s important to note that heat is the real enemy of long battery life. In other words, the damage that’s done over the hot summer months in Wilmington shows up with the increased demands on the SUV battery when the weather turns cold.

Now on to reserve capacity: It’s a measurement of the number of minutes of reserve power the battery has at a given load. The number is more important these days because of parasitic drain. Parasitic drain is the battery energy that’s used when the key is off. So the power drawn by the SUV security system, the remote start system, even the power the SUV computers require to maintain their memory.

Reserves are also needed when you make very short trips around Wilmington. You’re not driving long enough for the battery to recover the energy it used to start the SUV engine.

So go with the minimum recommended by your manufacturer and upgrade if you need more. Talk with your honest and efficient Joe Shilling Inc service advisor about options. If you need more from your battery, a larger capacity battery may be called for.

Batteries are a big ticket item for most Wilmington motorists, so the warranty gives peace of mind. Be sure to ask about the car battery warranty at Joe Shilling Inc so you know what you’re getting. At Joe Shilling Inc, we have been providing quality auto service in Wilmington for over 30 years.

Give us a call

Joe Shilling Inc
5512 Washington Blvd.
Wilmington, DE 19809

At Joe Shilling Inc in Wilmington DE (19809) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 302.764.2100. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

With front-wheel drive being so common in Wilmington these days, the differential is just taken care of during a transmission service, so most Wilmington folks don’t even have to think about it. And most rear-wheel drive SUV differentials don’t need to be serviced for many miles, so it’s understandable that it’s not something on the top of mind. So it’s not uncommon for DE people to not know they have a differential let alone know that it needs service.

To better understand what a differential does, think about a high school track. There are lanes marked off on the track. For the longer distance races, the starting lines are staggered. The starting lines for the outside lanes are ahead of the starting lines for the inside lanes. That’s to compensate for the longer length of the outside lanes. Staggering the starting lines means that each runner has the same distance to run.

The differential compensates for the difference in speeds on drive wheels between the inside wheel and the outside wheel in a turn, because they have to travel together through slightly different distances.

Many SUV differentials do a lot of work and require very heavy duty parts. And those parts need protection. The differential fluid lubricates the gears in the differential and keeps them cool. The fluid eventually gets dirty and worn down. Some kinds of differentials require special additives that break down over time. So manufacturers and Joe Shilling Inc technicians recommend intervals for replacing your differential fluid.

Your Joe Shilling Inc service technician will drain the used fluid and check it out for metal bits, which could be a sign of excessive wear on the gears. He’ll then replace the fluid and install the additives if necessary.

Wilmington four wheel drive SUVs need special attention to their differentials because they have a differential on both the front and rear axles that work at different times and sometimes under heavy loads – so they may need to be serviced at Joe Shilling Inc at different intervals.

Your Wilmington service advisor can look up the manufacturer’s recommended service interval or you can check your SUV owner’s manual.

Give us a call

Joe Shilling Inc
302.764.2100
5512 Washington Blvd.
Wilmington, DE 19809

At Joe Shilling Inc in Wilmington DE (19809) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 302.764.2100. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

You may not be familiar with all of the items on Joe Shilling Inc’s menu board so here is a quick description of some of the typical services that might be listed. Remember, the board is there for reference; speak to your Joe Shilling Inc Service Adviser about other possible needs or services.

Joe Shilling Inc Fuel System Cleaning: Over time, the fuel system gets gum and varnish built up. A fuel system cleaning at Joe Shilling Inc gets rid of that and cleans out the fuel injectors. Saves gas as you drive around Wilmington and on Wilmington freeways, by the way.

Joe Shilling Inc Headlamp Replacement: Halogen and standard headlamps gradually fade. When one burns out, replace both so they’ll have the same brightness. Also, if your headlamp lenses are yellowed or cloudy, you can have them professionally restored to like new-condition. As your honest and efficient Joe Shilling Inc advisor for information.

Joe Shilling Inc Inspections: Wilmington drivers get inspections for many reasons. Maybe they’re going on a trip or just want to make sure their vehicle’s ready for summer or winter in Wilmington. Maybe they just bought a used car and want to give it the once over. An inspection at Joe Shilling Inc may reveal some things that are broken or are getting close to having a problem.

Joe Shilling Inc Oil Change Service – there are several options: Some Wilmington auto service centers offer just an oil change and new filter as an option. Most will also check and top off all of your other fluids and do a quick visual inspection with a full service oil change. There may also be options for higher mileage fluids or an upgrade to synthetic oil.

Joe Shilling Inc PCV Valve Service: PCV stands for Positive Crankcase Ventilation valve. It’s a little part that releases pressure from the engine. It can get gummed up and that can lead to engine damage. Just needs to be changed now and then.

Joe Shilling Inc Power Steering Service: Often overlooked. Your Joe Shilling Inc technician will evacuate the old fluid, clean out the system and replace it with clean fluid. Keeps the system running well for a long time.

