Car Diagnostics
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Car Diagnostics must be based on Facts – not assumptions!

Recently a very despondent friend of a good customer rang me about a severe engine knock he had in his 2013  Ford Ranger.  This vehicle had been to two other workshops & both condemned the engine he even got A quote of $15000 to replace the engine.

The ford Ranger was driven up to my workshop, which there was a terrible loud knock coming from the engine. The customer showed me the two invoices and a pico compression sheet verifying two cylinders low on compression. The customer even rang a Ford dealership who said ‘The engines go often on these cars’.

My mind went into overtime buzzing as it does.. Something was not right. How can a relatively new engine (5 years old) with a 180 000km which is not that high for a diesel, fail like that. The vehicle had been regularly serviced & not neglected, was it a fuel fault-running to lean or metal fatigue failure? We needed to know!

I asked Ricky my Head Mechanic to use the Snap on borescope to check out the failed cylinders.

Ricky removed the engine covers proceeded to remove the injectors when he stumbled on a diesel leak pictured above as he touched the injectors & noticed they had moved.

The securing plate held down by two bolts had come loose and this caused the injectors to pound up & down which then initiated engine knock also the diesel fuel line had vibrated loose.

Ricky tightened the bolts & the fuel line then started the engine-“ PRESTO.., FIX!” Ricky took the Ranger for a test drive & went like a dream.

There is a moral to this story…First find mechanics who have morals, Second DIAGNOSTICS MUST BE BASED ON FACTS- NOT ASSUMPTIONS OR HEARSAY BS!

We saved the customer $15000 engine replacement (not $150.00 or $1500 but $15000) because we went the extra mile.

Diagnostics must be based on cause & effect – What caused the problem? 

Sure we deal with the effect but going the extra mile to use a expensive borescope to verify the problem found us the solution- before we even had to remove any engine component.

Expensive equipment like this Snapon borescope is commitment to accurate diagnostics.

snap on borescope

When a mechanic who assumes or a friend of the family who gives their useless opinion , (better still the all macho alpha male boyfriend) about your car problems-please know that they are wrong 90% of the time.

A organized problem/diagnostic procedure with the best equipment, skills and A iron will to help people solve their car problems is what customers should be looking for-never assume

When you ASSUME  you make a arse out of you and me

Manny`s Mechanical Repairs is based in Enoggera where we specialize in Car engine problems, accurate diagnostics, car tuning , car performance tuning,turbo diesel servicing, Ford ranger service & repairs. Mazda bt50 service & repairs, car dyno tuning. Getting good fuel economy &power for your car.

To serve to perform to guide. I hope this has helped.

– Manny

Ford Ranger

At Manny’s Mechanical Repairs you are in good hands, our main services include, Safety Certificates, Logbook Service, Free Pickup & Delivery, and Car Cooling System Repairs.

We have the latest diagnostic equipment and my work van is fitted out with an industrial air compressor. This enables me to perform heavy duty work and give you – the customer – the best service at any place and at any time.

For Bookings and enquiries, please contact us on 0411 496 621, email us at agrade@mannysmechanicalrepairs.com.au or visit our site www.mannysmechanicalrepairs.com.au.

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Courtesy Car, Unregistered Car Inspection & Repairs Enoggera

We live in a fast pace world which is only getting faster & less free time. 

Manny Mechanical Repairs is the most technically advances competent convenient and easy accessible Car Mechanical workshop in Enoggera – here is why.

 Enoggera railway station is less than 50 metres walking distance from Mannys Mechanical Repairs.

Courtesy Car Available @ Mannys Mechanical Repairs.

  • 4 Cylinder
  • Power Steer
  • Air Conditioned
  • AUtomatic
  • Station Wagon 
  • very easy for all to drive

Also available is a Queensland trade plate. If you have a unregistered car that is driveable and requires inspection or repair, please call me on 0411 496 621 and we can drive your car to the workshop legally without towing fees.

Nothing beats a technical fully equiped Mechanical workshop that is catered for your convenience, call me for Saturday Morning Servicing at Mannys Mechanical Repairs on 0411 496 621.

Why Engine Oil Changes are so Critical
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Why Engine Oil Changes Are So Critical (Never Ever Neglect or Go Cheap)

In the 37 years I have been in the automotive industry (yes, I am old) nothing has caused more damage to car engines than neglect of quality servicing.

