Author: dev

You’ve been saving money since the spring, gotten time off from work approved, booked hotels, campsites, and tickets. Your summer road trip is coming up quickly. During preparation, it’s easy to overlook the most essential part of a road trip- the car! If you are about to leave for a big family vacation, it’s important to make sure your vehicle can get you where you need to go, and not break down in the middle of nowhere or an unknown city.

Here are nine things to check, change, and plan before heading out on a road trip this summer.

Oil change

If you are about to go on a long trip, get an oil change before you leave. Fresh oil protects your engine from damage, which is especially important when logging long hours and many miles on the highway. Getting an oil change is not expensive, and also provides you or your technician an opportunity to look under your car for any other issues before you hit the road.

Check tire pressure and tread depth

Having safe tires is extremely important no matter where you are driving. Getting a flat or having a tire blow out on the highway is not only dangerous to you and other drivers, but it will be a major (and expensive) headache while on vacation.

Walk around your car and take a look at the tires. Make sure the sidewalls are free from cracks, bulges, cuts. Next, make sure the tires have adequate tread. Tread depth can be tested with a quarter (the penny test is no longer the most reliable). Insert the quarter with Washington’s head facing down. If the top of his head shows, get new tires before leaving on your trip.

Lastly, check the pressure of each tire. You can do this with a tire pressure gauge from an auto parts store, and many air compressors at gas stations have gauges built into them. You can find the PSI rating for your tires on the doorjamb of the driver’s door or in your owner’s manual.

Check belts and hoses, and top off other fluids

In addition to fresh oil, making sure your coolant, transmission fluid, power steering, and brake fluid reservoirs are full. If you need to add fluid, make sure you get the factory-recommended product to ensure your car runs and drives correctly.

If you are unsure how to check fluid levels or top them off, have a technician do it for you. Newer vehicles can be confusing under the hood and sometimes it is not clear what fluid goes where.

When you have the hood up, inspect the drive belts. Many components, such as ac compressor and the water pump run off the drive belt. Look for cracking or other signs of wear. Drive belts should be replaced every 60,000 miles.

Make sure you’re A/C works

Nothing is worse than sitting in a hot car, and if you have hours of driving ahead of you, no air conditioning can make it unbearable. If your AC is not blowing as cold as it used to, schedule an appointment with a technician to get it serviced or recharged.

Check the brakes 

Go for a drive with the windows down and pay attention to how the brake peddle feels, and any sounds you hear when pressing the peddle. If the peddle vibrates, feels soft or squishy, or you hear a grinding sound when you apply the brakes, bring your car to a certified technician to have them looked at.

Pack an emergency kit

Keeping an emergency kit in your car can help you out if you get stranded or another mishap occurs. Be sure to have basic first aid supplies, non-perishable food, water, a flashlight, jumper cables, basic tools, paper towels, and gloves.

Check or replace wiper blades and washer fluid

Before leaving, make sure your wiper blades work well and the washer fluid reservoir is topped off. If you hit inclement weather on your trip, you don’t want to be hindered by old wiper blades.

Make sure your battery is charged

A strong battery will ensure your car starts every time, and if you are camping and need electricity to charge your phone or use other appliances. Make sure the terminals are clean and free from corrosion and have a technician check the health of your battery.

Plan your destinations each day

Pick an end destination for each day of driving. Depending on where you are going, the stops along the way can be as fun as the final destination itself. Planning on an end destination each day you travel will also ensure you aren’t driving when you’re tired.

Planning a big trip? Bring your car or truck to Matson Point S!

Our team of trained technicians will get your car ready for the open road. We can perform all the services and inspections needed to ensure you won’t run into any trouble while you travel. Give us a call or schedule an appointment today!

Most inboard and sterndrive boats utilize a raw water system to cool the engine while it runs. Cold water cycling through the system keeps the engine at a safe operating temperature. Boats use impellers to take in raw water. An impeller is a hub with flexible rubber fins. When the impeller rotates, water is sucked into the cooling system.

Despite being made of rubber, impellers tend to be durable. During operation, water keeps them lubricated and prevents damage. That being said, the potential engine damage from a failed impeller is substantial. Without the impeller, your boat’s engine will overheat.

As a boat owner, it’s important to pay attention to the condition of your impeller. Regular seasonal inspections and replacements can prevent major headaches and expenses down the road.

