Posted on

Transforming the Tire Buying Experience: Chapel Hill Tire

Four tires lined in a row, meant to represent different tire seasons

Chapel Hill Tire has been transforming the tire buying experience for nearly 70 years: making it easier, more convenient, and more transparent than ever. Our process helps customers get the tires they need within their ideal price range. Here is a look at 4 ways you can transform your tire buying experience with Chapel Hill Tire. 

Easy Online Tire Shopping

Find your tires without ever stepping foot inside the shop with the Tire Finder from Chapel Hill Tire. Buying tires online lets you quickly and easily compare your options—from the brands to the prices and the tire features. We sort your tire results by the size and brands that fit your car. You can read more about how to use the Tire Finder Tool here. 

Once you make your decision, you can check out online and visit your local Chapel Hill Tire location for your new set of tires.

The Price Beat Guarantee

Naturally, when you buy new tires, you want to ensure you get the best price possible. Chapel Hill Tire can help you buy with confidence—by offering the most affordable prices on new tires. We maintain the lowest prices with our Price Beat Guarantee. Simply bring us any eligible tire quote from a competitor, and we will beat it by 10% of the difference in price.

Transparent Tire Pricing

Most tire retailers and mechanic shops will hide their tire pricing from you—leaving you stunned when they hand you the bill. But why? This is often because their prices are higher. Chapel Hill Tire is different. We show you the full pricing details for each tire—including the breakdown of charges and the out-the-door price. Simply click on your preferred tire in the Tire Finder tool for complete pricing breakdowns. 

Best of all, we do not require you to submit your phone number or email address to view our tire selection and prices. Unlike other retailers, there are no strings attached when shopping for tires online at Chapel Hill Tire.

Road Hazard Protection Plan 

After investing in a new set of tires, you can drive off with confidence knowing they are protected. Chapel Hill Tire’s Road Hazard Tire Protection plan is an industry-leading safeguard for your tires. We will replace or repair your tire within three years or 2/32″ tread depth remaining—including damage from potholes, nails, and curbs. This plan also includes your necessary tire services for the lifetime of your tires, including tire rotations, air pressure refills, and tire patching services.

Easy Tire Buying at Chapel Hill Tire

If you need new tires in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Carrboro, or Apex—Chapel Hill Tire is here for you. We strive to promote the best possible tire buying experience. 
Our local tire experts proudly serve the Triangle with 9 locations across Apex, Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Durham. We also commonly serve nearby drivers, including those in Knightdale, Cary, Pittsboro, Wake Forest, Hillsborough, Morrisville, and beyond. Chapel Hill Tire welcomes you to make an appointment, browse our coupons, or give us a call to get started!

Posted on

Our Values: What It Really Means to Treat Each Other Like Family

Chapel Hill Tire Values

Chapel Hill Tire is a family company in more ways than one

Here at Chapel Hill Tire, treating each other like family is more than just marketing jargon — it’s a way of life that guides everything we do. And a lot of that dedication to treating people right comes straight from the company’s patriarch, Al Pons, and his desire to pass it down to the next generation of his family.

The trouble is, you’ll find advertisements everywhere saying that all these businesses treat their staff like family. So what does that really mean in this day and age?

That’s why we’d like to take a minute here while we have your attention to explain a little bit more about how we think of our Chapel Hill Tire family, across all of our locations.

We Choose to Care

In our personal lives, choosing to care can take a lot of different forms: Laying out our kids’ clothes the night before, making a nutritious breakfast for our families, and setting aside quality time on the weekends all make a difference — and help to keep our families and communities working in harmony.

The same is true in business, just on a different scale. When we think about choosing to care, it starts before anyone even walks into the store in the morning. Have everybody’s scheduling needs been taken care of? Does every employee have an opportunity to advance to a fulfilling and meaningful career?

But probably most important of all: Are we treating each other like we’d want to be treated? The Golden Rule is as relevant now as it’s ever been, and we try to live that value in our personal and work lives here at Chapel Hill Tire. To us, that’s family.

It’s About Relationships

No matter how successful a business might be on paper, it really doesn’t mean as much if they aren’t contributing to making real, lasting relationships in their communities.

