Let's dive into the differences in fuel efficiency between traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles and the more modern electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrids...

A comparison of Electric Powered and Internal Combustion Engines

With petrol prices climbing to new heights, more and more folks are considering vehicles that run on alternative power sources, like electric and hybrid cars. It's not just about saving a few bucks at the pump, but also making choices that are kinder to the environment.

First up, traditional petrol or diesel cars. These have been around pretty much forever, and while they've served us well, their efficiency is not the best. A regular ICE vehicle guzzles a fair amount of fuel, and that means more trips to the petrol station and more dollars spent.

But when it comes to EVs, things take a turn for the better. Electric vehicles are way more efficient because they use electricity stored in batteries, which is generally cheaper than petrol. Plus, they convert a higher percentage of energy into actual movement, making them a lot more efficient in terms of energy use.

Hybrids are kind of the best of both worlds. They have a petrol engine but also an electric motor, which means they can switch between or combine power sources for better fuel efficiency. This setup can significantly reduce the amount of fuel used, especially in stop-and-go traffic where hybrids really shine.

One of the biggest perks of driving an EV or hybrid is the potential cost savings. We referenced Drive.com.au to find out just how much you can save and according to a survey by Drive, a hybrid like the Toyota Yaris SX Hybrid consumes only about $821 worth of petrol annually, thanks to its impressive efficiency of 3.3L/100km.

The same Drive study also found that driving an electric vehicle can save you between $1,320 and $3,070 each year compared to traditional cars. That's a nice chunk of change to keep in your pocket. And if you have solar panels at home, those savings could increase even more because you can recharge your EV using the power of the sun. It’s a win-win situation for both your wallet and the planet.

The energy sector in Australia is also making big moves towards more sustainable practices. Australia has one of the highest rates of rooftop solar installations per capita globally. This solar revolution not only reduces carbon emissions but also helps in cutting down on electricity costs for EV owners. The Australian Energy Council notes that rooftop PV contributed nearly 13% to the nation's total electricity generation last year, a testament to how significant solar power has become in our energy mix.

The Drive Towards Sustainable Energy Practices

EVs are generally cheaper to maintain than their ICE counterparts. This is because they have fewer moving parts and don’t need things like oil changes. The Drive.com.au survey we mentioned earlier showed that electric cars are cheaper to service by an average of $465 over the first three years. Hybrids, being a mix of both worlds, may have slightly higher servicing costs than EVs but still lower than ICE vehicles.

In terms of cost efficiency, hybrid vehicles have consistently proven to be incredibly economical. They combine the reliability of traditional engines with the efficiency of electric motors, offering impressive fuel savings and reduced emissions.

In a nutshell, while electric and hybrid vehicles might have a higher upfront cost, they offer significant savings in the long run. Whether it's reduced fuel costs, lower servicing expenses, or the environmental benefits, it's clear that the shift towards alternative fuel vehicles is not just a trend but a wise investment

With the world leaning towards sustainable living, it's pretty clear that electric and hybrid vehicles are the future and Tamborine Mountain Auto Clinic are at the forefront of this charge towards a greener future...

With petrol prices climbing to new heights, more and more folks are considering vehicles that run on alternative power sources, like electric and hybrid cars. It's not just about saving a few bucks at the pump, but also making choices that are kinder to the environment...

ICE Vs EV and Hybrid Vehicles

As the holiday season fast approaches, the excitement of road trips, family visits, and festive adventures begins to build.

Why Regular Servicing with Tamborine Mountain Auto Clinic is Essential for Christmas

But before you load up the car with gifts and snacks, have you considered the importance of getting your vehicle holiday-ready? At Tamborine Mountain Auto Clinic, we understand the thrill and anticipation of the Christmas period. Our mission is to ensure that your journey is safe, smooth, and free from any mechanical hiccups. That's why booking an early car service is crucial. Let’s dive into why regular servicing is your vehicle’s best friend, especially before the festive rush in North Tamborine.

