a car with lines and details over it like a computer screen

Your Vehicle Identification Number, or VIN, is essentially your car’s fingerprint. In its entirety, it is specific only to your car. Each car has its own unique VIN number and can be decoded to provide manufacturing and identification information on any vehicle on the road. Date of manufacture, manufacturer, vehicle type, where it was made, and options such as engine and transmission type, whether a car is a two or four-door, and a multitude of other specifications can be gleaned from a VIN number. Essentially, a VIN number will tell you exactly what a car is and where it came from, without even having to see the car.

diesel tech working on engine

When you think about diesel engines, you probably think about large trucks and machinery, and maybe a few oddball cars over the years. So how long has diesel really been around, and why is it used the way it is today? More specifically, why should you choose a diesel engine for your needs?  Here at Zylstra Automotive & Diesel in Visalia, CA, we discuss this with customers often based on their unique needs along with the history of the diesel engine.

Cleaning the dashboard of a vehicle

The interior of your car can be difficult to maintain; between you, your kids, and anyone else who gets a ride from you, wear and tear on the interior of your vehicle is constant. Drinks get spilled, burn holes appear, rips and tears happen. Unlike the rest of your car, the interior isn’t made of metal, so it requires special treatment to keep it in good condition.

dashboard

Good gas mileage is something we all want. In fact, many drivers purchase certain cars solely for gas mileage, and almost all of us at least take it into consideration when purchasing a vehicle. While it is true that gas mileage is by and large determined simply by the type of car, there are actually a variety of things you can do to increase the gas mileage of any automobile. The tips Zylstra Automotive & Diesel in Visalia want to provide you here are simple and effective steps you can take to increase your gas mileage, often more considerably than you think.

man polishing headlights

In the old days, when your headlight burned out you just replaced the entire thing with a new glass bulb. Modern headlights are plastic assemblies, with a bulb inserted through the back. What this means, is that the plastic lens that light shines through never gets replaced, and eventually will begin to oxidize and deteriorate due to time, weather, and heat from your bulb. Today you will learn when it’s time to fix or replace your headlight assemblies, what options you have in doing so, and what the benefits are.

electronic engine controls

On all modern vehicles, electronic engine controls have truly changed the game in terms of performance, efficiency, and reliability. On diesel trucks, whether you drive a Chevy, Dodge, or Ford, this innovation has been particularly revolutionary. The gains diesel engines have made in the past couple of decades are impressive by any standard, and electronic engine controls are a huge contributor to those developments.

mechanic working on a vehicle

At Zylstra Automotive & Diesel in Visalia, we understand that big trucks mean bigger risk on the road. Here are some tips to remember, to reduce the likelihood of an accident resulting in large repair costs next time you're on the job.

fleet of vehicles

With fleet trucks and large diesels, one issue plagues them more than any other; neglected maintenance or repair. At Zylstra Automotive & Diesel in Visalia, CA, we can take care of your entire fleet, no matter how big or small, making sure it stays on the road for years to come.

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