For us, that starts with the amazing people we hire at each of our Chapel Hill Tire locations. People like Todd Ward, who has been working with us for over 35 years now, or relative newcomer Terry Govoreau, who says “I’m grateful every day that I walk into this place and see the level of care that everyone treats each other with.”

Empowering those people with our Core Values gives them the tools necessary to create deep relationships, both with their coworkers and with the folks who come in to get their cars worked on time and time again.

In short, we want to journey together and grow together — all while staying accountable to ourselves, to each other, and to our larger communities. And if we’ve done all of that right, we hope to include you as a part of our big Chapel Hill Tire family so that we can all work happy and drive happy together well into the future.

Posted on

Our News: Fine-Tuning Our Relationship With Chapel Hill High’s Racing Team

aerial photo of green trees and a curving road

Thanks in part to donations from Chapel Hill Tire, local high schoolers get the opportunity to work on a real NASCAR race car before they graduate

Here in North Carolina, we have a long history of working on our own vehicles — going all the way back to bootlegging during Prohibition, when distillers would need fast and maneuverable cars to deliver their illicit goods. Those early modifications eventually led to the development of their own sport, in the form of the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing, NASCAR.

And while that rum-running history is mostly behind us, the appeal to work on fine-tuning a vehicle for racing is as present as ever. Through our work with Chapel Hill High’s Racing Team, we’re proud to offer the most dedicated high school seniors the opportunity to work on a real NASCAR race car — earning valuable experience before they graduate, and possibly going on to participate in the North Carolina Auto Apprenticeship Program.

About the Program

Chapel Hill High is one of the few schools you’ll find where in addition to a football team and a basketball team, they also have a dedicated stock car racing team. That’s a product of their Automotive Service program, which students can take for all four years of high school — and end up participating in a real race-day build in their senior year.

The Automotive Service program is just one part of the Career and Technical Education Department at Chapel Hill High, a department whose goal is “to provide students with a competitive advantage as they leave high school,”  said CTE Director Kathi Breweur.

For the students who go on to work through all four levels of the Automotive Service program, that unique opportunity takes the form of working on a NASCAR late model stock car, running a Chevy 350 engine. That car will go on to race at the Wake County Speedway in Raleigh, NC, where the students will be able to see the real-life results of all their hard work and dedication.

Striving for Excellence and Winning As A Team

Chapel Hill Tire’s Core Values guide everything we do, and that’s a big part of why we’re so proud to contribute to our communities through this program.

By giving local high school students the opportunity to strive for excellence — stock cars are a detail-oriented, high speed affair after all — and win as a team, we hope to continue to spread those values into every corner of our community. And if some of those students go on to pursue apprenticeship programs or want to jump right into the automotive service workforce, we’d love to have them join our family here at Chapel Hill Tire.

Posted on

Our People: Jason Silva Rojas

photo of a set of wrenches beside a bumper sticker with a yellow smiley face that reads "Drive Happy" and a blue ball cap with a yellow smiley face

Our latest apprentice was born and raised in this area, and has big aspirations as an automotive technician

For Jason Silva Rojas, an interest in cars and automotive repair took hold early in life. He got his start like many of us did, holding a flashlight for his Dad while he worked on general maintenance and engine repairs.

It was only natural, then, that when the time came to start thinking about what he might want to do after graduating high school, Jason turned towards working on cars and trucks. And as luck would have it, a friend of Jason’s would tip him off to what would become his next step in life — an apprenticeship program through Wake Tech.

“I’m really grateful for my experience with the apprenticeship program”, says Jason, adding that it has been a great way for him to continue his automotive education without having to take on student loan debt.

Especially because he’s lived his entire life in the Apex area, Jason was really looking for a way to stay local and still have a genuine career path. When asked about his motivations, Jason responded “I’m really hoping to become a good [automotive] tech.”

We’re proud to report that he’s getting plenty of opportunities to do just that, in his role as an apprentice in our Apex location. While there, he’s continuing his education through the apprenticeship program at the same time as he’s learning real on-the-job skills.