Joe Shilling Inc Serpentine Belt Replacement: That’s the belt that powers the engine’s accessories like the alternator, air conditioner, power steering and brakes. You’ll want to replace the serpentine belt at Joe Shilling Inc before it breaks or wears down too much, because that’ll lead to other problems.

Joe Shilling Inc Shocks and Struts Replacement: This starts with an inspection of the suspension components. Shocks last a long time and wear out slowly, so many Wilmington motorists don’t notice when it’s time to change them. If they’re worn or leaking, they need to be replaced.

Joe Shilling Inc Transmission Service: This involves removing the transmission fluid and replacing it with clean fluid. It’s like an oil change for your transmission.

Joe Shilling Inc Tire Rotation and Wheel Balancing: The tires are rotated from front to back using the recommended rotation pattern. This helps tires wear more evenly. Wheels need to be balanced from time to time to keep them turning without any wobble or bounce. Helps the ride and saves tire wear as you drive around Wilmington.

Give us a call

Joe Shilling Inc
302.764.2100
5512 Washington Blvd.
Wilmington, DE 19809

At Joe Shilling Inc in Wilmington DE (19809) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 302.764.2100. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

There are plenty of people in Wilmington whose vehicles are running after 150,000 or 200,000 miles. We can learn from what they’re doing to keep our own cars on the road.

A common denominator is that they never skip an oil change. That may sound a bit unsophisticated, but it’s really not. First off, oil is the life blood of your engine and it needs to be clean to properly lubricate. Skipping oil changes leads to clogged oil filters and sludge that can damage your engine. Enough said.

There’s another reason why the scheduled oil change is so important. It’s simple – a Joe Shilling Inc professional is going to be looking at your car. All of your fluid levels will be inspected and topped off so they won’t get so low that damage can be done. If there is a significant fluid loss, let’s use brake fluid as an example, your Wilmington technician can look for the cause of the loss and find the problem before it leads to an accident or costly repair.

Your Wilmington service technician will also visually inspect the vehicle for worn belts and hoses, uneven tire wear, leaking shock absorbers and more. Problems get addressed before they lead to repairs that cost more than the car’s worth. And your Wilmington service advisor will be able to remind you of other services that the factory recommends you get done.

Just think of that oil change the same way as you do about going to the dentist for your six month cleaning and checkup. Don’t skip it.

Of course, good maintenance costs money, but it’s far cheaper than new car payments.

Give us a call to schedule your next oil change today. You can find us online at Joe Shilling Inc, or you can find us in Wilmington, DE 19809 at 5512 Washington Blvd.. Or simply give us a call at 302.764.2100.

At Joe Shilling Inc in Wilmington DE (19809) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 302.764.2100. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

Too often, Wilmington police and rescue workers must sift through pockets, glove compartments, wallets, purses and cell phone directories for clues – often wasting precious time.

A brilliantly simple solution is now spreading around the globe: ICE. ICE – standing for ‘In Case of Emergency’, is a way of identifying emergency contacts in your cell phone directory.

Simply put ‘ICE’ before a contact name, like ‘ICE – Dad’, ‘ICE – Nancy’, or ‘ICE – Doctor Roberts’. Rescuers will be able to quickly identify your emergency contacts, saving valuable time.

It’s easy and just takes a few minutes to designate some ICE contacts in your cell phone. Remember to keep the listings current.

From your friends at Joe Shilling Inc in Wilmington DE, we’d like you to be as safe as possible while out on the road. Give us a call any time for great automotive advice.

At Joe Shilling Inc in Wilmington DE (19809) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 302.764.2100. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

In the automotive world, Wilmington industry associations and DE professional licensing organizations are very committed to high ethical standards.

Yet some people are still uncomfortable with automotive service and repair in Wilmington.

If we understand what’s recommended and the benefits of taking care of the work – and the pitfalls of putting it off – we’ll have more trust in the recommendation. So communication is key. It’s like going to the doctor. If she’s using medical jargon and takes a lot of basic medical knowledge for granted, we have a hard time following her train of thought. We understand It can be like that with your service advisor at Joe Shilling Inc, too. He’s so familiar with all things automotive, he may forget you don’t know a PCV from an EGT.

If you don’t understand what your doctor’s talking about: ask some questions. If you don’t understand what your Wilmington automotive advisor at Joe Shilling Inc is talking about: ask some questions.

Let’s go back to those ethical standards. When we hear a repair recommendation, we always ask ourselves, “Is this really necessary?” Well, here’s the industry standard:

If a Wilmington auto technician tells you that a repair or replacement is required, it must meet one of the following criteria:

1. The part no longer performs its intended purpose;
2. The part does not meet a design specification;
3. The part is missing.

For example, it you take your car in for a grinding noise when you step on the brakes, you may just think you need new brake pads. After the inspection, the technician says that you have a cracked rotor and need to replace it. If you tried to get him to just put new pads on, he would say that if you didn’t want to replace the rotor, he would ethically have to refuse the repair. To just put pads on a cracked rotor would have been very wrong. The brakes could’ve failed at anytime: they needed to be repaired – not just have a band-aid slapped on them.

