bmw service calgary - Motorwerkes

Keeping Your Cooling System in Great Condition

20 June 2016

A cool interior is important for a comfortable summer drive, but don’t forget about your engine! In the coming months, your BMW’s cooling system will be working much harder than during other seasons. Let’s run through a few recommendations on how to keep it working properly.

Understanding the System

In order to maintain longevity and remain efficient, your engine needs to stay cool and stable. For this, it depends heavily on its cooling system. The water pump and drive belt work to send coolant fluid through channels in the engine block and cylinder head, collecting heat and ultimately ending up at the radiator. After incoming airflow cools the hot fluid, it circulates again through the cooling channels in a continuous cycle. The system involves a number of moving parts, fluids, and tubes, and keeping these elements in good working order is one of the key ingredients to a robust and long-lasting engine.

Knowing the Signs

Be sure to follow the recommendations in your owner’s manual or a BMW technician if you want to know optimal fluid levels, coolant-to-water ratios, and intervals for refills and flushes. These often depend on the vehicle as well as the season. Keep an eye on your temperature gauge and be aware of any unusual smells or hissing sounds. Perform a basic visual inspection of the system once every so often. If you spot any leaks in the radiator or damage to belts or hoses, a repair by a local BMW technician is needed. Regardless of what you’re inspecting, always allow plenty of time for your vehicle to cool down before taking a look or refilling!

Taking It In

An out-of-shape cooling system is one of the most common and preventable causes of breakdowns, particularly during summer. Few things can make a dent in a great summer day than being stuck on the side of the road! Knowing when to take your BMW in to have the cooling system checked will ensure that you can enjoy even the warmest of days without smoky, overheated mishaps. It will also avoid accumulative engine wear that can lead to costly repairs later on. Always be attentive and trust in the right team of technicians!

How is the condition of your cooling system? If you’ve noticed any of the warning signs above or are experiencing anything else out of the ordinary, give Motorwerkes at call at (403) 768-3161 today. Calgary’s best team of BMW experts is here for you!

What Makes Summer Tires Unique?

13 June 2016

It’s always important to change your tire type based on the season. Now that the roads are getting warmer, let’s take a look at what goes into designing a summer tire and why they’re a smart choice for this time of year.

The Material

Because their conditions demand different performance and behaviour, summer tires (sometimes called “performance” tires) differ from winter tires in rigidity and elasticity. The tread compound of a summer tire is comprised of less pure rubber than winter tires, giving them just the right balance of softness and hardness to handle well in a variety of conditions, just so long as it’s not ice or snow! The compound is also made to hold up in higher temperatures where the softer winter tire would be more likely to fail. Summer tires are made to operate best at temperatures above 7 degrees celsius, and once they go below that, they harden and lose traction.

The Design

Treads, siping, and other structural characteristics also play a critical role. Since they’re not meant for winter and don’t need to push through muck or slush, summer tires possess a more shallow tread depth. Their sidewalls are also generally stronger than those on winter tires and the tread pattern is carefully designed with large grooves and fuller blocks. Unlike winter tires, which are designed with finer and more intricate siping patterns, summer tires prioritize a dynamic shaping strategy without worrying about digging around in the snow. As a result, using a summer tire during winter is likely to fill up those larger grooves with too much icy material!

The Performance

While you might assume that summer tires don’t perform so well in wet conditions, the opposite is actually true. Thanks to the combination of the tread compound and tread pattern, summer tires are able to keep a good grip on the road and optimize turns and stopping distance in both dry and wet conditions. With high performance summer tires, you’ll get directional treads that do a particularly good job with hydroplaning resistance. The design of winter tires, on the other hand, puts first priority on dealing with ice and snow rather than fluids. Because of these differences, failing to switch tires as the roads heat up is a sure way to compromise both safety and performance!

Have you fitted your BMW with a pair of summer tires for optimized durability and safety? Give the Motorwerkes team a call at (403) 768-3161, we’re here to help you get only the best performance out of your vehicle!

The Importance of Using Supreme Fuel

21 September 2015

Depending on your vehicle, you may or may not already be using supreme fuel. Some require it, some only recommend it, but in general it holds a number of benefits for the condition of your engine. Let’s have a look at how exactly it works and why it’s important to give your vehicle the best fuel it can get.

When Combustion Goes Wrong

The engine in your vehicle relies on a smooth cycle of combustion to keep its crankshafts moving and the wheels turning. In order for this to work, the air/fuel mixture in each cylinder must be ignited by its corresponding spark plug at precisely the right moment during every cycle. If the mixture ignites prematurely, you’ve got pre-ignition, which leads to “knocking” or “pinging.” This is an aggressive, audible change in pressure that the cylinder was not designed to handle. With thousands of cycles happening every minute, knocking can take a disastrous toll on the integrity of your engine.

Where Supreme Fuel Comes In

Compared with regular fuel, the high octane rating of supreme fuel indicates that a higher temperature is needed for combustion. Supreme is therefore more resistant to pre-ignition. This is particularly important if you have a love for high-performance vehicles, as the cylinders of these engines are designed with higher compression ratios. This means that your combustion chamber and cylinder can get a more efficient degree of mechanical energy out of a given cycle. With a high ratio comes greater risk of knocking, so the use of supreme fuel is critical.

What About Regular Engines?

While high performance engines absolutely require supreme fuel, many people argue that it is useless for lower-ratio engines that don’t need it. This isn’t necessarily true, especially if your car is a bit older. Over time, carbon deposits accumulate on the inside of your cylinders, and this affects your compression ratio. You may have found that as your vehicle has aged, you’ve begun to hear that dreaded knocking sound. Using supreme fuel could be a great way to keep up with the aging of your engine and stop pre-ignition at the source. This will ensure a much longer life!

If you’re looking for an excellent service or performance centre specializing in BMWs, Motorwerkes is here for you. Our dedication to providing the best possible customer experience is second to none, so give us a call at (403) 768-3162 today!