The Maintenance Free Myth
January 23, 2022
Sometimes we hear people in Sparta say, "What's up with all this maintenance stuff? Modern cars just don't break down." While it is true that today's vehicles are extremely reliable, they are also becoming increasingly complicated and use more exotic materials than ever before. All that complexi... More
Don't Miss a Beat (Importance of Regular Maintenance)
July 4, 2021
In many places, license plates have to be renewed every year or else you can't drive your vehicle legally. Usually, you'll get a reminder from the agency that issues the plates. That kind of regular attention needs to be paid to your vehicle as well. Its manufacturer has determined a schedule o... More
Change Your Engine Air Filter at Charlie's Fast Lube Sparta
June 27, 2021
Many Sparta car owners have probably wondered: "What's the harm in putting off replacing an engine air filter? The answer is that not replacing it could cause your Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor to fail. This expensive sensor is situated between your engine air filter and your engine. Dirty air filt... More
Sparta Drivers Severe Service Maintenance Schedules
April 18, 2021
Since driving requirements and lifestyles differ among Sparta drivers, your vehicle manufacturer publishes two auto maintenance schedules: the regular schedule and the severe service schedule. Which schedule should Sparta drivers follow? Here are some questions to ask yourself:Are most of your tr... More
The Easy Way to Save Cash in Sparta
August 30, 2020
The hottest Illinois news story may be different every day, but there's one topic that seems to come up over and over again the price of gas in Sparta. If you feel like most of your paycheck goes into your gas tank, this post is for you. Here are several basic things people in Sparta can do to ... More
Charlie's Fast Lube Sparta: Why Replace Your Engine Air Filter?
June 21, 2020
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 Sparta streets, 20 pounds of carbon dioxide comes out the tailpipe. Question: how can a gallon of gas that... More
Can Your Car Last Another Year?
June 7, 2020
Have you checked out the price of new vehicles at Sparta car dealers? Ouch! Add financing and insurance and a new ride may not seem so attractive. A lot of Sparta, Illinois, folks are hoping to make their cars last a lot longer.Fortunately, with the current state of automotive engineering and ma... More
Make Your Vehicle Last
May 10, 2020
We live in such a disposable society. It's amazing all the stuff we throw away. New stuff comes out so fast, we just toss the old and move on. In the old days, Illinois folks were real sticklers about taking care of their things. If something got lost or ruined by neglect, tough - they had to do ... More
Maintenance for High Mileage Vehicles in Sparta, Illinois
April 12, 2020
The median age for cars in the Sparta, Illinois area was over nine years. And two-thirds had over 75,000 miles. At Charlie's Fast Lube Sparta we hear reports that those numbers continue to rise. If you have a high-mileage vehicle in the Sparta area, bring it into Charlie's Fast Lube Sparta for hi... More
Does Your Car Have A Recall Item?
March 15, 2020
No matter how well they're made, vehicles are bound to have problems with their design or manufacturing. Think of all the moving parts. When the government thinks a problem is really serious, they require the vehicle manufacturer to issue recall notices to Sparta residents and to fix the affecte... More