On any given day, he might be asked to check up on cars, relay information to his fellow techs, do a few oil changes, and then help the more senior techs with hands-on repairs. And because our Apex location is right down the road from the high school Jason graduated from, he gets to see some familiar faces: “It’s actually really cool, I get to see some of my old teachers and change their oil and fix their cars.”

Jason will be celebrating his one year anniversary of working with Chapel Hill Tire this August, and we’re looking forward to continuing to see him grow and develop. That’s part of our commitment to treating everyone we work with like family: We want to always be accountable to ourselves, each other, and our communities, and be able to journey and grow together as we pursue excellence in our personal and professional lives.

As for his overall take on the apprenticeship program, Jason is a big fan: “The apprenticeship is a good opportunity for anyone who wants to further their education in the automotive industry. If they’re interested in this field, this is a great way to get into it.”

Posted on

What’s Up With That? Understanding Your Cabin Air Filter

Cabin Air Filter

Allergies acting up? Persistent odors when you turn on your A/C? It might be time to change your cabin air filter.

Just like your home, your car has a heating and cooling (HVAC) system. It’s what keeps you warm in the winter, cool in the summer, and comfortable in the spring and fall. And when it comes to making sure that you’re breathing the freshest and cleanest air possible in your car — and avoiding the worst of allergies and pollutants — you’ll be relying heavily on your cabin air filter.

What is A Cabin Air Filter, Anyway?

Midway through your car’s heating and cooling system, all the air that’s passing through from the great outdoors to the inside of your car’s cabin passes through — you guessed it — the cabin air filter.

This cloth fiber based filter looks a lot like the air conditioner filters in your home, with plenty of pleats that help it capture dust, pollen, and allergens. It’s usually located right behind your glovebox, and plays a key role in making sure your vehicle’s HVAC system works as cleanly and efficiently as possible.

How Your Cabin Air Filter is Like A Sponge

Probably the easiest way to understand how a cabin air filter works is to consider the common kitchen sponge.

When they’re fresh and new, both your cabin air filter and a sponge will be entirely clean and ready to “soak up” dust, dirt, and grime. Air filters take these nasty bits out of the air; sponges take them off of hard surfaces.

But as anyone who’s cleaned a kitchen knows, no sponge lasts forever. After a few weeks of use, they’ll start to look a little bit ragged — and worse yet, start developing a musty smell that’s impossible to ignore while you’re cleaning.

Lucky for you, your car’s cabin air filter lasts a lot longer than an average kitchen sponge! More on that in a moment.

But once it starts to wear out, your air filter will show a lot of the same problems as a sponge. You might notice a damp or musty smell in your car’s cabin while you’re running your fans, or you might notice that your HVAC system just isn’t able to produce as much airflow — meaning that it’s no longer capable of effectively cleaning the air coming into your car.

When Should You Change Your Cabin Air Filter?

Most manufacturers recommend changing it somewhere between every 15,000 and 30,000 miles (you can check your car’s manual to find the exact recommendation for your make and model). You can think of that as changing it on every third or fourth oil change, if you want to lump everything together into one maintenance trip.

But a lot of how often you need to change your car’s air filters depends on the quality of the air you’re usually driving in. Spend lots of time on gravel roads? That’ll cut down on your filter’s lifespan. Stuck in heavy traffic every day after work? All those exhaust fumes can really take a toll on your car’s filtering abilities.

Instead, you can know that it’s time to get your cabin air filter checked and replaced when these signs start to show up:

  • Weak airflow from your vents, even when they’re set to high
  • A musty or damp odor when you’re running your fans
  • Excessive noise while you’re running your heating or cooling system

If any of these show up, give us a call. We can take a look at your car’s air filters and let you know whether they need to be replaced, and set you up with a new cabin air filter if your old one is worn out.

Posted on

Our Community: Empowering Through Apprenticeships

Aerial photo showing green trees and buildings

We’re proud members of the North Carolina Auto Apprenticeship program and have high hopes for the impact it can have on young people’s lives.

For the better part of 500 years, apprenticeships were the most common way that young people would learn a trade and develop it into a career. It’s only been in the past 50 years or so that we’ve moved away from apprenticeship as a worthwhile way to give our kids direction and skills in life. And that’s got to make you wonder: Why?

