Tag: Car Oil Change

Tips To Maintain Car In Changing Seasons

With the change in seasons, the car gets affected and needs some measures to be taken to help it function smoothly. Different weather causes the car to require different things to keep it functioning smoothly without any issues. There are some parts which get heavily affected during the different weather condition like the tires and batteries. Here are some tips to ensure that the car keeps up with the changing seasons.

Servicing
The first and most important thing to do before or after a season ends is to get it serviced. The car requires to be in best shape to face the next season coming up. In summer, the car is exposed to extreme heat and requires to be cooled down better. During winter, the battery gets worn out due to the cold weather and requires the being driven to charge it. The weather also affects the fluids in the car as their properties might not suit the extreme weather conditions. Being prepared is better than having to face problems and suffering breakdowns at the roadside. Professional mechanics suggest getting the car serviced before the seasons arrive to find out any issues in the car and resolve them before it gets worse.

Making Changes According To Seasons
There are many changes that need to be done when a new season is coming up. First and most important one is getting the engine oil changed. The engine requires to be in top shape for the coming conditions. Secondly, get the right set of tires for the weather condition. For example, in Chicago, the winters are really extreme and requires winter tires to get the required grip to apply the brake on the icy and slippery roads. In summer, the coolant and fluids need to be checked and refilled as they evaporate faster. The brakes and rotors also get affected more during summer due to the excessive heat conditions. Always keep an emergency kit and spare tires in the car to be ready for any situation that may befall you. The car needs to be kept in the garage during the summer to prevent the paint from fading. While in winter, it needs to be started every day to keep the battery charged. Keep the jumper cables in the car during all seasons. Also, check the tread wear of the car before the seasons to know how long they will last. All the necessary fluids like brake fluid, coolant, engine oil need to be checked, replaced, and refilled as required.

These are the basic things that need to be done before the season changes to keep the car prepared and ensure the parts don’t get harmed or wear out. To get the services done, hire a mobile mechanic near you or get the car to a local auto repair shop.

ARE CHEAP OIL CHANGES GOOD FOR THE CAR?

When planning to get an oil change, people always look for a cheaper option thinking it doesn’t make much difference. But is it so? This article might help you understand the types of oil and their effect on an engine.

TYPES OF OILS
There are basically two major types of oils regular oil and synthetic oil. Regular oil is distilled and refined from crude oil. Whereas synthetic oil is an artificial oil created molecule by molecule from chemical compounds with the sole purpose of maintaining the modern engines.Synthetic oil protects the car better compared to the regular oil by improving performance under extreme temperatures and it also lasts longer. There are also oil blends made by mixing regular and synthetic oil which can be considered for the maintenance as well. Blends might not be the best option but are definitely a better option or an upgrade from regular oil. It doesn’t last as long as the synthetic oil but gives better protection and performance than the regular oil.

EFFECTS OF CHOOSING WRONG OIL
Oil degrades over time and leaves harmful deposits which create sludge. It causes harmful effects on the engine’s performance and reduces its lifespan. Synthetic oil is more resistant to impurities and sludge formation and keeps the engine cleaner to operate better and perform better. Regular oil, on the other hand, is not that resistant and degrades quickly leading to performance issues, mileage problems, and sludge formation. Regular oil doesn’t protect the engine better than synthetic from friction, wear and tear, and can lead to breakdowns. The synthetic oil is tailored for the car to handle all sorts of conditions like extreme weather whereas the regular oil doesn’t perform well under extreme heat and lead to breakdowns.

WHICH IS BEST?
There is no doubt that synthetic oil is better for a car in all terms. Here are a few things that you may consider before making up your mind. The synthetic oil change charges nearly double than regular oil but lasts twice than regular oil making up for it while protecting the car better. Regular oil charges less but requires changing more often than synthetic oil. Regular oil lasts around 3000-5000 miles while synthetic oil lasts at least 7500 miles.

It is better to choose the synthetic oil to protect the engine and improve its lifespan as it doesn’t cost more than regular oil when you think about it and improves performance and mileage of a car.

Could Simple Maintenance Save You On Car Repair Costs?

When people think about auto repair, they immediately think about the high-priced solutions that are at Repair Shops. This happens a lot, too. You go to an auto body shop and they look under the hood, only to find out that you have a lot of work that needs done. They could give you an estimate for hundreds if not thousands of dollars, causing you to grimace at the price tag. How can one drop the price a bit? Well, that’s the thing about repairing cars, only a few people know how to do it correctly, and everyone else has to pay for the labor and the parts. But there is a way to reduce the overall cost, and it starts with understanding a few tips about maintenance. If you can just do a few simple things, you could reduce the cost of your repair bills outright. Take into consideration the following simple tips.

Use The Right Fuel

Do not go with premium fuel. Premium gasoline is not only going to be expensive, it’s not going to save your engine. In fact, you could end up doing what is called “pinging”, in your car. What this does, is it causes the engine to burn elements a bit faster, and could end up causing your car to end up with an engine fire over time. Now there are some exceptions to this rule, but chances are you are not driving a race car. Only special cars really need the premium gas that stations sell, and it’s not the average consumer. Don’t be fooled, don’t buy premium unless your owner’s manual specifically says that you should, simple as that.

Changing The Oil Properly

Every 3,000 miles, right? Well, that’s no longer the case. Today, you’re going to have to read your owner’s manual carefully. You can always try to go with 3,000-mile oil changes, but if your car isn’t that old, and has been made after 1992, you do not need to follow this rule. In fact, you could cause damage to the parts, especially for those that have to use a special type of motor oil. Read your owner’s manual, follow that as the bottom line, and don’t believe the hype that surrounds changing oil at every 3,000 miles, it’s not necessary.

Do Not Ignore The Lights

The lights on your dashboard are important. If you don’t understand them, then look at the owner’s manual and figure out what is wrong. Do not let the lights come up and ignore them. This includes tire pressure lights, check engine lights, and the dreaded oil light. If you ignore these, chances are to pay big bucks later. Some people have even driven for miles, but there will be a point where your car breaks down, and you’ll end up with a serious issue. Do not ignore the lights, and always double check what the lights mean if you don’t know what is going on. Doing so, will save you from making the costly error of ignoring them. Once you figure out the issue, go to a trusted Mechanic and save money on a bigger issue.