Minneapolis Auto Repair

Car exhaust smells can be caused by many different things. The exhaust port is an essential part of your car, as it neutralizes the harmful fumes that are produced by the engine. The smells coming from the back end can vary; including odors such as rotten eggs, sickly sweet scents, or smell of un-burnt fuel. These are all signs that something may be wrong, it is essential to bring your car into a shop such as ours. DJ Foreign Auto Care can diagnose these car smells and help fix significant problems in the exhaust or engine. Rotten Eggs A rotten egg smell is due to a chemical compound called hydrogen sulfide. It comes from the small amount of sulfur that is present in the fuel. Usually, the sulfur in the fuel converts to sulfur dioxide, which has no odor. When a catalytic conve ... read more

WHAT IS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET? “Blown head gasket" can be one of the scariest phrases in car culture. At DJ Foreign Auto Care, we know this is true. Even non-car people know the term and know it can be an expensive fix. Let's talk about your conventional head gasket, how to tell if you blew a head gasket, and steps you can take to prevent a blown head gasket. A CLOSER LOOK AT HEAD GASKETS A head gasket is a seal placed between the surfaces of an engine block and the cylinder head(s). It has two purposes:  A head gasket, being part of the combustion chamber, helps to contain the combustion process for you to have a functioning engine.  The head gasket provides a physical extension of the fluid passages from head to block. The fluids ... read more

  BMW Crankcase Vent Valve Failure: BMW crankcase vent valves fail more often this time of year and we see more of these types of problems as the weather gets colder. The BMW crankcase ventilation valve is also known as the oil separator, CCV, or PCV valve.  According to Wikipedia, "A crankcase ventilation system is a one way passage for gases to escape in a controlled manner from the crankcase of an internal combustion engine.  This is necessary because internal combustion inevitably involves a small but continual amount of blow-by, which occurs when some of the gases from the combustion leak past the piston rings (t ... read more

BMW oil leaks from the engine area are a common problem that we see at DJ Foreign Auto Care. Since fluids in your BMW do not get used up or go anywhere (with the exception of gasoline and windshield washer fluid) if you notice that any are low, it is likely that there is a leak somewhere. If you notice your oil level is low when you check the oil, it is important to have a reputable BMW repair shop check for leaks right away. If all oil is lost, damage to the BMW engine will extensive and a new engine may even be needed. According to Autohausaz, engine oil is a "...honey or dark-colored, greasy fluid".  Symptoms of leaking oil are a burning smell and/or signs of drips or wet spots under the engine or vehicle. Valve Cover Gasket Leak: Valve cover gasket leaks are a common BMW oil leak. Valve covers are located at the top of the engine and protect the ro ... read more