Olathe European Auto Repair

Most vehicle owners of European makes should know the importance of seasonal maintenance. This is because auto care goes a long way toward improving the safety and reliability of your euro vehicle. There are ten essential maintenance recommendations to help ensure your car, SUV, or truck is operating at its fullest potential for the cooler seasons. It's never a bad idea to give your vehicle some extra love and attention before the harsh Kansas winter settles in. Here are our top 10 components that you should have inspected this autumn: Check all of the essential fluids. Your vehicle depends on various liquids, including motor oil, power steering, brake, transmission, and antifreeze/coolant. We advise that you top these off now to save you from the headache later. Inspect all hoses and belts (timing belt, serpentine belt, etc.) to ensure they are not damaged, cracked, frayed, loose, or showing aging signs. Test the car battery and replace it if needed. The terminals on the batter ... read more

Your vehicle's transmission is made to (manually or automatically) shift your automobile into the correct gear and keep your transport operating smoothly. How do you know when a transmission has gone wrong? Well, one of the most obvious signs is hearing odd noises whenever you try to change gears. Let's further discuss the most apparent signs of a poor transmission: Sign #1 - You Have Trouble Making Gear Shifts If you notice that your gear changes abruptly, then that is a clear indication of a transmission problem. Another symptom related to the difficulties with gear shifts is if your car is not stimulating quick enough or can't accelerate. You should make a note of any delays between gear changes, whether the connection is slow or if there's a long gap in between. This can be a significant cause for concern as we depend on our gears to move, reverse, park, etc. Sign #2 - You Experience Transmission Fluid Leaks  Transmission fluid is almost always red. And if ... read more

Surely you've heard the saying, having a car is like having a child. Right? I never realized how accurate that statement is until I had a vehicle of my own. You have to consistently inspect your car's health, especially if it is blowing out smoke. By paying attention to the color of the exhaust smoke and using the rest of your senses, you will be able to diagnose what the issue may be.   WHITE, BLUE, OR BLACK SMOKE, WHAT DOES IT MEAN?   WHITE SMOKE If your exhaust is emitting white smoke it's normally water vapor, which typically happens on cold days. This is caused by condensation and naturally collects in the exhaust system. This is common in vehicles. However, this may also mean a blown head gasket or that coolant has entered into the combustion chamber. The only way to know for sure is by visiting our experts for a thorough inspection.    BLUE OR GRAY SMOKE There is reason to worry if your ex ... read more

You have probably heard how horrible oil sludge is for your engine. But what exactly is oil sludge anyway?  Oil sludge is a thick substance that is formed when the engine oil is oxidized and contaminated. It is made up of partially burnt fuel, metal fragments, and debris. Oil sludge then gets carried by the oil, and you can find it clinging onto the various parts of the engine.   Why Does Oil Sludge Build Up? Oil sludge can be noticed on top of the engine, inside the oil pan, and on the valve cover. The sludge can later block the siphon and consequently hinder the circulation of oil within the motor. Sludge is usually built up for several reasons. The most common cause of oil sludge is frequently driving in heavy traffic. Frequent short-distance drives and long periods of braking and driving can drastically accelerate oil sludge build-up.   Is Oil Sludge Harmful? As mentioned before, oil sludge usually has the effect of hindering oil circulation in your engine. Sin ... read more

If it hasn't occurred to you, you must have witnessed it somewhere; that's a car with smoke rising from under the hood. It's an iconic summer occurrence because of the hot road conditions. That's the last thing you'd like to face, especially when cruising on a highway across a rural area. You can avoid getting stuck on the road by understanding what to do when the engine overheats. What Causes Engine Overheating? You can attribute car overheating to several factors. The common culprit is a failed cooling system, usually associated with the coolant in the radiator. It could also be anything from an antifreeze leak, broken water pump, a clogged hose, or faulty radiator. Regardless, it's a problem that you want lingering around. Below are tips for dealing with an overheated engine; Find a Safe Spot to Pull Over You need to find a safe location to pull over the car. Shut off its motor and let it cool for at least 15 minutes. That amount of time is enough to all ... read more