Everything you wanted to know about oil
changes, but were afraid to ask.
Do
you know how often you should change the oil in your
car? How about what kind of oil you should use? Don't
worry, most folks don't. Read on and I will try to
give you some basics on what is really needed to keep
your car running great for a long, long time. There
has been a lot of advertising on the part of oil companies
that say you should be changing your oil every 3000
miles. Well, that might not be totally true. Yes there
are some cars whose manufacturers recommend changing
the oil every 3000 miles, but the vast majority recommend
changing the oil and filter every 7500 miles. We recommend
that you check your owner’s manual, and then
consult with your technician to determine a schedule
that's right for your vehicle and the type of driving
that you do. Oil has come a long way in the past twenty
years. Today's lubricants are chocked full of some
really great stuff. Anti oxidants, rust inhibitors,
detergents, and a bunch of stuff I have trouble spelling.
Choose oil that is right for the ambient temperature
and driving conditions. Here in Florida, 10W-30 is
a great choice for most cars; check your owner’s
manual for your vehicle's needs.
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Brakes
giving you a fit? Here's a tip.
It
usually happens slowly, over a period of time. At
first, you start to feel your brake pedal just doesn't
seem its old self. Then you hear a little noise when
you come to a stop. That's when you know its time
for a brake job. It happens to all vehicles sooner
or later. The average, depending on how you drive,
is about 35,000 miles on front brake pads and about
55,000 miles on rear brake shoes. This article is
a little information so that you have an idea of what
you need to know to get your vehicles brakes back
to original working order. After all, braking is the
most important thing that your vehicle can do. You
should have your brakes inspected, often, by a trained
professional every time you have your tires rotated.
We recommend that you rotate your tires every 5,000
miles. That way you can avoid the costly mistake of
wearing your pads or shoes past the wear indicators
and damaging the rotors or drums. Inspections should
include checking the brake lines, wheel cylinders,
and master cylinder for leaks, checking the brake
pads and shoes for wear, and checking the brake fluid
level. (TIP: never add brake fluid to your master
cylinder. If its low, there is a reason, and the system
should be looked at by a technician.) If your vehicle
needs a brake service be sure that the proper pads
or shoes are installed, and that they are a quality
product. When it comes to brake pads or shoes, you
get what you pay for. There a lot of different compositions
to brake pads, (organic, semi-metallic, and metallic)
Make sure that you get what your vehicle manufacturer
recommends.
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