What causes boat impellers to fail?

Like any moving component, rubber impellers will wear out after years of use. There are a few factors that can speed up impeller failure.

Sandy or muddy water 

If the body of water you take your boat out on is especially muddy or sandy, the life of your impeller can be reduced. Sand particles are abrasive and can quickly wear out the rubber veins of the impeller.

Dry running your boat

Rubber impellers rely on water to keep them lubricated. If your boat runs for even a few minutes (or even seconds) without water flowing through the impeller, it will shred and need to be replaced.

Sitting to long

Rubber becomes brittle and dry rotted if it is sits for too long . If you use your boat infrequently, or if it has been sitting for a few years, the impeller may have become brittle enough to fail on initial startup.

What happens when the impeller fails?

If the impeller on your boat breaks or fails, the resulting damage can destroy your engine. Without a constant supply of cold water, the engine will quickly overheat. When an engine overheats, damage to the head gasket, cylinders, and the engine block is possible. Severe damage may require an engine replacement.

How often should a boat impeller be changed?

Even if no abnormal damage is caused to the impeller, it should still be replaced on a regular schedule. Depending on how much you use your boat, impeller replacement should be done based on either hour of operation or years.

At Matson Point S, we recommend an impeller replacement every 100 hours of operation. It can take a long time to clock 100 hours, so we also recommend that the impeller is replaced every other year for the majority of outboards and sterndrives.

The one exception to this rule would be MerCruiser systems. The design of these units extends the life of impellers. MerCruiser impellers should be replaced every three years.

Let Matson Auto and Marine replace your impeller

Impellers are an inexpensive component. Staying on top of this boat service can save you thousands of dollars down the road. Our team of boat technicians has the skills and experience needed to service your boat. If it’s time for a new impeller, give Matson Auto and Marine a call today or schedule an appointment online!

As a boat owner, when the weather starts to get warm in the spring, you get excited. Pretty soon you’ll be spending your weekends on the water, but before you can do that, you have to get your boat ready for the season. In the fall, you winterized your boat and put it up for the winter. You changed the oil, flushed the cooling system and filled it with antifreeze, prepped the fresh water and sewage systems, and if you have an outboard or sterndrive, you greased the moving components in the lower unit. Your boat has been sitting all winter, and before you get it out on the water, there are a few boxes you need to check. Read on to learn about spring/summer boat preparation.

Visually inspect your boat

When your boat first comes out of storage, performing a visual inspection is a good idea. If the boat was stored outside, check the exterior for damage caused by weather and other debris. If you live in an area that sees heavy snowfall, make sure your boat has no structural damage from the weight of snow piling up on it.

For boats stored both indoors and outdoors, it’s a good idea to check the interior for signs of mice. Take a look at all visible wires. If you notice any damage or chewed wires, mice probably moved in during the cold months.

Check and charge batteries

Whether you took the batteries out of your boat or left them in for storage, it’s important to make sure they are charged and working properly. You wouldn’t want to end up stranded on your first trip out of the season. Make sure the terminals are not damaged and the plastic casing isn’t cracked.

Check the engine and drive

When you winterized your boat, you most likely performed an oil change. Before you take your boat out for the first time, check your engine oil levels, and if you did not change your oil in the fall, be sure to perform one.

If you have a sterndrive boat or outboard motor, check the gear lube levels in the drive to ensure proper lubrication during operation.

Prepare the water system

If your boat has a freshwater tank that supplies a shower, sink, or toilet, it’s important to flush out the antifreeze that was added when you put it up for winter.

• Start by flushing the antifreeze from the holding tank by running fresh water through the system.
• Make a bleach solution and run it through the freshwater system so it’s safe to drink from.

Start the engine

Making sure your boat is in good working order mechanically before the summer season is a smart idea. Whenever you start your boat out of the water, make sure you are using engine muffs or another form of water supply to keep your boat engine from overheating. Check all gauges and make sure they are working while the engine is running.

Check your trailer

Even if you dock your boat on the water during the summer, you’ll still need to trailer it at the beginning and end of the season. Make sure you inspect your boat trailer before towing. Make sure the trailer tires are in good condition, the brakes work, and brake lights/turn signals are functioning as they should.

Other boat summarizing tips

The steps above are essential when getting your boat ready for summer, but there are a lot of optional preparations you can do to protect your boat and make your life easier.