Cars now have more smaller engines which are delivering bigger boosted power, so there is a need for better understanding and better quality servicing, also quality service parts are critical.

Let me get straight to the point- if you go by price (fixed price servicing) or go to the local loser mechanical workshop who advertises cheap (essential)servicing for a $149.00 then you are asking for trouble , these prostitute mechanics using cheap gimmicks like cheap oil changes so they can rape your car for brakes and suspension items which they say you must get done now!

Oil is the life blood of your engine-this blog is focused on how important & yet how neglected  quality oil changes are

Why? , Car engines now rotate far faster and are equipped with turbo chargers (which the Impeller shaft can rotate @200000 rpm) car engines are equipped with variable valve solenoids all of which heavily rely on oil pressure & oil flow.

 Car oil manufactures (Mobil, Castrol, Valvoline) spend millions of dollars developing additives and special agents for oil to meet different conditions ie winter and hot gruelling summer.

But my car does not use a drop of oil.., so why do I need a oil change so quickly?

Let me explain something.., Anything that rotates requires to be lubricated, I will say that again, anything that rotates requires to be lubricated. Oil is developed to get between components and actually causes the rotating component to float-this action cools the engine, minimizes friction (wear) and also gets rid of minute metal slivers carrying it back to the sump .The friction action eventually breaks down the oil, the reason why the oil level stays at the same level is because unburnt fuel seeps past the engine oil rings and enters into the sump. The unburnt fuel dilates the oil and breaks down the molecular structure. A characteristic of this is long heavy traffic trips of constant idling, then taking off for a moment, then back to idle.

The other critical issue for oil especially with diesels is that the opposite can happen, where oil by-passes the rings and gets into the combustion chamber, this oil is burnt in the combustion process and leaves in the exhaust system as soot, this soot is picked up by a particular filter in the exhaust system and burnt off in what is called a regeneration process.

The best oil to use is a synthetic oil (which is man made) or a blend of synthetic & mineral oil. Mineral oil should only be used on old tired engines, or new /recondition engine as a run in period or if you have a rotary engine. The problem with mineral oil is that it has a limited life span, this oil can turn to varnish then sludge.

What causes the most wear in a engine is cold start up- here are the reasons why!

-when the engine is sitting for hours, the oil will leave the engine components like camshaft, lifters & drain back to the sump, quality synthetic oil have sticking agents which still stick to the engine leaving a minute lubricating film, when the engine is started first thing in the morning there is adequate lubricating,

With old oil, there is no lubrication because it has lost its properties this causes metal on metal & premature wear.  In my many years I have seen so many engines written off because of neglect-varnish/sludge build up which has cause rings sticking to pistons, oil pressure starvation due to blocked pick up. I have seen where oil galleries have been  partially blocked  producing high oil pressure causing lifters to over extend making the valves come off their seats hence lost compression.

If your vehicle has a turbo or supercharger which is oil fed from the engine-then fully synthetic oil is a must.

Synthetic oil is not cheap-but if you want to keep your car in excellent condition with very limited wear and tear then synthetic oil is the way to go, petrol or diesel.

Do not be a loser, and put cheap oil in your prize car-use the best parts, the best filters it is the best way to make your engine last (- and save you in the long run.)

– Manny, 0411 496 621

I Know some of my comments are edgy, but we are only interested in bonafide customers who take pride in their cars, we are passionate in what we do…,

To serve, to perform, to guide.

At Manny’s Mechanical Repairs you are in good hands, our main services include, Safety Certificates, Logbook Service, Free Pickup & Delivery, and Car Cooling System Repairs.

We have the latest diagnostic equipment and my work van is fitted out with an industrial air compressor. This enables me to perform heavy duty work and give you – the customer – the best service at any place and at any time.

For Bookings and enquiries, please contact us on 0411 496 621, email us at agrade@mannysmechanicalrepairs.com.au or visit our site www.mannysmechanicalrepairs.com.au.

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Which Petrol do I Use for my Car & What do Those Numbers Mean?

There is a bit of a mystery that petrol companies deliberately play to confuse the unsuspecting public about what is the right petrol to use for your car.

The petrol companies perceive that using a higher number octane will give you more power and better fuel economy. This is actually false!

High octane petrol cannot give you magical higher horse power unless your car’s engine is designed and tuned to take higher octane rating. So a normal 4 cylinder engine will not benefit from high octane fuel.

