Archive for: General

Have you ever paid attention to the color of smoke coming from the exhaust pipe of your car? While this might sound odd, the color of your exhaust can give you information on how your vehicle is running and whether it needs attention. Exhaust is sometimes an easy indicator of car health.

Here at Rislone, we have decades of experience as a leader in treating engine problems and have put together this list to help you identify the different colors of smoke and react when necessary.
Colors to Watch For
Here are the main colors of smoke that you might detect coming from your vehicle, each one indicating a different potential problem:

Blue smoke: This typically occurs when some…

You might know something about engine compression, but in case you don’t, here’s the crash course.

Your engine relies on compression during operation to pressurize the fuel and air mixture so that it detonates properly and creates power to push the pistons. If your piston rings get worn, they allow this gas and air mixture to escape and your pistons can’t create the right amount of compression. Car engine compression problems can be hard to detect at first but can cause big problems if left to get worse. And for you enthusiasts out there, compression = power.

Our engineering and tech support teams here at Rislone have put together this list engine compression loss symptoms to help you identify when your engine is suffering from low…

Your Summer Car Maintenance Schedule
It’s always important to follow the maintenance schedule outlined by your vehicle’s manufacturer – you can typically find that in your owner’s manual. The manufacturer knows what it takes to keep your vehicle running smoothly. Before the hot summer months hit, there are a few additional maintenance items you should consider looking at. A little bit of planning can help you avoid surprises with your car as you head out on vacation and enjoy the warm weather of summer. Trust us, we get a lot of calls from customers about how to handle the summer heat – from both maintenance and performance aspects.
Some Performance Tips for Summer
Getting the best performance out of…

Before winter hits, it’s a good idea to take care of some winter service and maintenance items. Colder weather can be hard on your car and dealing with problems once winter hits can be a big hassle. Here at Rislone, we know a thing or two about car care and maintenance, so check out our top tips on how to look after your car in wintertime and get it ready for the coldest season.
Top Tips to Keep Your Vehicle Running
While it’s important to take care of car maintenance all year long, before winter there are a few points that should be addressed specifically:

Check your coolant: This means topping up if your coolant…

The Fast, the Present, and the Future
Show Report by Marissa P.

The North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) kicked off in Detroit, Michigan a couple weeks ago and as always the automakers pulled out all the stops trying to outdo one another. Nearly everyone premiered new takes on old classics and even gave us a glimpse of the future.

Dodge certainly didn’t shy away from the competition with its display of the 2018 Dodge Demon. The Demon proudly boasts that it is a drag strip-ready car straight from production. Don’t get your hopes too high though, as-is the car won’t pass an NHRA safety inspection it will need a few a few extras before you can head down one of their tracks.

Ford, however, wasn’t going to…