Interior and exterior detailing

The inside of your boat likely collected debris while sitting all winter. Giving the inside a thorough wash will make it a much nicer place to spend time.

Washing and waxing the exterior of your boat every spring will help protect it from the elements, whether you trailer it to the lake every time or dock it for the summer.

Equipment and supplies

Make sure your boat has the essentials on board. It’s a good idea to bring:

• Ropes and bumpers
• Life vests
• Fire extinguisher
• Tool kit
• Drinking water
• Nonperishable food

Make sure you have all registration and insurance documentation on board as well.

Let Matson Auto and Marine help with your boat!

If you’re unsure about any step in the boat summarizing process, call or schedule an appointment at Matson Auto and Marine! Our marine technicians serve Utah boat owners at our Riverton repair shop. We have the expertise needed to get your boat prepped and ready for a summer on the water!

In 2018, Utah removed safety inspections as a requirement for registration for most cars and trucks. Save a few exceptions, you can register any vehicle in Utah without a technician or mechanic signing off on it.

However, all vehicles are still required to have an emissions check performed. Emissions checks verify that a vehicle is not releasing excessive noxious gasses into the air while operating. The type of check and frequency varies depending on the vehicle type and year it was manufactured.

How often do I need to get an emissions check?

Only five of Utah’s 29 counties require emissions checks. They have a slightly different rule regarding the frequency of emissions checks.

Salt Lake County Emissions Rules

If your vehicle is less than six years old, you are required to get an emissions inspection every two years. A car with an odd number model year must get checked on all odd number years to meet the biennial interval requirement (cars with an even model year are checked on even-numbered years). Vehicles older than 6 years require yearly emissions inspections in Salt Lake County.

Exemptions 

• Any model year 1976 and older
• Diesel vehicles made in 1997 or earlier with a GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) under 14000 lbs
• Motorcycles
• EV’s (electric vehicles)
• Agriculture and farm vehicles
• Vintage cars
• Off-highway vehicles
• Construction/maintenance vehicles
• Military vehicles

Utah County Emissions Rules 

Gas vehicles registered in Utah County follow similar rules to those in Salt Lake County. Cars and trucks 6 model years old or newer require an inspection every two years, and cars older than six model years but newer than 1967 require yearly inspection. Anything older than the model year 1967 requires no inspection. Diesel vehicles with modal years from 1998 to 2016 require yearly inspections.

Exemptions

• Any model year 1967 and older
• Diesel vehicles made in 1997 or earlier with a GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) under 14000 lbs
• Motorcycles
• EV’s (electric vehicles)
• Agriculture and farm vehicles
• Vintage cars
• Off-highway vehicles
• Construction/maintenance vehicles
• Military vehicles
• Diesel vehicles from 2017 or newer

Davis County

Davis County follows the same rules as Utah and Salt Lake Counties but requires light, medium, and heavy-duty diesel engines to follow the same inspection intervals.

Exemptions

• Any model year 1967 and older
• Diesel vehicles made in 1997 or earlier with a GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) under 14000 lbs
• Motorcycles
• EV’s (electric vehicles)
• Agriculture and farm vehicles
• Vintage cars
• Off-highway vehicles
• Construction/maintenance vehicles
• Military vehicles
• Any heavy-duty diesel meeting the following criteria:

• IRP registration
• GVWR greater than 26.000 lbs

Weber County Emissions Rules

Vehicles in Weber County follow the same emissions rules as those registered in Salt Lake County. Cars and trucks less than six years old need inspections every two years, and cars older than six years require yearly emissions checks.

Exemptions

• Any model year 1967 and older
• Diesel vehicles made in 1997 or earlier with a GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) under 14000 lbs
• Motorcycles
• EV’s (electric vehicles)
• Agriculture and farm vehicles
• Vintage cars
• Off-highway vehicles
• Construction/maintenance vehicles
• Military vehicles

Cache County 

Cache County has unique emissions policies that set it apart from the other counties in Utah. Vehicles six years old or newer are not required to undergo any emissions inspection. Any vehicles older than six years require biennial emissions checks. The cutoff for age in Cache County is the model year 1969. Any vehicle produced in 1968 or before is exempt from emissions inspections.

