Relax When the Wind Blows in Illinois: Winter Car Prep for Elgin Drivers

June 14, 2020

When autumn comes around in Elgin, leaves fall, nights get longer and there's a definite nip in the air. Time to unpack the boots and gloves and fold some extra blankets onto the beds. It's also time for Elgin drivers to winterize their vehicles.Here is some expert auto advice for Elgin drivers o... More

The Harm in Skipping an Oil Change for Elgin Drivers

May 10, 2020

People in Elgin have been hearing a lot about higher oil change intervals these days. Maybe you're wondering: What are the key issues?Some new vehicle manufacturers are now recommending much higher oil change intervals than they have in the past. As much as 5,000 to 8,000 miles (8,000 km to 13,0... More

Maintaining Your Older Car in Elgin, Illinois

July 28, 2019

The government mandates a lot of equipment on cars in Elgin, Illinois: emission devices and control computers, safety equipment like airbags and crash worthiness requirements. All of this is great for the Elgin motoring public, but it does add quite a bit to the price of a new vehicle.Because new... More

Tuffy Auto Service Center Elgin and the Maintenance Mindset

June 23, 2019

When it comes to their vehicles, some Elgin residents don't have a maintenance mindset. They know they need to take care of their cars, but it just seems really hard to get them to remember to do it. Elgin drivers generally accept that many things in life require regular maintenance but just may... More

Tuffy Auto Service Center Elgin On Your Serpentine Belt

January 14, 2019

Today we're going to be talking about serpentine belts for our Elgin, Illinois, customers. Let's start by talking about the accessories that are driven by the serpentine belt. First is the alternator. That's the device that makes electricity to power the vehicle and recharge the battery.... More

Fall and Spring Inspection at Tuffy Auto Service Center Elgin

November 12, 2018

Good vehicle care for us Elgin residents has always meant taking our vehicles in every spring and fall for a check-up. Vehicles needed routine maintenance to prepare them for the changes in weather. Today's vehicles aren't quite as sensitive to seasonal changes. Older vehicles required different ... More

Why a Trip Inspection Is a Good Idea

October 7, 2018

At Tuffy Auto Service Center Elgin we get a lot of Elgin drivers asking about vehicle trip preparation. That's a big deal. You could be driving through mountains and deserts in some pretty lonely areas around Illinois, so it's important to know that the vehicle is up to the task and won't leave ... More

Tuffy Auto Service Center Elgin: Why Replace Your Engine Air Filter?

June 27, 2018

Just as our bodies need clean air to function properly, your vehicle engine needs clean air to operate efficiently. Let's go egghead for a minute. For every gallon of gas we burn driving on Elgin streets, 20 pounds of carbon dioxide comes out the tailpipe. Question: how can a gallon of gas that ... More

Gas Savings in Elgin: Sharpen Your Pencil

June 5, 2018

High gas prices in Elgin increase the cost of living for Illinois drivers. You've probably budgeted a certain amount for vehicle related expenses. Increased fuel costs now consume a larger portion of our incomes, causing some Elgin vehicle owners to skimp in other areas like scheduled maintenan... More

Budget for Maintenance in Elgin

May 20, 2018

Sometimes busy Elgin residents dream about going back to the simpler days of our grandparents. But if you could travel back in time and take a road trip around Illinois in a Model T, you might change your mind. The improved designs and quality of today's automobiles have significantly reduced the... More