Automotive Tips
And Answers
to Commonly Asked Questions
What kind of oil should I use?
Nearly all modern motor oils are formulated to meet the demands of todays' driving and the brand is not critical. It is more important to change it often.
Synthetic oils have been shown to provide better protection. While they are relatively costly, the oil change frequency can be extended to around 5,000 miles.
How often should I change my oil?
We Casa Grande Valley residents live in a very hot and dusty environment. It is usually said that oil should be changed every 4,000 - 7,000 miles, but in our extreme climate we recommend an oil change about every 3,000 miles. If you can't keep track of your mileage, you can use a light colored motor oil and check it regularly. When it starts turning brown, you can tell it may be time to change it.
What does it mean when my check-engine or service-engine-soon light comes on?
In an effort to meet clean air and fuel economy standards, manufacturers have computerized our cars to run more efficiently. The ECM (computer) monitors the engine functions by way of electro-mechanical sensors. When the check-engine light comes on, it usually indicates that one or more of these sensors has operated out of range. This could mean a faulty sensor, bad wire connection, or merely a leaking vacuum hose.
In most cases the check-engine light will not come on to warn you of low oil or coolant condition. You must monitor your gauges and check fluids regularly to safeguard against engine failure.
Why do I need to replace my fuel filter?
Many vehicles are fuel injected and have electric fuel pumps in the gas tank. This makes the filter more critical. Not changing the filter regularly can cause contamination of the injectors or even cause the fuel pump to fail as it tries to pump through the restriction. Most of the fuel pump failures we see are caused by plugged filters.
Tips to Prevent Catastrophic Damage to Your Car
Change oil frequently! The heat and dust in our desert environment make this more critical than in other areas.
Use antifreeze. While there is not much danger of freezing, antifreeze provides other properties including lubricating your water pump. The water in our area is very hard and corrosive. If used straight, this hard water can build up salts which will clog radiator cores and reduce cooling efficiency. The corrosive nature of our hard water can also eat away aluminum parts such as water pumps, cylinder heads, etc. Antifreeze also has a higher boiling point than water and will help your engine run cooler.
Change your thermostat. This is a big one. In our shop, we have seen more cars severely damaged by a failed thermostat than from any other cause. There is no warning when your thermostat is about to fail. It can stick closed and will cause the engine to heat up so quickly that it can be damaged before you know what has happened!
A failed thermostat can cause radiators to burst and warp or crack cylinder heads, which is an expensive fix. We have replaced numerous engines which were destroyed by the failure of a $3 - $5 part.
Replace your timing belt. Many modern cars have what are referred to as interference engines. This means that critical engine parts (pistons and valves) do not clash with each other only because of critical timing of the engine. On these cars, if the timing belt breaks it can cause these engine components to crash into each other damaging the valves and making for an expensive repair. Check your owners' manual or call our shop and we can tell you if you have an interference engine and when the manufacturer recommends you replace your belt. Do not wait for symptoms, there may be none. It can run well right up to the time the engine breaks.
|
|
Roadrunner Game