See, we think that apprenticeships — like the ones offered through the North Carolina Auto Apprenticeship Program — are one of the best ways for young adults to find their place in life. That’s why we’re proud to support the program through hiring their apprentices to work in our shops across the Triangle. And it’s also why we’d like to share a little bit about the NC Auto Apprenticeship Program with you.

What Is the NC Auto Apprenticeship Program, Anyway?

This apprenticeship program is a unique one that’s only available here in North Carolina, with some branches run by the Automotive Service and Tire Alliance (ASTA) — but anyone in the state can form their own apprenticeship plan as long as it meets the state guidelines.

According to the ASTA, this program “is seeking current high school seniors interested in pursuing a successful automotive career for participation in the 2020-2021 North Carolina Automotive Apprenticeship Program. Apprentices in the program receive a free education through the North Carolina Community College system while gaining on-the-job experience and earning wages by working part-time at an approved shop.”

Or, in short: This apprenticeship program can take a high school senior with an interest in the automotive service industry, give them all the tools necessary to pursue their education free of charge, and then help them find immediate placement in the workforce. For a generation that’s facing increasingly high student loan debt, that’s a darned attractive option!

Our Role

Chapel Hill Tire is proud to be one of the approved shops participating in the NC Auto Apprenticeship program. That means once a high school senior gets signed up for the program, they could easily find themselves learning real on-the-job skills — all while earning a paycheck — at one of our stores.

We’re increasingly dedicated to nurturing a community of technicians here and now, so that our communities both receive a successful member of the workforce and a highly trained automotive technician. Because when we all take care of each other, our entire community benefits as a result.

How You Can Get Involved

Do you know any high schoolers who might be interested in an apprenticeship program through the ASTA? If so, please help them get in touch with the NC Auto Apprenticeship Program — because we’d love to welcome them into the Chapel Hill Tire family once they’re graduated and ready to move onto the next phase of their training!

Posted on

How Much Does it Cost to Repair a Car’s Air Conditioner?

AC on a car's dashboard

If your car is struggling to keep you cool in the warmer weather, you need AC service. One question many drivers have is, “How much does car air conditioning repair cost?” The answer is more complex than it may seem, as your repair will tailor to your air conditioner troubles. Here is a look at three factors that can influence your car’s air conditioning repair costs. 

1: Type of Freon

Air conditioning services often begin with a system check and freon recharge. One of the most significant influences on this AC service price is the type of freon it requires. While you might think that all air conditioning refrigerant is the same, there are three distinct kinds of car AC Freon:

  • R-12 Freon: Cars produced before 1995 have the most expensive freon, the R-12. Because it has long been phased out, it is low in both demand and availability—driving the price way up. In most cases, when an R-12 HVAC needs service, drivers will choose to retrofit their vehicles with a newer air conditioning system.
  • R-134a Freon: The most affordable freon is R-134a, which is the most common refrigerant used in vehicles on the road today. R-134a is the standard refrigerant for most vehicles manufactured between 1995 and 2021. Its wide availability and use make it both accessible and affordable. However, much like the R-12, the R-134a freon may rise in price as it continues to be phased out by the new R1234YF freon. 
  • R1234YF Freon: R1234YF is a newer eco-friendly refrigerant, but it also comes at a higher price—making it the second most expensive freon. Why? There is a similar demand issue with R1234YF freon: it is in high demand for manufacturers as it becomes the industry-mandated standard. Conversely, it is also in low demand for mechanics. Most vehicles on the road still use R134a freon, and newer vehicles are also far less likely to experience AC troubles requiring a refrigerant recharge. The supply/demand struggle here also drives up the prices of this freon. 

For more information, you can read our guide to car AC freon here.

2: Finding and Repairing the Leak

In most cases, drivers attribute their car’s AC troubles to low freon. However, a freon refill is only the first step to this air conditioning repair. your air conditioning freon is in a sealed system: it recirculates the same refrigerant without requiring refills or replacement. If you are low on freon, it almost always means there is a leak somewhere in your car’s air conditioning system. The true cost of the repairs lies in finding and servicing the leak.