What is Octane? Please explain?

Octane ratings are not a measure of energy or power, but instead measure the point when a normal controlled fuel burning (propagation) inside the engine cylinder goes into a uncontrolled burning (detonation).

The picture on the left shows a smooth burning transition when the spark plug fires. The picture on the right shows pre-ignition that is the fuel igniting from excessive heat, when the flame fronts from the spark plug collide from the flame front of the pre-igniting source – its’ similar to a hammer hitting your engine. The result is possible internal engine damage – the term is referred as engine KNOCK.

Petrol companies can measure this knock and add anti knock agents like Toulene, Triptane, Isooctane to name just a few to increase the engine octane rating. Ie unleaded 91 to unleaded 95 add a bit more agents we have 98. These agents retard the rate of fuel burn, slowing the flame propagation down also eliminates pre-ignition.

E10 uses a sugar based ethanol which also works as a anti-knock agent.

How does Octane work properly and what are the benefits?

The basis of making horsepower is air. The amount of air entering the engine cylinders is then compressed by the piston, fuel is then added by the injector and ignited by the spark plug. The amount of air added is in direct proportion to the power made. Turbo chargers, super chargers, high lift camshafts, big valves, cold air intake, bigger throttle bodies are all in direct relation in getting more air into the (engine) cylinder hence the more air then more fuel is added and bigger bang. BINGO. MORE HORSE POWER! BUT WITH MORE HORSE POWER WE HAVE MORE HEAT, WHY?

The more air added to the engine has more air molecules rubbing and compressing against each other. This causes friction &friction causes heat.

To overcome this heat from detonating the fuel, Petrol companies have brought out fuel with higher octane levels to compensate the tendency for fuel to pre-ignite in a compressed state. The other benefit of higher octane is that car tuners whether that be in the factory or aftermarket can extract more ignition timing in a controlled state hence benefiting in extracting more horse power from the engine. The V8 Supercars take E85 which has a even higher octane rating of 105.

It is very essential to know what type of fuel your car requires. If it’s a sport model like a highly tuned Honda, Toyota and European sports, supercharged, turbocharged cars, chances it will probably take some special octane fuel. For any enquiries please call Manny’s Mechanical Repairs.

Manny’s Mechanical Repairs specializes in tuning, we have the latest diagnostic equipment, scanners, labscopes and dyno tunning gear to ensure your vehicle is tuned and running at it full potential.

– Manny, 0411 496 621
To serve, to perform, to guide.

 

At Manny’s Mechanical Repairs you are in good hands, our main services include, Safety Certificates, Logbook Service, Free Pickup & Delivery, and Car Cooling System Repairs.

We have the latest diagnostic equipment and my work van is fitted out with an industrial air compressor. This enables me to perform heavy duty work and give you – the customer – the best service at any place and at any time.

For Bookings and enquiries, please contact us on 0411 496 621, email us at agrade@mannysmechanicalrepairs.com.au or visit our site www.mannysmechanicalrepairs.com.au.

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Fuel Injectors – What Are They?

In recent months I have come along problems with fuel injectors and they seemed to be one of the most overlooked and under-serviced components in the engine, yet their role is so vital.

What are Fuel Injectors?

Fuel injectors spray a fine, atomized fuel in or to the combustion chamber of the engine. This fine spray of fuel combusts when the spark plug is fired in a smooth flame propagation or front which burns the fuel, causing a incredible amount of controlled pressure forcing the piston down the cylinder to the crankshaft.

The diesel injector works in the same principal, except there is no spark plug. The fuel is injected when the piston is arriving to the top of its stroke, the internal heat caused by the compression (or compressed air) ignites the diesel fuel forcing the piston down. It’s a matter of interest because the combustion process is a process of heat accumulation there is a significant KNOCK in a diesel engine; hence this is why diesel engine are more noisy than petrol engines.

What are the Benefits of Fuel Injectors?

Fuel injectors are electronically controlled by computers. It was discovered that unburnt fuel was one of the greatest pollutants so Governments put stipulations on car manufacturers to get emissions down. Fuel injection was the answer. Engineers discovered that using computer hardware and now software can program fuel injectors to inject fuel in a 1000th/second – so divide a second into a thousand and take 6-8 thousands of that to keep the injector spraying fuel (include injector dead time in that equation). This is called milliseconds or injector ON TIME. This can also be represented in injector duty cycle – on time compared the time the injector is not energized in a given cycle.

