DEAR CUSTOMERS: IN AN EFFORT TO MAKE IT EASY FOR ALL TO ENTER THE BUSINESS COMPLEX, PLEASE DO NOT PARK IN THE ENTRANCE DRIVEWAY THAT IS ADJACENT TO ROSWELL RD.  CUSTOMERS OF OTHER BUSINESSES USE THE ENTRANCEWAY AND WILL HAVE DIFFICULTY ENTERING IF YOU PARK THERE.   PLEASE PULL DIRECTLY INTO OUR PARKING LOT AND WE WILL ASSIST YOU.  THANK YOU (404) 252-3014 Ext 232

8155 ROSWELL ROAD
SANDY SPRINGS, GA 30350

Mon-Fri: 7AM – 6PM
Saturday & Sunday: Closed

A Tribute to Roderick L. “Rod” McCullough
Founder of McCullough Auto Care & Tire

With heavy hearts, we announce that the McCullough Auto Care family has lost our father, founder, and mentor. Roderick “Rod” L. McCullough passed away peacefully on February 1, 2025, at the age of 86. A man of integrity, quiet strength, and entrepreneurial spirit, Rod built a lasting legacy in both business and community, leaving behind a life marked by dedication, service, and love for his family.

Roderick moved to the Atlanta area from his native home in Anderson, South Carolina, in the 1960s, focused on starting his family business. He became a successful businessman during the 1970s, owning and operating several Shell service stations throughout the area. In 1969, he founded McCullough Auto Care in Sandy Springs, Georgia, with just $1,200 and a clear vision. Over the decades, Rod grew the business into a trusted name, known for its honest service and family-oriented values.

Rod found joy in life’s simple pleasures. He loved long bike rides, peaceful walks along his favorite beach, and cheering on his beloved Clemson Tigers. Above all, he was most proud of his family. He celebrated their accomplishments with pride and never missed an opportunity to remind others that “family is the most important thing in life.”

Rod’s legacy lives on through his children and grandchildren, many of whom have followed in his footsteps and contributed to the family business.  Through every customer served, every child mentored, and every value passed down, Rod McCullough’s legacy endures — a testament to a life well-lived and a family business built on trust, hard work, and heart.

The days when you changed your spark plugs every couple of years has ended. Back in the day, spark plugs really did wear out that often. A couple of things are different now. First, spark plugs are made of better materials that last longer and they’re designed better. The second reason that plugs used to have to be changed was that they were fouled up with carbon deposits. The deposits built up when fuel wasn’t burned completely. With modern engine management controls that just doesn’t happen as often.

Engine control computers precisely time when fuel is injected into the engine and when spark plugs fire. Unless something’s wrong, spark plugs just don’t foul like they used to.

Electricity from the battery goes into a coil that allows power to build up to anywhere from 12,000 to 45,000 volts, depending on the vehicle. The engine management computer tells the coil when to release the power to the spark plug. The electricity travels through a wire from the coil to the spark plug. At the tip of the plug, a spark jumps between two electrodes and ignites the gas in the combustion chamber.

Some engines have more than one coil. Coils wear out and need to be replaced occasionally. Also, spark plug wires can wear out and need to be replaced.

Modern engines are delivering more power and better fuel economy all the time. That’s largely credited to fast engine control computers, advanced sensors, electronic ignition and improvements to the lowly spark plug.

It’ll be interesting to see where future developments take us. One last thought: it’s critically important to have the right kind of spark plug for your vehicle. Because engines are designed to run with different internal temperatures, spark plugs have different designs to work properly within those temperatures. Your service advisor will be able to get the right plugs for your vehicle. And he’ll be able to advise you on when you should replace your spark plugs as well.