Your mechanic will add a special dye to your freon during the recharge. After driving your vehicle for a week or two, the dye will circulate throughout your system. Then, you can return to the mechanic to have a second air conditioner check. Under a UV light, this dye will show where your freon is leaking and how severe the leak is. Your mechanic will work with you to develop a repair plan and share the estimated costs of this service with you. 

3: Replacement Parts Needed

In some cases, you may have a key AC component that is broken, failing, or leaking. AC parts prone to issues include:

In these cases, your repair costs will be largely determined by the cost of your replacement parts and how time-consuming they are for professional mechanics to install. 

Chapel Hill Tire: Local Car AC Service

If you need air conditioning service in Apex, Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Carrboro, or Durham—Chapel Hill Tire is here for you with our 9 Triangle-area locations. Our professional mechanics also commonly serve nearby communities, including Knightdale, Cary, Pittsboro, Wake Forest, Hillsborough, Morrisville, and beyond. Chapel Hill Tire offers a comprehensive array of car air conditioning services to keep you cool and comfortable this summer. We invite you to make an appointment, browse our deals, or give us a call to get started today! 

Posted on

Is My Car Engine Overheating?

Temperature gauge showing an overheating engine

As the summer heat begins rolling across the south, drivers start to feel the effects on their cars. One common problem drivers may face is an overheating engine. Our local mechanics are here with a look at the 6 signs your engine is overheating, why engines overheat, and what you can do about it. 

Sign 1: Temperature Gauge

Most cars contain a temperature gauge on the dashboard. While you might be tempted to think this reflects the outdoor temperature (some cars have this feature, too) the temperature gauge reflects how hot your engine is. When you see it rising towards the red temperature indicator, your engine is overheating. Once it reaches the red indicator, your engine has become dangerously hot. 

Sign 2: Overheating Dashboard Light

You may also see a dashboard light telling you that your car is experiencing trouble. If you notice a thermometer dashboard light sitting above a wavy line, this is your radiator fluid light (also known as a coolant warning). The radiator warning lights up when your engine begins overheating. 

Coolant dashboard warning light

Sign 3: Clicking or Clanking Car Noises

Engine oil is responsible for keeping your engine working together. In an overheating engine, your oil will begin to lose its lubrication properties. In these cases, you might begin to hear your engine components clicking or clanking as they work together without the buffer of your oil. 

Sign 4: Steam, Smoke, or Vapor

Radiator fluid is a mixture of antifreeze, water, and corrosion inhibitors. The boiling point of radiator fluid is often between 223°F and 235°F (depending on the mixture ratios). Meanwhile, the average temperature of a normally operating car engine is between 195°F and 220°F. 

As your engine starts overheating, its temperature will exceed the boiling point of your radiator fluid. When your radiator fluid boils, it may escape from under your hood in the form of steam, vapor, or white smoke.

Sign 5: Unusual Engine Smells

In the case of an overheated engine, some drivers say they can smell the heat. Here is a look at three smells that may indicate an overheating engine:

  • Burning plastic smell: From plastic valves to rubber seals, vulnerable engine components may begin to melt as your engine overheats, emitting the smell of burning plastic. 
  • Sickly sweet car smell: The coolant in radiator fluid is ethylene glycol, which is molecularly similar to the sugar compound. As such, it can smell sweet when it burns. Some drivers describe it as smelling like maple syrup or butterscotch.
  • Burning oil smell: As your engine oil begins to burn, it is said to carry a sulfur-like smell. Other drivers describe this smell as similar to burning fuel. 

Sign 6: Performance Troubles

When your engine is overheating, your vehicle may face acceleration and performance struggles. Why? If you think back to your high school days, you might remember that cold air is denser than warm air. The density of the cool air intake helps sustain your engine’s combustion process—which fuels your vehicle’s momentum. As such, the excess heat can throw off your air/fuel mixture, creating performance issues. 

Why Is My Car Engine Overheating?

So what causes a car engine to overheat? In most cases, an overheating engine is an issue with the radiator. The radiator is responsible for regulating your engine’s temperature. It relies on coolant, which can become depleted, contaminated, and burned over time. If your engine is overheating, you are likely overdue for a radiator fluid flush or another radiator service. 

Your car’s engine oil also has cooling properties. While it likely is not the main source of your overheating engine, depleted engine oil can be a contributing factor. In these cases, you may also need an oil change. 