The Christmas season is notoriously busy, not only in the malls but also in auto repair shops. Many workshops tend to be fully booked weeks in advance and may even close over the Christmas period. It’s essential to book your service early to avoid the last-minute rush. You wouldn’t want to be stuck without a service slot when your departure day arrives. By planning ahead and scheduling your car service with Tamborine Mountain Auto Clinic, you ensure your vehicle is in top-notch condition, ready to tackle any holiday travel you have planned.

Regular car maintenance is more than just ticking a box; it’s a commitment to your vehicle’s longevity and your safety on the road. Here’s what we focus on during a routine service to prepare your car for those long holiday drives:

1. Brake Inspection: 
The importance of brakes cannot be overstated. We thoroughly check your brake pads, rotors, and fluid levels to ensure they’re in excellent condition. Reliable brakes are crucial for the unpredictable driving conditions that sometimes accompany holiday travels.

2. Tyre and Suspension Assessment: 
Your tyres are your vehicle’s contact with the road, making their condition vital for safe travel. We check for proper inflation, tread wear, and balance. Additionally, assessing the suspension ensures a smooth ride, absorbing those inevitable bumps along the way.

3. Engine and Oil Check: 
The engine is the heart of your vehicle. Ensuring it runs smoothly with regular oil changes and engine checks can prevent breakdowns during your travels. Fresh oil not only lubricates moving parts but also helps to cool the engine, improving efficiency.

4. Battery and Electrical Systems Check: 
The holiday season is the worst time to deal with a dead battery. Our team tests the battery’s charge and assesses all electrical systems to ensure your car starts every time.

5. Fluid Top-Offs: 
From windshield washer fluid to coolant, ensuring all fluids are topped off is essential for maintaining your vehicle’s performance and reliability.

6. Air Conditioning and Heater Functionality: 
Nobody wants to endure the sweltering Australian heat or chilly nights without a functioning climate control system. We make sure your AC and heater are operating efficiently.

Embarking on a road trip should be about adventure, not anxiety. When you choose Tamborine Mountain Auto Clinic for your car service, you’re opting for peace of mind. Our professional mechanics, backed by a nationwide warranty, provide you with the confidence that your car is road-ready. No need to worry about unforeseen mechanical issues when you have a team of experts ensuring everything is in perfect order.

As a well respected workshop in North Tamborine, we take pride in delivering top-notch car servicing. Our affiliation with the Repco Auto Tech training program ensures that our technicians are updated with modern repair methods. This means your car is in capable hands, ready to handle whatever the road throws at it.

Why Choose Tamborine Mountain Auto Clinic?

At Tamborine Mountain Auto Clinic, we’re not just about fixing cars; we’re about creating memorable holiday experiences. The assurance of a well-maintained vehicle lets you focus on the things that matter most – spending quality time with loved ones, exploring new places, and making lasting memories.

With the Christmas holidays just around the corner, now is the perfect time to book your car service. Avoid the last-minute stress and ensure your vehicle is in peak condition with the trusted team at Tamborine Mountain Auto Clinic. Your journey is important to us, and we’re here to make sure it’s safe and enjoyable. Book your service today, and hit the road with confidence this festive season!

Act Decisively Now, Drive Confidently Later

Prepare your vehicle ahead of time with Tamborine Mountain Auto Clinic in North Tamborine, and let the holiday adventures begin...

Ensure a safe and stress-free holiday journey by booking your car service early with Tamborine Mountain Auto Clinic. Discover the benefits of regular maintenance to keep your vehicle in top shape for the Christmas rush in North Tamborine…

Ready Your Car for the Christmas Holidays with Regular Servicing

As the winter months approach in North Tamborine, it’s essential to ensure your vehicle is in top condition to handle the unique challenges of the season. Regular car servicing is the key to maintaining your car’s performance and safety, ensuring you and your passengers stay safe on the road.

