It’s affordable, it’s easy and it’s important. An oil change is one of the most straightforward vehicle maintenance measures out there—but it’s also one that can be easy to push off when we get busy. Your car is pleading with you to stay on schedule. When you go too long between oil changes, your engine suffers. So does the value of your vehicle, and subsequently, so does your wallet. Here are signs that you are long overdue for an oil change: Your Engine is Noisier than Normal The point of oil is to lubricate the engine. When the oil level is low or the oil that’s left in the crankcase isn’t up to normal standards, your engine complains about it. Listen for grating, rumbling noises when you turn your vehicle on. In some cases, your gas-powered engine may begin to clatter like a diesel engine. Y ... read more

Homeowners planning to finally paint that dining room probably would head to their favorite hardware stores to pick up paint, brushes and drop cloths. But will those supplies be sufficient to complete the job? What about painter’s tape, for example? Is one gallon going to be enough? Hardware retailers wouldn’t be doing their jobs if they didn’t guide customers through the purchasing process to ensure they head home with everything required to complete the task at hand. Similarly, your automotive-service experts at CARS of America want to help guide you in your car-ownership journey so you can hit the highway with confidence—without breaking the bank. Here’s how we go to work to provide the best budget-fitting auto-repair advice for you and your family. An apple a day keeps the mechanic away? When you come in for an oil change, we ... read more

Yes, here’s why This is what I was thinking about when I was sitting in the doctor’s waiting room for my annual eye exam.  I started thinking about how reading glasses from the drugstore, aka “cheaters”, are similar to quick oil change stations.  Here’s why I think they are similar. Cheaters are convenient.  It’s easier to pick up a pair while you’re shopping rather than set an appointment for an eye exam.  But, you can’t replace a good eye exam with a pair of cheaters. Annual eye examinations check your vision and the health of your eyes. Did you know that diseases such as diabetes, multiple sclerosis, hypertension and rheumatoid arthritis can be caught early by an eye exam? Similarly, it requires an experienced, ASE-certified technician to identify any repairs needed or perform necessary preventive maintenance other than an oil change. Did you know that CARS of America does a thorough inspection on every vehicle that ... read more

“You get what you pay for.” It’s about as tired a cliché as you’re likely to hear, but at the same time, it’s usually true. Take your typical oil change, for instance. You always can find a shop in Glenview or Northbrook advertising a cheaper oil change than our $35 version. But here at CARS, our oil changes are anything but typical. To better understand how and why our oil changes are truly better for you, let’s see how “ours” stack up against “theirs.” First, let’s look at who’s actually doing the oil change. For your money, you’ll often get a minimally trained high schooler or recent graduate. The tech probably knows how to change the oil and sell an air filter, but s/he simply isn’t trained or experienced enough to detect a ball joint that’s about to fall off the car or a suspension problem that’s chewing up your $200-a-pop tires. At CARS, a general service technician with a higher level of training performs every oil change and conducts a complete ... read more