Albany Auto Repair

How Do I Get My Diesel Ready For Winter? Diesel engines are known for being more powerful and effective than their gasoline counterparts. An unfortunate thing they are known for is being harder to start in the winter. This is different for modern diesel engines. Because of the way older diesel engines operate, if they have not been very well maintained, there may be some trouble starting when the weather cools down for the winter.   Like modern gasoline engines, diesels have grown in complexity to enable them to produce more power and less emissions at the same time.    Diesel engines use glow plugs or intake heaters to warm the inside of the engine upon starting to help burn the diesel fuel. Since diesels don’t use spark plugs, but instead use heat and pressure to ignite the fuel. On a cold day, the engine needs to be warmed to help them start faster.   That is why in winter, especially on really cold days, you will see big semi trucks and even pickup t ... read more

Do you ever get into a car on a hot summer day, turn on your A/C just to be met with an awful smell? Yeah, it’s no fun. I'm sure we have all experienced that, but what causes the smell? (This is a dirty A/C Evaporator from a 2012 Ford F-450 that was used on a farm. just goes to show how filthy they can get)   The A/C and Heating system circulate air throughout your car or truck much like the A/C used in your house. Also like your house, most automobiles have filters in the A/C and Heating System (these are called cabin air filters).   Cabin air filters trap a lot of smells and allergens. Regular maintenance of replacing your cabin air filter can keep odors at bay. For automobiles that don’t have cabin air filters the heater and cooling elements, and the vents, can collect dirt and allergens that a filter would stop. So cleaning those elements and vents are required.   BG Services steps up again with their Frigi-Fresh Service, It cleans and disinfect ... read more

Diesel, mostly found in trucks and some cars in the United States. It is the most energy dense fuel with widespread use today. In most other countries, diesel engines are in nearly all makes and models of cars and trucks.   These engines require specialized equipment and knowledge to repair and maintain. That's why we use the best tooling and equipment possible and employ the best in the industry. In addition, we continue the education of our team for new and emerging technologies in the automotive industry.     We are starting to see more diesel engines being used in smaller trucks here in the Untied States, and more European cars coming to the US with diesel options. There are some shops that don’t work on diesels, but we look forward to working with any diesel powered car or truck!   At Crabtree Automotive, we work on all makes and models, even European.  From Honda to Audi and everything in between! So give us a call or schedule an appointme ... read more

What happens to tires when the weather warms up?   Warm weather is here, and summer road trips are right around the corner. Tires are THE only part of your car that touches the ground and keeps you going down the road. You could say tires are the most important part of your car or truck. Flat tires are no fun, but another problem is when your tires wear down from normal use, they begin to have less and less traction in rainy or snowy conditions. Luckily we don’t have to worry about snow anytime soon.    Wet slippery roads cause millions of accidents across the county. Many of those are from bald tires. We inspect your whole vehicle when you come to Crabtree, Including tires. There are indicators on tires to let you know when it's time for replacement. We will check this for you.    When you bring your vehicle to Crabtree we will make a maintenance schedule for you that keeps your car and your wallet happy. This, of course, includes tires. We sel ... read more

Which Cummins engine is the best? That is another subjective question. But let's continue with our diesel truck discussion.   Like its Powerstroke counterpart, the Cummins engine found in Ram pickups has undergone many changes. Arguably the most famous light-duty diesel, the 12v Cummins first introduced in a Dodge Ram W250 and W350 in 1989, is still heavily used to this day.   Cummins designated the engine as a 6BT (6-cylinder B-Series Turbocharged), the first version having one exhaust and one intake valve per cylinder (12v) and using a rotary fuel injection pump (VE) Pump.   From there, fuel pump changes, different turbos, better injectors, and eventually electronic controls gets us to modern-day the 6.7 Cummins.   It shares the same displacement as the 6.7 powerstroke but that is where the similarities end. Ford, Ram, and Chevrolet all battle for top horsepower and towing capacity bragging rights. A few years back, Ram was the first in the industry to ... read more