Come on a journey of discovery with Tamborine Mountain Auto Clinic as we delve into why regular car service is crucial for winter driving and highlight the essential checks and maintenance tasks that keep your vehicle winter-ready.

How Regular Car Service Prepares Your Vehicle for Winter Driving

Battery Health: The Heartbeat of Your Car
Winter mornings in North Tamborine can be crisp and cold, which puts extra strain on your car’s battery. Regular servicing includes a thorough check of the battery’s condition, ensuring it holds a charge and is free from corrosion. A well-maintained battery is vital for reliable starts, especially during those frosty mornings when you need your car the most. Don’t let a weak battery leave you stranded; make sure it’s checked and replaced if necessary during your regular service.

Bright Lights for Safe Nights
Shorter daylight hours mean more driving in the dark. Ensuring all your vehicle’s lights are in working order is a critical aspect of regular servicing. Headlights, tail lights, indicators, and brake lights are essential for visibility and communication with other drivers. Faulty lights can lead to dangerous situations, so it’s crucial they are inspected and functioning correctly, helping you navigate the roads safely during those early nights and foggy mornings.

Clear Vision with Efficient Windshield Wipers
In North Tamborine, winter often brings rain and mist, making effective windshield wipers indispensable. Regular servicing includes checking the condition of your wipers and washer fluid levels. Worn-out wipers can smear your windshield, severely impairing your vision. Fresh, functional wipers ensure you maintain clear visibility in all weather conditions, reducing the risk of accidents.

Reliable Brakes: Stopping Power You Can Trust
Brakes are, without doubt, one of the most critical safety components of your vehicle. Wet and slippery roads in North Tamborine can make stopping more challenging, highlighting the importance of fully functioning brakes. During a regular service, brake pads, discs, and fluid levels are checked and serviced as needed. Ensuring your brakes are in top condition provides peace of mind that your car can stop effectively, keeping you safe on the winter roads.

Tyres: The Foundation of Safe Driving
Your tyres are the only contact between your vehicle and the road, making their condition paramount. Regular servicing involves inspecting tyre tread depth, pressure, and overall health. Adequate tread depth and correct tyre pressure are crucial for maintaining grip on wet and slippery surfaces. Ensuring your tyres are up to the task of winter driving can prevent skids and slides, helping you stay in control.

HVAC System: Comfort and Safety Combined
A well-functioning HVAC system is not just about comfort; it’s also about safety. In winter, your car’s heating system ensures a warm cabin, preventing driver discomfort and fatigue. Moreover, a properly working defroster keeps your windshield clear of condensation and frost. Regular servicing includes checking and maintaining the HVAC system, ensuring it performs effectively when you need it most.

Fluid Levels: The Lifeblood of Your Vehicle
Your vehicle relies on various fluids to operate smoothly and safely, especially in winter conditions. Regular servicing ensures all fluid levels, including engine oil, coolant, brake fluid, and transmission fluid, are checked and topped up as necessary. Proper fluid levels and quality help maintain your car’s performance and prevent potential breakdowns, keeping you on the road and out of trouble.

Regular car servicing is essential to prepare your vehicle for the challenges of winter driving in North Tamborine. By ensuring your battery, lights, windshield wipers, brakes, tyres, HVAC system, and fluid levels are all in top condition, you can drive with confidence and peace of mind.

At Tamborine Mountain Auto Clinic in North Tamborine, we take pride in offering comprehensive car servicing to keep your vehicle running smoothly and safely. Our experienced mechanics are here to help you with all your car maintenance needs, ensuring you’re well-prepared for the winter months ahead. 

Don’t wait until winter hits – schedule your car’s service with Tamborine Mountain Auto Clinic today and ensure it’s ready to handle whatever the season throws your way...

Discover the importance of regular car servicing to ensure your vehicle is winter-ready in North Tamborine. Learn about essential checks and maintenance tasks for safe winter driving…

Differential bushings could be the issue if they are aged, worn or cracked.  They control movement in the joints, absorb road bumps and reduce vibrations and noise while driving or reversing. These are one of many automotive issue we can handle at Tamborine Mountain Auto Clinic, your trusted local mechanic in North Tamborine.

