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Here at Honda of Salem we are sometimes asked by drivers in Salem to explain the role of gaskets in a car. Here is a closer look at these unseen but vital parts.

A gasket is a small, thin piece of material that is inserted between a moving and stationary part on a car. Gaskets can be made of stainless steel or rubber, and they are molded to a precise fit. Your car may have as many as 100 individual gaskets that are helping to prevent leaks of lubricant and fluid.

Gaskets are vital to the operation of your car…

You don't have to spend a long time replacing a flat tire. In fact, you don't have to spend more than five minutes changing your flat. Here is how you can fix your flat fast.

When you get a flat tire, the first thing you will want to do is find a safe place to replace your flat tire. Once you find a safe place to change the tire, turn on the hazard lights. From there, you will want to get the spare tire tools in the trunk. Now, you will want to use the jack to lift…

Nearly all drivers will experience a breakdown at some point in their lives. The good news is that there are many ways to keep yourself and your passengers safe during these frightening and unexpected events. At Honda of Salem we want to share two important tips for handling roadside emergencies.

Put Distance Between Yourself And Traffic

When possible, try to steer your car to the emergency "breakdown" lane. You can also work your way towards a grassy shoulder. If your tire has blown out, go ahead and navigate the vehicle to a safe place on the remaining tires and rim…

When you rotate the tires on your vehicle you are performing preventative maintenance that is going to save you time and money in the future.

Why Rotate Tires?

When performing tire rotations regularly you will get the most life out of your tires and also avoid costly repairs and unwanted wear on your drivetrain. A good rule of thumb is to have a tire rotation done about every 5,000 miles.

Bring Your Car to Honda of Salem When It's Time to Rotate

Here in Salem we have highly trained technicians at our facility that can...

There may be few sounds as comforting as hearing a vehicle engine start up during nasty winter weather. To make this happen, car owners must take care to maintain and periodically inspect their engine components. One engine system that is central to the starting process is the starter motor itself.

Starter motors are specialized components that can be very simple or intricate in design. In either case, starter motors often include interior and exterior electronic devices and connections that need to be maintained in order to prevent failure

You're driving along, and you hear some sort of alarm or alert coming from your dashboard. Upon inspection, you notice that one of your tire pressure sensors has discovered that one of your tires is not within range of what it should be. Is this really an important situation? Do you have a few days to address the issue? Let's talk more about this.

Tire pressure is very important when it comes to efficiency. When your tire pressure is too low, this could lead to decreased fuel efficiency ratings. You may end up at the gas pump more…

Is there anything worse than finding out one of your tires is flat? Driving on a "donut" spare and suffering a blowout on the highway could be much worse. Sometimes, drivers do suffer such dangerous blowouts because they don't know the limitations of a compact temporary tire. Perhaps they would be better off with a full-size spare.

A temporary compact spare tire is undersized and requires a massive 60 PSI to inflate. The tire isn't intended for long-term driving. The tire can't handle all speeds and road conditions. Usually, the tire allows for traveling short distances until…

Vehicle service is always very important as a way to protect the quality of your vehicle. With kids going back to school soon, you'll want to make sure your vehicle is running efficiently and reliably. Here are some back-to-school service tips from the trusted service technicians here at Honda of Salem.

• An oil change can help clear out old and dirty oil. This can increase your overall efficiency as well.
• Check the tire pressure in all four of your tires. A lot of vehicles come with a tire pressure monitoring system, but you'll want to do a double…

Drivers like you may sometimes consider using winter tires all year. That would only be appropriate if we lived on Antarctica.

At Honda of Salem, we understand cars thoroughly, so we know that each tire model has a specialty. Winter tires drive well in slick, cold conditions. Summer tires handle nimbly on warm, dry pavement. And all-season tires should be forcibly renamed three-season tires. While winter tires are perfect for winter driving, they are below optimal in summer.

Snow tires and ice-rated tires feature tread patterns that fight slickness and find traction where 

At Honda of Salem, we note that some people do not maintain their tires as well as they should. To heighten your safety as you drive around Salem, we want to educate you about tire care. When you maintain your tires, they last longer, and tire maintenance is easy.

Routinely check your tires' pressure with an air-pressure gauge. Add or reduce air to the air-pressure value recommended in your automobile's manual. Over-inflated tires will poorly distribute your car's weight. Under-inflated tires will make your car handle badly. Both conditions can require early tire replacement.