
Shake It up in Poplar Bluff!: Why Wheel Balancing
August 21, 2022
Our vehicles are not massage chairs. While we may enjoy a good vibration in an overstuffed recliner, we generally want as smooth a ride as possible in our vehicles. One way to achieve this is to keep a vehicle's wheels in balance. When a tire is mounted onto a wheel, it is usually out of balance... More

Don't Do It Yourself (Perils of DIY Vehicle Repair)
August 14, 2022
Your vehicle is a complicated machine, and yes, it would be nice if you could take care of all of its problems yourself. There was a time when vehicles were simpler and it wasn't too hard for a weekend mechanic to replace brakes, adjust a carburetor or perform a tune-up. But vehicles are far mo... More

Fuel System Cleaning at Charlie's Fast Lube Poplar Bluff
August 7, 2022
Is your vehicle sometimes hard to start early in the morning? When you turn the key, does it hesitate or stutter? If so, the problem could be the result of a dirty fuel system. Your vehicle's fuel system starts with the air filter and ends in the top of your engine. Over time, different parts of ... More

Can Your Car Last Another Year?
July 31, 2022
Have you checked out the price of new vehicles at Poplar Bluff car dealers? Ouch! Add financing and insurance and a new ride may not seem so attractive. A lot of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, folks are hoping to make their cars last a lot longer.Fortunately, with the current state of automotive engine... More

Rear Window?Not the Movie! (Why Some Rear Windows Don't Go All the Way Down)
July 24, 2022
Alfred Hitchcock once made a mystery thriller film called "Rear Window." It had nothing to do with the rear window of today's cars, SUVs, CUVs and light trucks. But there is one thing that some drivers DO find mysterious. Why don't the rear windows in the second row of many of these vehicles go... More

The Right Oil for the Season (Engine Oil Viscosity)
July 17, 2022
As the temperatures plunge, certain types of engine oil may not flow as easily as they did when it was warmer. Makes sense, doesn't it? Just like molasses gets thicker as the temperature goes down, engine oil does the same thing. So, maybe you're wondering if you have to change your oil as the s... More

The Part You've Never Seen (Flat Tires and Solutions)
July 10, 2022
They say your vehicle has one, but you've never seen it. And you might not even know it if you stumbled on it accidentally. We're talking about the jack, that tool that allows you to lift one corner of the vehicle up so someone can change a flat tire. So you say you'd never try to change a flat ... More

Automotive Tips from Charlie's Fast Lube Poplar Bluff: Where Should New Tires Be Placed
July 3, 2022
When Poplar Bluff drivers need to replace tires, they need to know how many they should get and on which axle they should be placed. Replacing a damaged tire may leave you with three others with significant wear, which could affect your traction control, stability control and anti-lock brake syst... More

Make Your Battery Last
June 26, 2022
Today's report from Charlie's Fast Lube Poplar Bluff is on vehicle batteries, why they die and what we can do to lengthen their life. Most of us have had a dead battery at one time or another. In fact, it would be very unusual if you hadn't. You may be surprised to learn that only 30 percent of P... More

Drive Defensively in Missouri
June 19, 2022
Car care is part of auto safety in Poplar Bluff. But the most important thing we can do to improve safety on Missouri roads is to drive safely.Defensive driving begins with the proper attitude. Have in mind that you won't let anyone take your safety away from you. You'll be aware of your surroun... More