Twin Lakes Auto Service

GAS vs. HYBRID vs. ELECTRIC VEHICLES – WHICH IS BEST FOR YOU
Week 2 OF 3

Electric Vehicles (EV) have become very popular, those who want to protect the environment and go green love electric vehicles. But are you surprised to learn that the EV is not a new invention. The EV dates back to the early 1800’s. In the early 1900’s, American inventors returned to the EV and around that time William Morrison created what many consider to be the first practical electric vehicle, although it still lacked the distance of a gas powered vehicle. The Hybrid vehicle was also created around this time to solve a number of issues with the EV.

Today’s electric vehicles are more popular they have been in the past, with many capable of driving fairly good distances on their batteries.

PRO’s AND CON’s OF THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE –

PRO’s
• The engines are very quite and the ride is smooth.
• There is no reason to visit a gas station and electricity is much cheaper than gasoline.
• There are no emissions so it is safer for the environment.

CON’s
• An EV average trip is around 100 mile per charge, some vehicles can go up to 200 miles per charge.
• The time it takes to charge an electric vehicle can take as little as 30 minutes to 12 hours, depending on the size of the battery and the speed of the charging station.
• EV’s still face a big hurdle, the number of charging stations available.
• The replacement cost of a battery could range from $1,000 to $6,000, depending on the year and model of your VEHICLE.
• Purchasing an EV isn’t cheap, the additional cost primarily comes from the battery.
• Electric vehicles may cause cancer as they emit extremely low frequency (ELF) electromagnetic fields (EMF). The greater amount of time you spend in your car, the greater the risk.

**Please remember...DO NOT leave your children or animals in your car, even with the windows cracked. It takes just a few minutes to get to boiling temps inside your car.

Have questions or need a quote for a repair on your car, contact Twin Lakes Auto Service at (928) 778-5966 or visit our website at

Auto Repair in Prescott AZ - Twin Lakes Auto Service - Tune Ups, Oil Changes, AC Repair, Trasmission and Brake Service Twin Lakes Auto Service is a full service auto repair shop in Prescott. We are an ASE certified mechanic with over 25 years of experience servicing both foreign and domestic makes and models. We offer routine maintenance to the more complex automotive and electrical diagnostics. Call us today for al...

GAS vs. HYBRID vs. ELECTRIC VEHICLES – WHICH IS BEST FOR YOU
Week 1 OF 3

Although the history of the self-powered steam engine vehicle dates back to 1769, the first gas powered vehicle was designed and patented in 1879 and built in 1885 by Carl Benz in Mannheim, Germany. Carl Benz began the first commercial production of motor vehicles with an internal combustion engines.
Gas Fueled vehicles had its fair share of competition from steam driven and electric vehicles, but with greater availability of gasoline and oil lubricants and the favorable publicity from automobile racing, the gas powered vehicle claimed superiority over its competitors.
PRO’s and CON’s OF A GAS POWERED VEHICLE
PRO’s -
• With gas stations and auto repair shops around every corner, owning a gas powered vehicle is both convenient and easy.
• Gas powered vehicles are cheaper to purchase, even with government rebates on electric vehicles, gas powered economy vehicles are cheaper.
• Gas powered vehicles are able to travel greater distances, some economy vehicles can go up to 400 miles per tank before needing to be refueled.
CON’s -
• One of the biggest drawbacks to using gas is the amount of pollution introduced into the environment.
• According to the Department of Public Health, inhaling gas fumes may lead to confusion, dizziness, headaches and breathing difficulties.
• Gas relies on fossil fuels and yes, the supply on earth is dwindling. As such, people are calling for alternative fuel methods to be used sooner rather than later.

**Please remember...DO NOT leave your children or animals in your car, even with the windows cracked. It takes just a few minutes to get to boiling temps inside your car.

Have questions or need a quote for a repair on your car, contact Twin Lakes Auto Service at (928) 778-5966 or visit our website at

Auto Repair in Prescott AZ - Twin Lakes Auto Service - Tune Ups, Oil Changes, AC Repair, Trasmission and Brake Service Twin Lakes Auto Service is a full service auto repair shop in Prescott. We are an ASE certified mechanic with over 25 years of experience servicing both foreign and domestic makes and models. We offer routine maintenance to the more complex automotive and electrical diagnostics. Call us today for al...

SYMPTOMS OF A SICK COOLING SYSTEM

With the hot summer temps on the rise, knowing the symptoms of a sick cooling system are crucial to your summer driving plans. Neglecting your cooling system can result in serious damage to your car, even complete engine failure, which could put an end to your road trip. If your system does not receive regular check-ups, the question is not if but when it will fail.
1. OVERHEATING: The primary job of your engine’s cooling system is to remove the heat that is generated from the engine and automatic transmission and dispel it into the air outside. The coolant temperature can be well over 200 degrees and that heat has to go somewhere, otherwise engine components are going to start failing. The water pump circulates using a belt as new antifreeze helps the engine run cooler. A flush removes dirt or sediment that could damage other cooling system parts.

(If your car overheats and you are not in an area where it is safe to pull over, Turn on your car’s heater, this lets the heater core act as a secondary radiator and cool your engine down).

2. LEAKS: Visually check all hoses, belts and the radiator for leaks. Radiator leaks, bulging hoses or frayed and cracked belts are clues that the cooling system is in need of maintenance. If the coolant is low, a 50/50 mix of antifreeze and distilled water should be added. REMEMBER, NEVER OPEN A HOT RADIATOR CAP.

3. SMELL: If the engine is running hot it will have a distinct burning smell. Coolant has a sweet smell.

4. STUCK THERMOSTAT: A faulty thermostat that causes sporadic opening and closing can cause a churning and bubbling effect seen in the radiator or expansion reservoir. The rapid closing and opening of the thermostat valve can also cause a pounding noise inside the radiator, due to the slamming pulses of coolant.

**Please remember...DO NOT leave your children or animals in your car, even with the windows cracked. It takes just a few minutes to get to boiling temps inside your car.

Have questions or need a quote for a repair on your car, contact Twin Lakes Auto Service at (928) 778-5966 or visit our website at

Auto Repair in Prescott AZ - Twin Lakes Auto Service - Tune Ups, Oil Changes, AC Repair, Trasmission and Brake Service Twin Lakes Auto Service is a full service auto repair shop in Prescott. We are an ASE certified mechanic with over 25 years of experience servicing both foreign and domestic makes and models. We offer routine maintenance to the more complex automotive and electrical diagnostics. Call us today for al...