It is fair to say that the Ford Territory and Falcon are two of the most popular vehicles on Australian roads. Both of these models are prone to high rates of wear in some rear suspension components, such as the rear differential bushing. This is particularly apparent on vehicles that have travelled high kilometres, have high horsepower or vehicles towing loads regularly.

A tell-tale sign that this bushing is no longer performing as intended is hearing a clunking noise or feeling a jolt under acceleration or when shifting gears from drive to reverse. The primary function of the rear differential bushing is to provide a smooth and quiet transfer of power from the engine to the rear wheels of your vehicle under acceleration.

Should this issue go unresolved it may result in excessive wear on surrounding drive train and suspension components so it is wise and economical to act swiftly should you be experiencing any of these symptoms.

Your local Repco Authorised Service Centre Tamborine Mountain Auto Clinic in North Tamborine is experienced in diagnosing and fixing this problem. We can replace your worn rubber differential bushing with a highly durable Nolathane differential bushing specifically designed and manufactured to address this problem and return your vehicle back to its optimum performance.

So, if “clunking” goes with your Territory or Falcon, contact the team at Tamborine Mountain Auto Clinic today.

It is fair to say that the Ford Territory and Falcon are two of the most popular vehicles on Australian roads. Both of these models are prone to high rates of wear in some rear suspension components, such as the rear differential bushing.

At Tamborine Mountain Auto Clinic in  North Tamborine we believe the transmission is an important part of your vehicle.

Without the transmission, your vehicle would not be able to move between gears. The transmission fluid allows you to do this smoothly and also protects the working parts inside your transmission. The transmission fluid doesn't diminish through use. Yet the level should still be checked periodically because if there is a leak, or the fluid level is low, it will harm the internal parts of your transmission.

Transmission fluid can become dirty over time with metal shavings and other particles which will shorten the life of your transmission. Replacing a transmission is a costly exercise and so checking the fluid and replacing it when necessary is a good investment in the long run.

At Tamborine Mountain Auto Clinic we provide a full 65 Point Vehicle Condition Report upon request with every full car service - This includes a check of your transmission fluid and we will advise you if we think your fluid needs to be replaced or if a transmission service might be needed.

Call Tamborine Mountain Auto Clinic for all your diesel 4WD and diesel passenger vehicle repairs, inspections and services. We are conveniently located in North Tamborine.

A diesel engine can be more efficient, better for the environment and cheaper to run than its petrol-powered counterpart. However, it still needs regular servicing to keep it running at an ultimate level and to help make sure nothing goes wrong. 

Our technicians at Tamborine Mountain Auto Clinic are fully qualified to service diesel SUV, AWD, 4WD and Passenger diesel vehicles. Contact us today.

Call Tamborine Mountain Auto Clinic for all your diesel 4WD and diesel passenger vehicle repairs, inspections and services.

Diesel Engine Service and Repairs in North Tamborine

Diesel Repairs

AAAA

MTAQ

RACQ

We advise that our workshop will be closed for the Christmas period from midday on Thursday the 21st of December and reopening on Wednesday the 27th of December

Tamborine Mountain Auto Clinic take great pride in offering their clients personalised, and friendly service at all times. Conveniently located in North Tamborine, the business is a member of the Repco Auto Tech training program, ensuring their technicians are kept fully up to date with modern vehicle repair methods. Tamborine Mountain Auto Clinic have a wealth of experience in servicing all makes and models, including commercial fleet vehicles. As a Repco Authorised Service centre, they have a commitment to high quality workmanship, ensuring the very best in automotive care.

Tamborine Mountain Auto Clinic

Diesel Repairs

Related articles

ICE Vs EV and Hybrid Vehicles

Ready Your Car for the Christmas Holidays with Regular Servicing

Winter Driving in North Tamborine

Does clunking go with your territory?

Get into gear!