Now, looking at something not so serious, Joe Shilling Inc may suggest repair or replacement if:

1. The part is close to the end of its useful life – just above discard specifications or likely to fail soon;
2. To address a customer need or request – like for better ride or increased performance;
3. To comply with maintenance recommended by the vehicle’s manufacturer;
4. Based on the technician’s informed experience.

Of course, Joe Shilling Inc has the burden of making ethical recommendations and properly educating their customers. For the customer, if you are uncomfortable with a recommendation, ask some questions. More information is always a good thing.

At Joe Shilling Inc in Wilmington DE (19809) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 302.764.2100. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

Many people in the Wilmington area may not realize that the first federally mandated pollution control device was in 1960: the PCV valve.

‘PCV’ stands for Positive Crankcase Ventilation. The crankcase is the lower part of the engine where the crankshaft is housed and where the engine oil lives. When fuel is burned in the engine some of the explosive gases from combustion squeeze past the pistons and down into the crankcase.

Now this gas is about 70 percent unburned fuel. If it were allowed to remain in the crankcase, it would contaminate the oil and quickly turn it to sludge. Sludge is like Vaseline and clogs passages in the engine leading to damage.

Also, the pressure build up would blow out seals and gaskets. In the old days, there was just a hose that vented the crankcase out into the air. Obviously, not good for the environment.

Enter the PCV valve. It’s a small, one-way valve that lets out the gases from the crankcase, and routes them back into the air intake system where can be re-burned in the engine.

As you might imagine, the valve gets gummed up over time. If you skip oil changes now and then, the PCV valve gets gummed up even faster. If the PCV valve is sticking you could have oil leaks. Fortunately, the PCV valve is very inexpensive to replace. Some can even be checked for function by your technician.

Manufacturer’s usually recommend they be changed somewhere between twenty and fifty thousand miles. Unfortunately, PCV valve replacement is left out of some owner’s manuals, so you may need to ask your service advisor.

Come down to Joe Shilling Inc and have us take a look at the condition of your PCV valve to ensure you are running at top efficiency. Just come by our service station in Wilmington, DE 19809, or give us a call at 302.764.2100.

At Joe Shilling Inc in Wilmington DE (19809) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 302.764.2100. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

In addition to just wearing out, Joe Shilling Inc customers need to know that suspension components can be damaged in an accident or by a hard impact – like a pothole, hitting a curb or a rock in the road.

Because the life span of shocks can vary so widely, your minivan manufacturer and Joe Shilling Inc recommend periodic inspections. During an inspection, your Penns Grove service technician will check for worn, broken or missing parts.

Signs that shocks or struts are wearing out: The tires may have a cupped wear pattern. This is from the shocks bouncing unevenly as you drive around Penns Grove. You may notice a floaty or drifting sensation when cornering. If the front of your minivan dives excessively when stopping, or rocks back and forth after you stopped, your shocks may be worn out. And if they are leaking fluid, it’s definitely time to replace them.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, come into Joe Shilling Inc for a suspension inspection. Same if you’ve been in an accident that involved one of your wheels. Worn or broken shocks can cause premature wear or failure on other minivan suspension parts such as ball joints and other steering components as well. If your suspension actually fails, it could lead to a serious accident, so let us take care of your suspension components at Joe Shilling Inc.

When you replace your shocks, it’s usually a good idea to replace all four at the same time. That’ll give you more even handling. Talk with your service advisor at Joe Shilling Inc because you don’t want a big difference between the performance of your shocks from wheel to wheel, and replacing all may be the safest bet.

At Joe Shilling Inc in Wilmington DE (19809) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 302.764.2100. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

Flats, blow outs, skids and longer stopping distances can all be the result of Penns Grove folks driving around on under-inflated tires. Now, it’s hard to tell when a radial tire is under-inflated but your service technician at Joe Shilling Inc can help you. The tire may not look low until it gets below 20 pounds – which is significantly under-inflated.

Your newer minivan or light truck might be equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS). This technology has been used by DE race car drivers for years. They are able to head off problems from under inflation by closely monitoring tire pressure on the track.

Obviously, TMPS systems don’t come free for Penns Grove car buyers. U.S. government studies have estimated the net costs of the TPMS system itself, maintaining the system, replacement of worn or broken parts and tire repair cost increases. The costs are partially offset for Penns Grove drivers by savings in fuel and tire wear. There’s also a saving in property damage and travel delay. The net cost is estimated to be between $27 and $100.

The government predicts fewer fatal accidents. They estimate that is will cost between three and nine million dollars for every life saved. This new safety equipment will help Penns Grove motorists avoid the most common vehicle failure, and possibly a catastrophic accident.

At Joe Shilling Inc in Wilmington DE (19809) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 302.764.2100. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.