An engine can last anywhere from 50 to 500,000 miles depending mostly on how well you maintain it. While some engines are certainly more reliable than others, all of them depend on maintenance to fulfill their greatest potential. R.C. Bratcher, Inc in Owensboro, KY has provided for you some of the determining factors of engine lifespan, to help you make sure your engine lasts as long as it possibly can.

Nobody knows your vehicle better than you; if you suspect it isn’t driving the way it used to, there’s a good chance you’re correct. The truth of the matter is there are countless reasons and remedies for such a broad subject, but R.C. Bratcher, Inc in Owensboro, KY has compiled a list of a few common problems that can cause a vehicle to drive poorly.

At R.C. Bratcher, Inc in Owensboro, we know that some of the most elusive issues with any car, truck, or SUV are often caused by the simplest of malfunctions. While you might consider a gas cap fairly innocuous, it can actually malfunction too, prompting a check engine light on your 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 R.C. Bratcher, Inc in Owensboro want to provide you here are simple and effective steps you can take to increase your gas mileage, often more considerably than you think.

Are you driving around with a loud scraping sound coming from beneath your vehicle? Chances are, a piece of your splash shielding has come loose under your car. At R.C. Bratcher, Inc in Owensboro, we can have that annoying sound taken care of in no time.

We all love the sunshine but getting into that HOT car isn't always so wonderful even when you have a remote start it will take the breath out of you when the temperatures are soaring. Makes you want to pack your lunch instead of meeting friends for lunch! We decided that you should meet friends for lunch! So we got together and found some quick ideas for you. It isn't much but enjoy the sunshine on us here at R.C. Bratcher, Inc here in Owensboro! Call it our fun day fact!

Your drive belts are simple but integral components to the function of your car, truck, or SUV. At R.C. Bratcher, Inc in Owensboro, belts are one of the first things we assess when looking over a vehicle, as they alone are in charge of operating your AC, water pump, alternator, and power steering.

Your drive belts are simple but integral components to the function of your car, truck, or SUV. At R.C. Bratcher, Inc in Owensboro, KY, belts are one of the first things we assess when looking over a vehicle, as they alone are in charge of operating your AC, water pump, alternator, and power steering.

At R.C. Bratcher, Inc in Owensboro, we know that transmissions are one of the greatest technological marvels of the automotive world. How does a standard shift transmission work? Why should you care? Our expert technicians here at R.C. Bratcher, Inc in Owensboro have the answers.

Your drive belts run everything - your AC, power steering, alternator, and water pump are all dependent on the belts that turn them. At R.C. Bratcher, Inc in Owensboro, KY, our goal is to keep your truck maintained, so you’re never stuck out on the road. Drive belts are a critical part of that goal.

When driving around town, your vehicle's engine needs clean air to burn the fuel – and it needs a lot. In fact, a typical vehicle needs about 216,000 gallons of air for every tank of gas. All that air passes through a filter that catches the dust and dirt. Eventually, the filter gets completely full, and because the filter can only hold so much, dirt starts getting through. At R.C. Bratcher, Inc in Owensboro, we want to help you get the best air quality in your vehicle, but first, we want to explain the process of where this dirty air is going. 

You know how often to change your engine oil; but what about the gear oil in your standard shift transmission? Here’s a short guide, from R.C. Bratcher, Inc in Owensboro.  Unless you’re lucky enough to own a car with a transmission dipstick, inspecting the gear oil in a manual transmission is a lot more inconvenient than doing so with an automatic, or checking your engine oil. The car must be jacked up, supported, and the oil checked from underneath. As a result, you may just want to change it when the time is right. But how do you know when that time comes?

Your car, truck, or SUV is equipped with various filters that keep the air going into your engine clean, the air you breathe in the vehicle, the fuel that supplies your engine, and the oil that keeps it going. How often should you have them replaced? It depends on the filter, the vehicle, and the environment. Here’s what you need to know, from R.C. Bratcher, Inc in Owensboro, KY.

At R.C. Bratcher, Inc in Owensboro, 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.

Foggy headlights are a problem that has arisen in the past couple of decades, as we have moved away from glass sealed beam bulbs and into an era of plastic lenses with bulbs inside. While modern headlights are superior to the sealed beam headlights of years ago, they do tend to fog up after years of use. It’s a good trade for far better illumination and easier replacement, but an issue nonetheless. Hours and hours of heat, sunlight, and age eventually cause them to cloud up, which can reduce visibility at night in addition to worsening the appearance of your car, truck, or SUV. From R.C. Bratcher, Inc in Owensboro, KY, here are some tips on taking care of your foggy or cloudy headlight issue.

At R.C. Bratcher, Inc in Owensboro, efficiency is a concept that interests us. While your fuel economy is largely dependent on what kind of car, truck, or SUV you drive, there are a variety of tips and tricks to get the most bang for your buck. We’ve provided a few of our favorites here.

As your vehicle ages, it not only gains sentimental value but a number of maintenance measures arise as well. Vehicles from previous decades have the potential to keep their value and functionality for many years. But how can you make that possible? Here are some tips from R.C. Bratcher, Inc to keep your older vehicle running and on the road for a long time!

If you drive a vehicle with a manual transmission, you know that clutch replacement can be an expensive and time-consuming job. R.C. Bratcher, Inc in Owensboro has some tips to keep your clutch replacements as infrequent as possible.

If you want to avoid nasty and unexpected surprise maintenance costs, sticking to a regimented schedule of preventative maintenance is something you are going to want to get used to. The reason being is simple – frequent maintenance will keep your vehicle in good health, ensuring you get the most out of all those expensive-to-replace parts. While it might sound counterintuitive, the best way to reduce maintenance costs is to stick to a prescribed maintenance schedule.

If you drive a performance or luxury vehicle, there are important points to remember in preserving not only your car or SUV, but it's resale value as well. Luxury and performance vehicles depreciate more quickly than other cars. Many who own these cars like to have the newest and the best of the best. In that way, the odds are stacked against you when trying to get a good price for your car. Fortunately, R.C. Bratcher, Inc has some steps you can take to ensure you get the most for your car when it’s time to sell.