Exemptions: 

• Any model year 1968 and older
• Diesel vehicles made in 1997 or earlier with a GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) under 14000 lbs
• Motorcycles
• EV’s (electric vehicles)
• Agriculture and farm vehicles
• Vintage cars
• Off-highway vehicles
• Construction/maintenance vehicles
• Military vehicles

For more information on Utah’s emission rules, check out the Utah DMV website.

What does an emissions inspection look like?

Older vehicles (produced in 1995 or before) get an actual tailpipe emissions test with a gas analyzer to measure vehicle emissions. Any car produced in 1996 or later gets an OBD2 test. The technician will plug into the vehicle’s computer and check to make sure emissions systems are ready. In Utah, you can have one emissions monitor fail but still pass the inspection. If two monitors are not ready, the vehicle will not pass.

Get a Utah emissions inspection at Matson Point S!

Time for an emissions check? Our technicians will make sure your car passes its emissions check and if it doesn’t, recommend and complete the repairs needed to get it passing. Give us a call and schedule an appointment at our Riverton, Utah shop today!

Tire rotation is important, but misunderstood. It can vary significantly depending on your car and the tires you use. Tire rotation is beneficial to safety and tire life. Depending on your tires, regular rotations can also keep them covered by the manufacturer’s warranty.

Why should I rotate my tires?

There are several key benefits to regular tire rotation

1.) Even tire wear

Rotating your tires ensures they wear as evenly as possible. Keeping the tread wear even lengthens the life of a tire. There are a variety of factors that can impact tire wear. If your vehicle is 2-wheel drive, the tires that receive power and torque from the engine are subject to more rapid wearing. If you neglect to regularly rotate your tires, you may need to replace them both more frequently and unevenly.

2.) Improved safety

Keeping the tread on all four tires even makes your vehicle safer. Tires adhere your vehicle to the road and help with braking, acceleration, and handling. the performance of the tire is restricted by uneven tread wear. While worn down tire tread is inevitable and will always impact performance, keeping the tread wear as even as possible will maximize safety.

3.) Reduced stress on all-wheel-drive vehicles

All-wheel drive vehicles are sensitive to variations in the tire tread. If the tread on your tires is uneven, it forces the vehicle’s differentials to rotate at different speeds constantly. Differentials can accommodate varying wheel speeds temporarily, but excess wear and tear can occur if they are forced to do this constantly.

Types of tire rotation

There are a variety of different tire rotation patterns depending on the drive type and tire size(s) of your vehicle.

1.) X-pattern 

The X-pattern tire rotation swaps the front left and back right tire, and the back right and front left. This rotation pattern addresses uneven tire wear and can be done on vehicles with the same size, non-directional tires

2.) Front to rear 

Front to rear tire rotation switches the front tires with the rears on the same side. Vehicles with directional tires must use a front to rear rotation pattern.

3.) Forward cross

The forward cross tire rotation pattern moves the rear right tire to the front left, the rear left tire to the right front position, and both front tires directly back the same side rear positions. Front-wheel drive vehicles with uneven tread wear benefit from this rotation pattern.

4.) Rearward cross

A rearward cross tire rotation is the opposite of the forward cross. This rotation moves the front tires to the rear positions and crosses them, moving the rear tires forward. Rear-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, and 4-wheel drive vehicles use this rotation.

5.) Side to side

A side-to-side tire rotation simply swaps them horizontally (right rear switched to the left rear, etc.). Cars with staggered tires (wider tires, usually in the rear require this rotation pattern.

Regular tire rotation is an opportunity to inspect your vehicle.

This is an indirect benefit of regular tire rotations. When a technician rotates your tires, they will have an up-close look at your brakes, axles, suspension, and other components of the drivetrain. Regular tire rotations put eyes on these areas of your car that may not be looked at until a serious problem arises.

How often should I rotate my tires?

The frequency of tire rotation depends on your vehicle. In general, it’s a good idea to rotate your tires every 5000 miles which is typically the interval you would get your oil changed. Check your owner’s manual to see the recommended oil change interval for your vehicle. Modern cars often have higher mileage intervals. If this is the case with your car, try to rotate your tires twice a year.

Matson Point S Can Rotate Your Tires!

If it’s time for a tire rotation or any other scheduled maintenance on your vehicle, give Matson Point S a call or schedule an appointment online! Our trained mechanics will keep your vehicle running and driving properly.