Performance Unlimited Blog

Worried about how your car, truck or SUV will make out in its pending IDOT required emissions test? Fortunately, if you live in McHenry, an emissions test is not required … yet. But, if you live in the Southeast Corner of McHenry County, an emissions test IS required. If you search the Internet you’ll find sites with ‘tricks for passing your emissions test.’ You’ll receive suggestions, such: “Test a very warm car on a cool day” “Use a specialized fuel additive” “Inflate ties to the proper (high) level” “Perform an oil change” “Turn off your ‘Check Engine’ light (if needed)” “Find a shop that offers a free retest” Some of these suggestions will, most likely, help. For instance, it will never hurt to change your oil on schedule. Keeping your tires at proper inflation is always a good idea. The ‘fuel additive’ … well, if your car, truck or SUV are in good operating condition, you shouldn’t need any fuel additives to sneak under the wire at an emissions test. A retest is ...

A dirty powder covers your car, truck or SUV graying whatever color is semi-hidden below. This is the bane of living in McHenry in the wintertime. It snows. Plows range from the Southern to Northern and Eastern to Western extremities of the city clearing snow off the pavement. Behind the cab where the driver sits, the truck bed is filled with road salt. A spreader at the back spins out the salt so that it covers the area where people drive. As the salt melts the snow and ice on the road, it leaves a powder residue. Moisture on the road picks up the residue and, when vehicles drive by, they kick up the residue-filled moisture as a mist. Other cars, trucks and SUVs behind that vehicle drive through the vapor cloud and the moisture coats their cars. As the moisture dries, it leaves behind a coating of road-salt powder dried to the vehicle’s finish. It’s a good idea to properly remove this powder before its continued presence on your car, truck or SUV damages the finish. The problem ...

If your maintenance is good, the answer is more likely positive Yes, it’s 2020 in McHenry. Hopefully, it’s a good year for you. Good health for you and your loved ones, freedom from financial worries, happy relationships: these are some of the key factors we consider when contemplating what it will take to have a good year. Related to these, in more ways than one, is the hope that your car, truck or SUV will provide cost-effective and reliable transportation. If you have trouble with your vehicle, this could lead to financial challenges. If your car, truck or SUV won’t run, you may annoy others asking for rides and put pressure on relationships. And the worry over a vehicle that is giving your problems could adversely affect your health – physically and emotionally. Clearly, your car is an important part of your life living here in McHenry. If it runs trouble free, you probably won’t even think about it. But if your car, truck or SUV breaks down, it’s like a stone you can’t get o...

A 2011 with 130,000 miles, the report card was the kind kids brought home to mom and dad expecting a reward. “This is a great car,” Denny Norton, owner of Performance Unlimited, said about the checkup given to the newly purchased SUV. “The shocks and struts are a little worn but it’s nothing dangerous. It’s just causing a little cupping of the tires.” But then, Denny used the opportunity to expound on the importance of oil changes. The car was in the shop because the young lady’s father knows Denny, knows Performance Unlimited, and knows he can trust both. “You don’t have to change the struts and shocks right away,” Denny said. “But, if you want this car to last for 200 or 300,000 miles, the one thing you’ll want to do is change the oil on schedule.” As Denny put it, “Regular oil changes are inexpensive insurance to get the most out of your vehicle.” While he recommends changing the oil every 3,000 miles, or 5,000 to 7,500 with synthetic oil, he was adamant that it’s equally ...