The real benefits was better fuel economy, more power, less emissions, easier start up, easier transition from cold start to normal operating stage.

Problems & Symptoms of Poor Performance Injector

  • Performance loss;
  • Engine stutter, hesitation and stumbling;
  • Engine misfire;
  • Increase in fuel consumption;
  • Rough idling, engine stalling;
  • Failed emission tests. (Do not mention the VW debacle – that’s another story!) 

The Fix or Solution

Bring your car to MANNY`S MECHANICAL REPAIRS. Part of our service is to inform our customers that fuel injectors should be serviced every 80 000-100 000km and here is the reason:

  • Injectors collect contaminants from the fuel tank or from a bad batch of fuel from the refineries.
  • Injectors can develop carbon build up on the spraying pintles causing a partial blockage. 
  • Injectors can have electromagnetic faults affecting the speed and operation of their performance. 
  • Injectors may have fuel pump delivery problems. 

Here at MANNY`S MECHANICAL REPAIRS we have full diagnostic facilities. We also recommend and perform inline fuel rail injector service, which cleans intake manifold, pistons, injectors and exhaust. we add fuel tank additive at 80 000 to 100 000km.

At 180 000-200 000km we strongly recommend the physical removal of injectors, to be bench tested before ultrasonic bathed and have each individual injector flow & load tested with results recorded, new o rings ,seals fitted.

IF YOU CANNOT MEASURE IT YOU CANNOT MANAGE IT

On one last note, we strongly recommend replacing fuel filters on every diesel service.. true the cost is higher but we are constantly astounded of the ridiculous amounts of water and rubbish found in diesel fuel filters.

I hope this has helped.

– Manny, 0411 496 621
To serve, to perform, to guide.

 

At Manny’s Mechanical Repairs you are in good hands, our main services include, Safety Certificates, Logbook Service, Free Pickup & Delivery, and Car Cooling System Repairs.

We have the latest diagnostic equipment and my work van is fitted out with an industrial air compressor. This enables me to perform heavy duty work and give you – the customer – the best service at any place and at any time.

For Bookings and enquiries, please contact us on 0411 496 621, email us at agrade@mannysmechanicalrepairs.com.au or visit our site www.mannysmechanicalrepairs.com.au.

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Manny’s Mission – To Serve, To Perform, To Guide.

Manny’s Mechanical Repairs has been growing year after year. There is nothing that can substitute good, hard, consistent work, but it also comes down to values. It`s our code, our ethos or our mission which is: To Serve, To Perform, To Guide.

To Serve

Customers are everything! (Try and run a business without them) At Manny’s Mechanical Repairs, we listen to our customers’ needs and problems, then prioritize the steps required to solve the issues in good bilateral communication. We develop an ongoing relationship. Simply put, it’s an honour to serve customers.

To Perform

You have to be good at what you do. You have to know and master your work. Confidence, ability, skills, diagnostic procedures and the ability to learn and grow – balance this out with excellent equipment and anything is attainable, providing you have the desire to be better. Manny`s Mechanical Repairs are constantly reviewing, how can we be better? How can we strive for better mechanical repair excellence?  Manny`s is focused on developing skills for the future where computers, data transfer, electrical and tuning will become critical.

To Guide

Cars are becoming more and more complex. (So is the world!)

The customer who continually keeps their car consistently serviced and repaired to standards generally has no problems selling their car and has actually made money on an older car! Here at Manny`s Mechanical Repairs, we advise and quote on future repairs that may be required -this gives the customer a sense of control, so they can budget for future repairs.

To end this blog, there is a saying that goes IF YOU CANNOT MEASURE IT, THEN YOU CANNOT MANAGE IT!

MANNY`S` MECHANICAL REPAIRS has a system of checking, measuring and relaying your automotive information, then acting on what requires to be done ensuring PEACE OF MIND.

– Manny, 0411 496 621
To serve, to perform, to guide.

 

At Manny’s Mechanical Repairs you are in good hands, our main services include, Safety Certificates, Logbook Service, Free Pickup & Delivery, and Car Cooling System Repairs.

We have the latest diagnostic equipment and my work van is fitted out with an industrial air compressor. This enables me to perform heavy duty work and give you – the customer – the best service at any place and at any time.

For Bookings and enquiries, please contact us on 0411 496 621, email us at agrade@mannysmechanicalrepairs.com.au or visit our site www.mannysmechanicalrepairs.com.au.

