Engine Oil Myths

In order to operate smoothly, it’s essential that your engine is properly oiled.  The oil keeps the moving parts lubricated and protected from corrosion, sludge, and gunk free.  However there are many myths about engine oil and in this article, “5 Engine Oil Myths”. Here are some highlights:

·         The “W” in 10W-30 oils stands for “weight” -- the most important thing to know about oil  is viscosity  Oil is measured in single grade or multi-grade, and the oil is timed in seconds.  Example: SAE 30 means the oil takes approximately 30 seconds to flow through the tubes.

·         When engine oil turns dark, it’s dirty and should be changed – dark oil is dirty oil, which is false! Most modern oil disperses tiny particles called detergent additives. That’s why the oil appears darker. This in no way impedes the oil from performing its normal functions of lubricating and protecting the engine.

·         You should change your oil every 3,000 miles – modern detergents oils viscosities are better auto engineered to allow cars to travel 7,500 miles between oil changes.  Consumer Report has debunked this myth and driving 7,500 miles between oil changes shouldn’t harm your vehicle in any way.                                                                                 

You can read all 5 of the most popular engine oil myths at: http://bit.ly/Zgk046.

The Car of the Future

What does the car of the future look like? We have all wondered it at some point. Will it drive by itself, or communicate with other cars to avoid accidents? The infographic below from InsuranceQuotes.com paints a picture of what the car of tomorrow may possibly look like. Take a look and see how it compares to today’s cars.

Click the link to read the original article from Mashable: http://on.mash.to/107IRat

 

How To Change Your Brake Pads

There are few parts on your vehicle that are as important as you and your passengers...the brakes. Needless to say, without brakes you aren’t stopping or slowing down anytime soon.  Having a healthy and well-kept set of brakes will minimize harm for you and your precious cargo.  Over time, the break pads will become worn out.  This article How to Change Brake Pads will provide some simple do-it-yourself projects that could possibly save you a trip to the repair shop.

•       When to Change Brake Pads – The wear indicator is a small piece of metal and it is attached to the brake pad. Eventually, the indicators will contacts the brake rotor whenever the pad is worn down.  When applying the brake, the indicator will grind against the rotor; it will create a squealing noise.  The noise is a clear signal to have your brakes inspected.
•          Preparing to Change Brake Pads – Best idea is to start by placing a block under the wheel to prevent the chance of the car rolling anywhere while working on it.  Next, loosen (but don’t remove) the wheel’s lug nuts.  Then, use your vehicle’s jack to lift the car and securely place on the jack stands.
•         Tools for Changing Brake Pads – The tools aren’t hard to use or find, they are typically found at any auto part or hardware store.  Some tools needed are: A C-clamp, wrench, lug wrench, gloves, dusting mask and safety gloves, and finally new brake pads.

Take a look all of the steps by clicking the link: http://bit.ly/IuLlXm

What is Your Check Engine Light Trying to Tell You

A check engine light coming on in your car is never something a driver wants to deal with. The light could mean a vehicle needs expensive repairs, or it could be something as simple as a gas cap not being screwed on tight enough. But not matter what it is, the matter of the fact is you’re going to have to get your engine checked.

In 2010 CarMD published a list of the five most common check engine light codes. Here they are in order or frequency.

·         O2 Sensor (part of the emissions system monitoring and helping adjust the air-fuel mixture)

·         Loose gas cap

·         Catalytic converter

·         Mass air flow sensor (monitoring the amount of air mixed in the fuel injection system)

·         Spark plug wires

To read the full article click here: http://edmu.in/im4vWF

 

 

Stick vs. Automatic: An Infographic

Most of us probably don’t think twice about the kind of car we drive: we either drive a stick shift or an automatic, we get from point A to point B, and we got about our day.

Would you have ever guessed, then, that statistics can estimate other characteristics of yours depending on whether you drive a stick or automatic? For example:

●     Manual drivers are more likely to prefer grapes, raspberries and bananas while automatic drivers are prone to strawberry, cherry and pineapple

●     Manual drivers prefer Richard Pryor while automatic drivers like Tina Fey and Ricky Gervais

●     Manual drivers like “The Newshour with Jim Lehrer", “Face the Nation” and “NBC Nightly News” while automatic drivers like “Anderson Cooper 360”, “Today” and “The Situation Room”

These quirky facts and many, many more can be found here, in infographic form!

Some Car Accidents Are Stranger Than Fiction

Let’s be honest: we, the American people, love to drive. How can we not? Although accidents happen, driving is a major part of our culture, and the automobile is a symbol of many things we value in America.

When accidents do happen, they’re not fun. At the same time, sometimes they’re downright strange. What do we mean when we say strange? Well...

·       A bull found in a garage in New York rammed a woman’s car when she honked at the animal, and also chased the vehicle down the street as it sped away.

·       A truck driver managed to accidentally ignite his cab while driving and cooking.

·       A woman once got her vehicle stuck on a stairwell after mistaking a subway entrance for a parking garage.

Want to read about other bizarre accidents or get more information on the three we mentioned? Click here to read the original article on the DMV’s website.

Top 10 Weirdest Things Found In Rented Cars

Ever forgotten something in that car you rented while you were on vacation? Don’t worry: even the best of us manage to leave our sunglasses or car keys behind occasionally.

But sometimes even stranger items get left behind in cars. What do we mean by strange? Well...take a look at this infographic and you’ll see what we mean! Make sure you read all the way to the end - this has some great tips on how to make sure you don’t leave anything behind in your rental.