Portland Auto Repair

Over the years I'm sure you have seen plenty of ads for engine and fuel additives and treatments.  Some having some pretty outrageous claims.  Some work and some are not even worth the container they come in.  Over the years we have been pretty skeptical of most of them.  Then a few years ago, we were dealing with the Audi/VW engine oil sludging issues and came across BG products in some tech info.  We did some research, and found that they were the company that VW/Audi had used to help come up with a solution to the oil sludging and consumption issue.  We contacted them, got some information and did some research.  What we found was not only do they make world class products but they stand behind them with a lifetime warranty.    Since we have started using their products, we've seen not only do they work extremely well, but their warranty is no joke.   We've had several customers save substantial money on repair ... read more

Ask a dozen different people how often you should change your oil and you'll get a dozen answers. Some stand by the classic 3,000-mile rule-of-thumb, while others assume that modern oils last longer than whatever it was people were using when that informal rule was created. I'm somewhere in between, because it depends. What kind of engine are you running? What sort of driving do you do? What's the climate like where you're operating your machine? Keep in mind that motor oil isn't the only fluid that needs to be changed on a regular basis. If you plan on keeping your vehicle for a while, it's wise also to change transmission oil, coolant and even power steering and brake fluid. MOTOR OIL: It's most important to check your oil regularly.  Low oil level is far worse than not meeting some kind of regular interval.  Some intervals suggested for motor oil changes are 5,000 miles for synthetic blends and 10,000 miles for full s ... read more

Get a Look at this Wreck! This is what can happen when a high-performance car and an 18-year-old driver hit the road. The driver was out street racing with his dad's M3 and got a little behind on his coordination, you could say. Hot tip for wannabe race car drivers: There are really nice places called race tracks. They have lots of room and far fewer things to hit. Go there to drive fast. It's what they're made for. So what do car guys do when a lower mileage hot rod like this becomes available? Well, we snatched it up and thought "what can we do with this?" After tossing a bunch of ideas around we decided to swap this into a station wagon. We did a little internet research and made our plan. This wreck would become the donor for a sleeper family wagon. We found a suitable wagon and got to work. This was basically a bolt in swap. We used a 2002 BMW 325 wagon that will take all of the M3 hardware. Due to the genius of German engineering, the chassis platforms are an evolutionar ... read more

It’s Probably Time for Your Auto Maintenance We all like to think that we're organized and get things taken care of in a timely fashion. But life gets busy and deadlines come and go, and sometimes you have too many balls in the air to take care of even the basics. One thing you really shouldn't let go of is regular car maintenance. It's not sexy and it's not a riot of fun and it probably won't set your heart atwitter, but it's as important as just about anything else on your "to do" list. Maybe the best part about it is that it will save you money down the road if it uncovers potential problems. And everyone likes to save money. And no one likes to be calling for roadside service on a dark and stormy night. All cars come with an owner's manual, so dig yours out and take a look. It will tell you how often to have your car serviced. (If you can't find the manual, you can look for one online or call the dealer.) It is generally recommended that all vehicles should be serviced at le ... read more

How to Find the Best Auto Mechanic It would be easy to tell you to not bother looking around for an auto mechanic once you've found us. Because we really think that we are the best. But we want you to be happy and satisfied from the start, so here are some things to do when you need a new mechanic and a place to take your car. Ask around. Ask family, friends, and neighbors for recommendations. Keep your search local. Unless you need a restoration for something like, oh, a 1925 Bugatti, you want a shop you can get to in a hurry. Or one that's simply convenient. See if your local newspaper does a "best of" series. Many times auto shops are covered. If you belong to a car club, all the better. The same recommendations will show up again and again. Check online. Take a look at Yelp and Angie's List and Google. It's good to see the negatives (should there be any) as well as the positives. Stop by the shops you're interested in. Take a look at the cars on the lot - hav ... read more

Is Your Head Gasket Blown? When you were a kid and begging for your first car your parents probably warned you about the price of insurance and gas and maybe even upkeep. It's doubtful anyone ever mentioned a blown head gasket to you. By now you've probably heard the expression and you might be wondering what it is, since what you do know is that it practically screams the word money. You're right about that part. Replacing the head gasket is ranked third on a list of the four most expensive car repairs. Taking first place is a blown engine, following by replacing a transmission, then the head gasket, and then replacing the air conditioning compressor. Okay. So what is this thing? A head gasket is vital to an engine's running right. Aiding in the compression process, the gasket seals an engine's cylinders and stops coolant and oil from leaking. A blown gasket is often caused by problems with timing, cooling, and sometimes manufacturing errors. When a head gasket blows, it ... read more

Get the Stains off your Garage Floor! It doesn't matter if your garage is clean and organized and beautiful enough to be featured in Architectural Digest or Better Homes and Gardens, or such a mess that you can't stand to look at it. Either way, nothing will harm it more than grease stains on the floor. They're both common and unattractive and we're going to give you a few options to clean them up. It's best to clean the stains when they're fresh. If that's the case, try powdered laundry soap first. Professional race car associations such as NASCAR have been relying on this for years, and they must know something! First, blot up as much of the oil as possible. Mix a large amount of laundry soap into a bucket of warm water, and get it nice and soapy. Pour it onto the stain. Next, pour extra detergent (right from the box) directly on the stain. Let it set for a few minutes. Scrub the stain using a nylon brush with stiff bristles. When you're finished, hose everythin ... read more

Wishing you all the best in the coming year! As singer Brad Paisley said about a new year: "Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365-page book. Write a good one." We hope that this bright new year brings you everything that you need and want. Be happy, have fun, and get to your destinations safe! We had a fantastic 2016 and appreciate greatly all of you that came out and gave us a chance to be your import auto repair go to our shop. Cheers to you and yours from all of us at Broadway Import Auto Service! Call Broadway Imports to schedule an oil change, tune-up, or whatever else your car needs. Please contact us for any auto service or repair you might have. Schedule an appointment today