How often Should You Change your Oil

The Myth of 3,000 Miles

Most people have been taught to think you need to change your oil and filter in your car every 3,000 miles by the small oil change shops. They have created this myth so you will bring your car in sooner than it needs and they will get more business. Most manufacturers have listed a much higher number in their owner's manuals and if you read carefully, you will find they recommend changing the oil ever 5,000 - 7,500 miles. Remember, the manufacturer designed, build and tested your vehicle. They also warranty most cars up to 40,000 miles now so they would not put down bad advice in their owner's manuals and be stuck fixing their vehicles.

Who Promotes the 3,000 Mile Oil Change?

It is funny to think who promotes the notion that we should change the oil in our vehicles every 3,000 miles. This is supported and promoted by those who profit from changing the oil. Have you noticed who sponsors ads or articles that make you feel guilty for not changing your oil at this mark? Oil companies and oil change shops!! If these businesses can convince you to get new oil every 3,000 miles instead of 6,000 or 7,500, their profit doubles. I'm sure we have all been scared we will ruin our motor if we go over the 3,000 mile mark without changing our oil and this is simply not true. Today's oil is so good and will protect your engine even if you choose to leave it in their for as long as 7,500 miles, and you can perform this auto maintenance by yourself.

What is Correct Mileage for Oil Change?

So what is the correct interval for oil changes? In truth, there are many different opinions about the proper mileage for changing your oil as their are people interested in the debate. Some swear for changing ever 3,000 and others have had great luck changing every 8,000 miles. When all factors are considered, the best oil change will be between 5,000 and 6,000 miles depending on your owners manual. This is also a great time to get your tires rotated! Rotating your tires and changing your oil at the same time helps you remember to have it done and saves your time.

Why Changing Your Vehicle's Oil is Important

By Dirk Gibson 

 Ask anyone about the oil in the car and they'll say what? Oh, it has to be changed every 3,000 miles!

In truth, this is really an inaccurate figure. The 3,000 mile figure comes from a marketing pitch. Exact figures are more dependent on the type of driving style you have. Regardless, it is absolutely true that you need to change your oil every so often to get the most out of your car. Most people don't know why though. In this article, we delve into the reasons.

Oil is a magical substance. For all the bashing that it gets in the environmental debates, our lives would be drastically different without it. Oil is used in everything from plastics to fertilizers to fuel and, of course, lubrication. When it comes to your engine, oil is the key to making it last. Without lubrication, the metal parts would just grind together and seize up in a matter of minutes. That would make owning a car a perilous investment.

So, what is it that oil specifically does for your car? The first thing it does is keep the engine cooler. It does this as a matter of design. By that, I mean the design of the engine and the layout of the oil system allows it to actually cool and draw heat from the engine. It does this because the oil collects in something called the oil pan. The oil pan is located at the bottom of the engine. As the car is moving, air rushes by the oil pan. The cooled oil then circulates up through the engine and siphons off some of the heat being produced. A car still needs a coolant system, but oil definitely plays a part in the process.

Investing In Quality Auto Repair Services - Is It Worth It?

By:  Robert Unatnas

 Auto Repair Services- Why You Should Invest In Quality Auto Repair Services?

Investing in quality auto repair services can help you enjoy a safe and smooth drive. While you can always take a DIY approach for the general car maintenance services such as an oil change, tune-ups or diagnostics but always hire a professional for the complex car problems. If you want to get a better value of your car in future then you should know how to take care of your car.

Choosing A Quality Repair Shop

Always get referrals/recommendations from your friends, relatives, coworkers and other people you trust. Co-workers can help you find a good repair shop in your locality. It is always a good idea to find a good repair shop before you need one. This way you won't have to pick someone randomly.

Thanks To The Internet!

Look online to learn about the top repair shops operating in your locality. Compare the different quotes to choose the best deal. Ask them to show the license and also check whether it's an updated license or not.

Consult local consumer protection agency to see if there is any complaint against the repair shop from the old or existing customers. Above all, you should make sure that they can fix the problem easily.

Tips

Have a look at some of the following tips to consider before you start your search for the best repair shop:-

Tip 1

Read The Car Manual

You should always take time to read the manual and understand the specific instructions mentioned in the schedule. A manual has all the necessary information. So you should go through all the instructions carefully before choosing any repair station.

Tip 2

No Quick Decisions

Remember, it's always a good idea to shop around for the best deal before you meet a breakdown. It will help you to make the right choice because you are not choosing someone randomly. Never ever choose a repair shop/repair mechanic without checking the testimonials. A little bit of research can help you choose the right service provider for your car.

Tip 3

Word Of Mouth

It is always a good idea to get referrals/recommendations from your friends and family. Word of mouth is still considered as one of the best ways to find a reliable professional.

Conclusion

Put a little bit of effort to find quality auto repair services. It will give you many benefits in the long run.

Happy Driving!

Robert Unatnas writes articles for Bicester Auto, one of the leading names in the industry for car repairs in Bicester. If you are looking for an auto repair shop for car servicing in Bicester, this is the right place to go.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7844093

Shocks and Strut Repair

Shocks and strut repairs are the most common auto repair fraud perpetrated against vehicle owners.

Many people are fooled into buying shocks and struts before it is necessary. Struts and shocks do wear out and need to be replaced but this does not occur as often as most people think. The struts and shocks on many of today's cars can last well over 100,000 miles!

As with most other repairs, some basic knowledge will help you avoid spending money you shouldn't, and understanding struts and shocks is probably easier that you think. To understand when struts or shocks need to be replaced, you need to know what they are and what they do. Although struts and shocks are very different in appearance, they serve the same purpose: to prevent your car from continuing to bounce up and down after the first time. If you jump up and down on the front bumper of a car with good shocks and struts and then jump off the car will immediately stop bouncing. Of on the other hand the shocks or struts are worn, the car will continue to bounce a few times after you jump off.

The more it bounces, the more the struts or shocks are worn. In fact if you took the shocks completely off of a car, it would bounce up and down five to ten times before it stopped. Shocks and struts are needed because cars have springs that support the weight of the car. These springs help the car ride smoothly over dips and bumps, and a spring as you know, tends to bounce again and again. The shocks and struts help settle the springs down. They also prevent the car from bouncing, swerving, and swaying and they help keep all the wheels in contact with the pavement so you can maintain control in curves and on rough surfaces.

Transmission Repair Basics

It's easy to replace Automatic Transmission Cooling Lines yourself - if you know this handy trick.

I'm not very handy when it comes to fixing things. Under most circumstances I wouldn't even think about fixing a transmission problem myself, but what are you going to do when the repair shop is closed and your car breaks down? As a point of masculine pride I had to at least take a look. I mean, my mechanic relies upon my expert diagnosis - Right?

So I had a look and actually found the problem - one of the transmission lines was leaking. I look at it for a little while, wiggle a few things, get on the ground to have a look from underneath. You know what? I think I can repair this, myself!

It looked pretty simple: just disconnect both ends, remove the line from the retaining clips, replace with the new line, reconnect and I'm done. Nothing to it. I do a quick Google search and find that I'm right; there's nothing to it...And Bonus... the line is attached with Quick Releases. I'll be back on the road in no time.

Two hours later and the quick releases still won't release! Hop on Google again and this time I actually read (rather than scanned) the How-To's and find that I need a Quick Release Disconnect Tool to make the Quick Releases release.