
Recommended Tampa Service Intervals
October 3, 2021
Everyone in Tampa, FL, knows we are advised to go to our Tampa dentist twice a year. Oral-conscious Tampa residents have a teeth-cleaning and examination. Once a year, we get x-rays to look for problems that can't be seen with the naked eye. When our dentist is done, he/she tells us what was fou... More

Dashboard's a Funny Name (Instrumental Panel Warning Lights)
September 26, 2021
Every day you drive, you're sitting behind the dashboard. But how in the world did it get that name? Back in the days of the horse-drawn carriage, horses would kick up dirt and mud on the driver and passengers, "dashing" debris against the carriage. So those who built carriages began installing a... More

Growing Old Together (Maintaining an Older Vehicle)
September 19, 2021
More and more of us are hanging on to our vehicles longer. A company by the name of HIS Markit recently released a report that shows the average age of light vehicles in the U.S. is now 11.8 years. Light vehicles are cars, SUVs (sport utility vehicles) and CUVs (compact utility vehicles). In C... More

Not-So-Common Sense (Sensor Failures)
September 12, 2021
So your vehicle won't start. What's the first thing that comes to mind? Battery dead? Starter motor worn out? Out of gas? Well, those are all reasons that make sense. But your vehicle may be refusing to start because one of its computers is being warned that to do so might damage it. Here's ... More

Busting Automotive Myths in Tampa, FL
September 5, 2021
Myths passed around our Tampa, FL community start with a grain of evidence and are then built up with a lot of imagination and very elastic logic. And the internet is a breeding ground for automotive myths. Some bloggers recall the vehicles of yesteryear and declare their modern decedents to be ... More

Keep Your Cool in Tampa
August 29, 2021
Tampa drivers rely on their vehicle's coolant system to keep their engine cool. Coolant (also called antifreeze) mixed with water flows through your vehicle engine and absorbs heat. The mixture then flows out to the radiator where it's cooled by air flowing over the radiator. From there the cool... More

Winter Tires
August 22, 2021
What type of technology do you use? Do you prefer an 8-track tape or an iPod? When it comes to winter tires, much of Tampa driver's perception dates back to when 8-track was the best way to listen to the Bee Gees.Twenty years ago in FL, winter tires differed from highway tires only in their tread... More

Cool Running (Water Pump)
August 15, 2021
Your vehicle is like you in a way. When it gets hot, it needs to be cooled down. And one of the key parts to keeping it cool is the water pump. Now, that's a bit of a misnomer. It IS a pump, but it's pumping coolant, not pure water. Cooling off your engine is vital since it builds up heat whe... More

Tampa Air Conditioning Service
August 8, 2021
Working up a sweat is a great thing to do in a gym around Tampa, but not in your vehicle. When Tampa residents' vehicle AC Systems have a problem, they'll often feel it right away. The question is, how long do you put up with it? You know, the old comfort versus cost dilemma. But a more comfortab... More

Diesel Maintenance for FL
August 1, 2021
At Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Center Tampa (Gunn Hwy) we hear from a lot of people who are excited about the new diesel engines that will soon be available in passenger cars and SUV's. But our FL friends are often curious about the preventive maintenance requirements. People may not know that die... More