Vehicle Maintenance

  • Have You Changed Your Oil Lately?

    Oil being poured into a diesel vehicle

    If you drive a Dodge, Chevy, or Ford diesel pickup, you know the amount of hard work your truck puts in. You may also be aware that diesels run a little dirtier than your average gas burner. At R & M Automotive in Rockvale, TN, our goal is to keep your Duramax, Cummins, or Powerstroke truck on the road for many miles to come. A huge part of that is keeping your oil maintained.

  • Hints Your Transmission Is Failing

    transmission in car

    At R & M Automotive in Rockvale, TN, we know that transmissions are witchcraft to most people. More often than not, if major damage has occurred, it’s a lot more time and cost-effective to just replace the entire unit and get a fresh start. Our trained technicians at R & M Automotive want to keep you informed so you are aware of what to look out for.

  • How Do I Choose the Right Repair Shop?

    Mechanic working on car and smiling

    There are many factors that go into making R & M Automotive in Rockvale, TN a repair shop that’s above the rest.

  • How Do I Fix My Manual Transmission Problem?

    mechanic working on car

    Manual transmissions are generally more reliable than automatic transmissions. They don’t have as many parts, aren’t as complex, and can take a lot more abuse. However, if an issue is allowed to persist, more and more damage to surrounding components on your manual transmission will occur. R & M Automotive in Rockvale, TN can help you take care of your car as soon as you notice a problem.

  • How often should you get your filters replaced?

    mechanic putting filter into car

    Your car, truck, or SUV is equipped with various filters that keep the air going into your engine clean, the air you breathe in the vehicle, the fuel that supplies your engine, and the oil that keeps it going. How often should you have them replaced? It depends on the filter, the vehicle, and the environment. Here’s what you need to know, from R & M Automotive in Rockvale, TN.

  • How to Keep Your Older Vehicle in The Best Shape!

    Tail lights on bumper of older car

    As your vehicle ages, it not only gains sentimental value but a number of maintenance measures arise as well. Vehicles from previous decades have the potential to keep their value and functionality for many years. But how can you make that possible? Here are some tips from R & M Automotive to keep your older vehicle running and on the road for a long time!

  • How To Retain Your Car’s Resale Value

    car with for sale sign on the window

    If you drive a performance or luxury vehicle, there are important points to remember in preserving not only your car or SUV, but it's resale value as well. Luxury and performance vehicles depreciate more quickly than other cars. Many who own these cars like to have the newest and the best of the best. In that way, the odds are stacked against you when trying to get a good price for your car. Fortunately, R & M Automotive has some steps you can take to ensure you get the most for your car when it’s time to sell. 

  • How You Can Retain Your Vehicle’s Resale Value

    vehicles lined up

    If you own or operate any type of vehicle, you understand the importance of resale value. Some owners keep the same vehicle until it’s time for the scrap yard, but by and large it makes more sense to sell a vehicle and replace it at a certain point. From R & M Automotive in Rockvale, TN, here’s how to make sure you get the most cash possible when it’s time for your vehicles to hit the auction block or when you're ready to sell it to its next owner.

  • Identifying driveway spots: how to determine what is leaking under your car

    If you drive a vehicle with more than a few miles on it, there’s a good chance you’ve noticed an occasional drip underneath it that leaves spots wherever you park. Identifying what is leaking from your car will help you determine whether or not it’s a cause for concern, and what to do about it.

    There are seven liquids a car can possibly drip: oil, gas, brake fluid, transmission fluid, gear oil, water, and coolant. How do you tell the difference? This article aims to help your know-how.

  • Is it necessary to warm up your car?

    car on road

    If you drive a performance car or SUV, you want to take every measure possible to ensure it stays in good shape and running well. For many drivers of precision-engineered vehicles like BMW, Audi, Porsche, Subaru, etc., warming up the engine is a part of taking care of your vehicle. But is it necessary?

  • Is it ok to idle?

    push to start button on vehicle

    With temperatures dropping around the country, it’s understandably tempting to let your car or SUV idle to stay warm. At R & M Automotive in Rockvale, TN, one of our goals is to keep you informed on how to best care for your performance and luxury vehicles. 

  • Is it Okay to Switch Between Oil Types or Grades?

    oil being poured into car

    These days, it seems like the oil options for your oil changes are limitless - full synthetic, blends, conventional, high mileage, and the list goes on and on. We are frequently asked if it's okay to switch between oils, and how you know what is okay to use? At R & M Automotive in Rockvale, TN we're here to help you answer that question. When it comes to engine oil, the answer to this question can be as complicated or as simple as you want it to be!

  • Is it the Fuel Pump? Determining if Your Pump is Bad, and What to do About it

    car at fuel pump While fuel pump issues are common, they often get misdiagnosed. What is your fuel pump, how do you know if yours is bad, and what should you do about it? At R & M Automotive in Rockvale, TN, we are going to make sure that you are an informed driver so you know what to look for and what you should do about it.
  • Is Your Diesel Engine on it's Way Out?

    Smoke coming out of muffler

    Diesel engines are known for their durability, but even the best engine has to be replaced every once in a while. At R & M Automotive in Rockvale, TN, we want you to be aware of signs that your engine is about to call it quits.

  • Is Your Vehicle Squealing? We Can Help!

    One of the most annoying sounds known to man is a loud squeal every time you start your car, truck, or SUV. What causes this, and what can you do to fix it? R & M Automotive in Rockvale, TN has the answer.

  • Keep Your Replacement Transmission Running Smoothly

    Transmission

    Once your transmission has been replaced and you’re shifting smoothly once more, you’ll probably want to keep it running smoothly. Here are some tips from R & M Automotive in Rockvale, TN to help keep you reliably on the road.

  • Keeping Track of Maintenance - Why It’s So Important

    mechanic working on car Keeping track of maintenance done on your fleet vehicles and commercial trucks is one of the most important aspects of fleet management. At R & M Automotive in Rockvale, TN, we track maintenance and repairs for a number of reasons. Here’s why:
  • Let's Get to The Basics of Your Transmission

    The hydraulic system in your transmission is responsible for telling the mechanical components what to do, and when to do it. In order to better understand how your transmission works, it’s important to understand the mechanical components of it.

  • Looks Like A Problem? YES!

    Lady with car hood up - steam rising

    Sometimes it is EASY to see if your car or truck needs to come into our shop for professional repairs! 
    1.  You see steam rising from the engine!
    2.  The Check Engine Light is on!
    3.  The engine starts, but there is an odor that is not right.
    4.  You hear grinding or thumping noises.

  • Maintaining Tires on Your Diesel Truck

    tire

    Once you’ve got your new tires installed on your diesel truck, you’ll want to keep them in good shape. Tires aren’t difficult to maintain, and maintaining them correctly will dramatically increase their longevity. Inspection and maintenance are the two key components to making sure they last.

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