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Tyres – The Critical Components of Car Performance & Safety

The tyre is probably the most important component of the modern car, which requires constant inspection and reviewing.

The tyre has the most important job of transferring driver demands to the road. The tyre’s ability to grip have a direct relationship to braking and handling of your car’s performance.

Major tyre companies spend millions of dollars in research and development to produce tyres to handle various conditions.

Before you buy your next set of tyres, ask yourself a few questions:

  1. Do I only do highway driving?
  2. Do I drive over dirt roads in the country?
  3. Do I go off road driving in rugged terrain?
  4. Do I drive up mountainous country where it rains a lot?

The life span of a tyre can vary from 25,000KM-75,000KM, all depending on driving characteristics and the condition of your car’s steering and suspension.

To this day a tyre company has not been able to design a tyre that can handle wet conditions and give you excellent mileage. The reason is that different tyres require different rubber compound for different conditions. That is why in motor racing cars hurriedly come into the pits (and change tyres) when weather changes.

A soft (rubber) compound gives good grip in the wet but low mileage in the dry. A hard (rubber) compound gives poor grip in the wet but good mileage in the dry.

At Manny’s Mechanical Repairs we constantly inspect your tyres when your vehicle comes in for a service. We rotate your tyres, check your tyre pressure, check your suspension and steering and give you a report on any defects to ensure peace of mind motoring.

– Manny, 0411 496 621
To serve, to perform, to guide.

 

At Manny’s Mechanical Repairs you are in good hands, our main services include, Safety Certificates, Logbook Service, Free Pickup & Delivery, and Car Cooling System Repairs.

We have the latest diagnostic equipment and my work van is fitted out with an industrial air compressor. This enables me to perform heavy duty work and give you – the customer – the best service at any place and at any time.

For Bookings and enquiries, please contact us on 0411 496 621, email us at agrade@mannysmechanicalrepairs.com.au or visit our site www.mannysmechanicalrepairs.com.au.

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Car Engine Running Rough – Mechanic Enoggera

Todays vehicle computers rely on correct and accurate data from electronic sensors (inputs).

The critical sensors measure air (air coming into the engine) and load (throttle position) at different conditions… ie going up or down hills, power mode like overtaking or start, stop city driving. This data is fed to the computer. The computer looks up the appropriate tables and then activates the fuel injectors to correspond to the required conditions in milliseconds (outputs). The fuel is delivered from a high pressure fuel pump – through the opening of the injectors which are then rapidly closed. The comparison of when a fuel injector is turned on as to when it is turned off is known as a duty cycle.

The computer also activates the ignition coils which generate high voltage spark to ignite the fuel mixture in the engine. The computer can control the spark timing to be more advanced or retarded according to engine load.


The exhaust gases are also measured by the computer via an oxygen sensor situation in the exhaust. This information fed back to the computer is known as a closed loop system.

This closed loop system working correctly minimises emissions, when an engine light comes on, this means that there is a fault and emissions are above the correct settings – this must be rectified immediately.

At Mannys Mechanical Repairs we are constantly training to keep up with this technology and possible faults that can occur. We spend thousands of dollars in the latest equipment and training.

• We check battery condition – which is vital to computer reference.
• We check alternator charge rate, diode testing for any spikes.
• We perform cylinder balance testing and perform electronic compression tests when required.
• Check fuel trim operations and evaluate the information the fuel trim gives which also leads to oxygen sensor performance testing.
• Perform full electronic scan on engine, transmission, body modules, antilock braking systems.
• Check for any generic OBD2 (on board diagnostics 2) faults.

The art of tuning is done within the computer. But at Mannys Mechanical we have the skill and the equipment to analyse and check that your vehicle is running to optimum performance.

– Manny, 0411 496 621
To serve, to perform, to guide.

At Manny’s Mechanical Repairs you are in good hands, our main services include, Safety Certificates, Logbook Service, Free Pickup & Delivery, and Car Cooling System Repairs.

 

We have the latest diagnostic equipment and my work van is fitted out with an industrial air compressor. This enables me to perform heavy duty work and give you – the customer – the best service at any place and at any time.

For Bookings and enquiries, please contact us on 0411 496 621, email us at agrade@mannysmechanicalrepairs.com.au or visit our site www.mannysmechanicalrepairs.com.au.