What to Do When Your Engine Overheats

You might be tempted to open the hood and get to the bottom of your overheating engine troubles. However, your engine is likely dangerously hot. One common mistake drivers make is to open the radiator cap of an overheating engine. This mistake can result in severe third-degree burns as you release the pent-up pressure in the radiator, resulting in a boiling explosion of water/coolant. So what should you do instead?

  • Pull Over: If you can safely stop your car, pull over and give your engine time to cool off. This is especially important when you see smoke/vapor or sense that your car is dangerously overheated. 
  • Turn Up The Heat: While it might seem counterintuitive, it is helpful to roll down your windows and turn your car’s HVAC heat up. This will help vent heat away from your engine. 
  • Visit a Mechanic: A professional will be able to diagnose, service, and repair your overheated engine. 

It is essential you see a professional before your simple radiator service turns into thousands of dollars in engine damage. 

Chapel Hill Tire: Radiator Service Near Me

When your car engine is overheating, the professionals at Chapel Hill Tire can help! We offer radiator flushes, radiator repair, and radiator replacement services. Chapel Hill Tire offers 11 locations across Apex, Cary, Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Durham. Our local mechanics also serve surrounding communities, including Knightdale, Cary, Pittsboro, Wake Forest, Hillsborough, Morrisville, and beyond. You can make an appointment, browse our coupons, or give us a call to get started today! 

Posted on

5 Signs You Need Brake Pad Replacement Service

Spot Bad Brakes

Brakes are essential to keeping drivers safe on the road. Your braking system requires routine care, especially brake pad replacement. So how can you tell when you need new brake pads? Our local mechanics are here with a look at 5 signs you are due for brake pad replacement.

1: Unusual Brake Noises

Why are my brakes squeaking? While a few potential issues can cause squeaky brakes, this is likely a sign that you are due for new brake pads. In these cases, the squeaking is caused by the brake wear indicator. These are small metal tabs on your brake pads that extend to the safest level of brake pad wear. Once your brake pads are worn out more than the safe limit, the tabs will begin squeaking against your rotor to let you know you are due for service. 

What if your brakes start making loud metallic or grinding noises? These noises are signs that your rotor is coming in contact with the caliper because your brake pads are badly worn out. 

In both of these cases, it is best to visit a mechanic right away for service. 

2: Slower Stopping Speeds

Your brakes are designed to help your vehicle slow and stop on the road. This crucial function is essential to keeping you safe on the road. If you notice your brakes becoming ineffective, it is time for new brake pads. Signs of ineffective brakes include:

  • Taking longer to stop
  • Having to press harder on your brakes
  • Find it challenging to keep your distance in traffic

Of course, your brakes rely on several different vehicle factors, from your brake fluid to your tires. Here is a quick reference guide to potential underlying causes of ineffective braking. 

3: Service Routine

Take a look at your owner’s manual for recommended brake service routines for your vehicles. Most cars will need new brake pads every 40,000-50,000 miles. However, this service can depend on several factors, including:

  • Driving patterns: Aggressive driving with heavy acceleration/braking patterns will lead to more frequent brake pad changes.
  • Roads: City roads with more braking will lead to more frequent brake pad changes.
  • Brand: Your brake pad brand/quality can affect your routine brake maintenance. 

4: Signs of Warped Brake Rotors

As you press your foot down on the brake pedal, it pushes your brake pads into your car’s metal rotors. This friction and heat can make the rotors malleable—bending and warping the metal. Your vehicle is especially prone to rotor warping if you wait too long to get your brake pads replaced. Why? Low brake pads will make it more challenging to slow and stop your vehicle, requiring you to press harder against the rotors. Signs of warped brake rotors include:

5: Visual Inspection

Brake pads need at least 1/4th of an inch of fictitious material to be effective. To check your brake pads, you simply need to glance between the holes of the wheels. However, it is also easy (and free) to ask a mechanic whether or not you are due for new brake pads. 

Do Electric and Hybrid Vehicles Require Brake Pad Replacements?

You might be wondering if these same brake pad replacement routines apply to electric and hybrids? The short answer is no. 