Why does your A/C System keep failing?   Well there is probably a leak! The AC system in modern automobiles can get pretty complex but they all have some of the same fundamental components.    When a leak occurs it can be extremely hard to find. Thankfully we have some special tools to make that easier. On this 1997 Ford F-250 we had a leak that didn't show up with dye and the leak started all the sudden for the customer.   We started by hooking up our AC Servicing Machine to the truck to recover any feon left in the system and then put the system under a vacuum to test for leaks and see how big the leak is.   We were able to detect that there was a leak and it was rather large. But with visual inspection we couldn’t find anything. The customer let us know that nearly the entire system had been replaced last year.    We then filled the AC system with environmentally safe Nitrogen Gas and used soapy water in a spray bottle to cover ... read more

That’s highly subjective but lets talk about the Ford Powerstroke. We love the Powerstroke platform here at Crabtree Auto.    First introduced as the Powerstroke the 7.3 liter direct injected diesel engine built by International Navistar in 1994.5 was a breakthrough in light duty diesels here in the United States. There was a 6.9 and 7.3 liter diesel prior to 1994 available in Ford F-250’s and F-350 also built by International Navistar these are commonly referred to as IDI’s for their style of fuel injection system In-direct Injection (IDI).    While the IDI was an extremely robust engine with very few mechanical failures it was not know for making large amounts of power. It performed similar to the Cummins 5.9 and Detroit 6.5 of the same era.   Fast forward many years to the current Powerstroke 6.7 liter and we now have a class leading engine in horse power and torque and the F-Series trucks they can be found in also have class leading ... read more

Diesel, Why? Why would anyone want or need to drive something other than a gas or electric car or truck? We can’t cover every reason in this post, but here are a few.    Diesel fuel is more energy dense than gasoline, making a diesel engine more fuel efficient and powerful than its gasoline counterpart. So for heavy towing in larger trucks, Diesels are able to get the job done easier. And in light trucks and cars, diesels are able to get far better mileage than gasoline.   Like with anything in life, there are always trade-offs. Diesel engines typically have a higher cost of maintenance. And in most cases, Diesel fuel costs more than Gas.   Diesel isn't for everyone, but other benefits are higher resale value, A longer lifespan, and the higher mile per gallon average more than offsets the higher price at the pump.   At Crabtree Automotive, we work on all makes and models, even European.  From Honda to Audi and everything in between! Inclu ... read more

Pre-Register NOW for the 2023 @nobsobstruckshow   August 18th and 19th, 2023. T-Shirt Logo by @apocdesign Pre-Registration this year includes: *1-hr Early Bird Access Parking for Saturday - (8-9 am event entry for pre-reg vehicles only, grab a parking spot close!) *Guaranteed 2023 No BS OBS Event T-Shirt - Received day of event, one shirt per vehicle, these sell out quickly! ($25 value) *TWO Raffle Tickets ($20 value) *Show Vehicle Admission Both Days - You will receive your parking pass in the mail prior to the event. ($20 value) *OPTION TO ADD Show N' Shine Event - $20 extra/optional *@carrickcustoms SUSPENSION KIT GIVEAWAY - Exclusive chance to win Carrick Customs Complete OBS D60 Coil Over or TTB Dana 50 Kit with King Coilovers ($5800 Value).  Only Pre-Registered guests are eligible to win! Must be prese ... read more

Here are some of the ways that a key drop box can help make your life easier: Convenience: With a key drop box, you don't have to worry about finding time to return your keys during regular business hours or waiting in line to do so. You can drop off your keys at any time that's convenient for you, whether that's before work, after hours, or on the weekend. Safety: A key drop box provides a secure way to return your keys. Instead of leaving them locked up in your car, you can simply drop them into the box and rest assured that they'll be safe until they're retrieved. Ease of use: Using a key drop box is incredibly simple. Just locate the box, open it up, and drop in your keys. Many key drop boxes are clearly marked and provide instructions for use, so you don't have to worry about any confusion. Speed: With a key drop box, you can retrieve your keys quickly and easily, without any unnecessary delays. This is especially important for contractors or businesses ... read more