Tacky or Techie? The Tachometer.

October 9, 2022

There's a gauge that many vehicles have that says RPM on it. And there are a lot of people who either don't pay any attention to it or don't even know what it is. Here's why it's a good gauge to know about. It's called a tachometer, and that "RPM" label means it is measuring how many revolutions... More

Stay Safe in Marion by Putting Your Cell Phone on ICE

October 2, 2022

We don't want to think about it, but each Marion resident who drives or rides in a vehicle is potentially an accident victim. In the worst-case scenario, those people are unconscious and unable to communicate with Iowa rescue workers. Rescue workers and Marion police are well aware of this diffic... More

Going (Lug) Nuts (Lug Nut Replacement)

September 25, 2022

Here's a part of your vehicle you probably don't think about much: lug nuts. They're what fasten your wheels onto your axles. Pretty important, right? In order to take the wheels off your vehicle to service the brakes, rotate the tires, etc., the lug nuts have to be in good shape so a wrench wi... More

The Easy Way to Save Cash in Marion

September 18, 2022

The hottest Iowa news story may be different every day, but there's one topic that seems to come up over and over again the price of gas in Marion. If you feel like most of your paycheck goes into your gas tank, this post is for you. Here are several basic things people in Marion can do to grea... More

In That Case? (Transfer Case Exchange)

September 11, 2022

Ever wonder how all-wheel-drive or 4-wheel-drive vehicles get the power from the engine to the front and rear wheels? The magic happens in what's called a transfer case. In some all-wheel-drive vehicles, it's sometime called a power take-off unit, or PTU. Inside the transfer case is a set of gea... More

Keeping Your 'Old Faithful' Auto Running

September 4, 2022

At Blair's Ferry Automotive we've had a lot of Marion customers asking how they can make their vehicles last longer. These questions are actually a reflection of a trend that's been building for several years in Iowa. The median age of personal vehicles is now over nine years. And 33 percent of a... More

Busting Automotive Myths in Marion, Iowa

August 28, 2022

Myths passed around our Marion, Iowa 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 ... More

Blair's Ferry Automotive Service Tip: Why Synthetic Oil Is Good For Your Vehicles

August 21, 2022

Hello Iowa! Today's vehicle care topic is: Synthetic Oil vs. Petroleum Based Oil. Synthetic motor oil is a substitute for petroleum based oil. If you aren't currently using it, why not? Synthetic motor oil maximizes engine power and fuel economy. To see why, we'd need a microscope, so we'll have... More

The Neglected Windshield (Windshield Care)

August 14, 2022

You look at it every day, yet you don't really see it. We're talking about your vehicle's windshield, and if you're not seeing it at all, that's probably a good sign. The fact is that unless our windshields get fogged up, hazy or cracked, we don't pay all that much attention to them. Consideri... More

Need a New Battery? Call Blair's Ferry Automotive Today

August 7, 2022

Hello Marion drivers! Need a new battery? There is a good chance that you do 70% of batteries need to be replaced within four years. As your battery discharges and then recharges as you drive around Marion, bits of the surface of the battery plates disintegrate. As this process continues over a... More