Electric and hybrid vehicles use regenerative braking systems, which absorb the energy created by braking and convert it into battery power. As such, the brake pads absorb very little of your braking friction. Unfortunately, you are not entirely off the hook for brake pad replacements. 

In electric and hybrid vehicles, including Teslas, you will need to be more cautious of brake pad age rather than thickness. After 5 years, the adhesive of the brake pads can become unreliable, marking a potentially dangerous braking situation. As such, it is best to get your brake pads changed every 5 years, even if they are still in a safe range of thickness. 

Chapel Hill Tire Brake Pad Replacement

When you are due for a new set of brake pads, the local mechanics at Chapel Hill Tire are here to help with our comprehensive selection of brake services. Our local mechanics serve the greater Triangle area with 9 locations across Apex, Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Durham. The Chapel Hill Tire also commonly serves surrounding areas, including Knightdale, Cary, Pittsboro, Wake Forest, Hillsborough, Morrisville, and beyond. You can make an appointment, browse our coupons, or give us a call to get started today! 

Posted on

What Kind of Freon Does My Car AC Need?

AC freon refill

If your car’s air conditioner is struggling to work this summer, it may need a freon recharge. While this sounds simple enough, there are actually 3 different types of car AC freons. So, which kind of freon does your car use? Our local mechanics are here with insight. 

R-12 Freon: Vehicles Manufactured Before 1995

R-12 is the original car AC freon. While it was effective at cooling car cabins, this refrigerant was pinpointed as a source of growing environmental concerns. In the 1980s, the R-12 composition of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) was linked to ozone damage. The 1987 Montreal Protocol required automotive manufacturers to discontinue their use of this refrigerant by the end of the 1994 model year—though the phase-out officially began in 1993. 

It is rare, but some older cars still use R-12. Older cars still running today are encouraged to have their air conditioners retrofitted with an R134a system.

R134a Freon: Vehicles Manufactured Between 1995 and 2021

In the 1990s, R134a Freon (also known as HFC-134A) emerged as the alternative to R-12. The majority of vehicles on the road today use R134a to fuel their air conditioning systems. 

What is R134a? R134a freon is an HFC (hydrofluorocarbon) refrigerant. While it does not create the same ozone deterioration as R-12, it still presents substantial environmental risks. According to the EPA, R134a is a “Potent greenhouse gas with a global warming potential that is 1,430 times that of CO2.”

Recently, auto manufacturers have switched to a new type of freon that is even better for the environment. R134a freon was “totally banned” for auto manufacturers in the European Union in 2017. Meanwhile, US manufacturers were required to phase out R134a freon by the 2022 model year. 

R1234YF Freon: Vehicles Manufactured Since 2021

Over the past decade, manufacturers have been making the switch to R1234YF freon. 

What is R1234YF freon? R1234YF is a hydrofluoric-olefin refrigerant, which is substantially better for the environment than both earlier freons. While the R134a freon has a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 1430, the new R1234YF freon has a GWP of just about 3. 

As mentioned above, this is the refrigerant used in the HVAC systems of all US cars manufactured after 2021 and all European cars manufactured after 2016. However, many manufacturers made the switch sooner than required. You might find R1234YF freon in vehicles as early as the 2014 model year. 

Thankfully, newer vehicles rarely require freon refills. Freon exists in a sealed system—it does not need to be replenished regularly like your engine oil, for example. You will only need a refill if there is a leak in your car’s HVAC system, which generally only occurs after an accident or several years of use. 

If you are still unsure of which freon your car takes, bring it to a local mechanic for insight. 

Chapel Hill Tire Mechanics: Local Car AC Repair

If your air conditioning system is not working properly, bring it to the experts at Chapel Hill Tire for AC repair services. Our local mechanics can help recharge your refrigerant, find the source of the leak, and get it repaired for you. We proudly serve the greater Triangle area with 9 locations across Raleigh, Apex, Chapel Hill, Carrboro, & Durham. Our professional mechanics also commonly serve surrounding communities, including Hillsborough, Morrisville, Knightdale, Cary, Pittsboro, Wake Forest, & beyond. We invite you to make your online appointment, browse our deals, or give us a call to get started today!