Category: Vehicle Repair

Picking the right oil for your ride can be an overwhelming task. There is a wide range of options as far as motor oil is concerned. Some of the oil include synthetic blend, high mileage, and conventional, to mention but a few. Frequent oil changes are vital and you have to know which one suits your car.Read on to know how to choose the best one for your car.

Age of Car

Does the vehicle have hundreds or thousands of miles on it? It is recommended that trucks or cars that have a mileage of more than 7500 should use high mileage oil. If, however, your ride still runs like new and using synthetic oil, you do not need to worry about switching your type of oil. On the other hand, if you start to notice oil spots on the driveway, additional engine noise, or an oil leak, then it is advisable to switch to the high mileage oil.

Your Driving Style

There are primarily two groups of drivers. First, we have those who make short trips within towns. The next group is those who drive long distances at highway speeds.
Driving in the city is usually tough on the engine. The stopping and starting involved can put the oil to the test. If you drive short distances, the engine is generally running below the optimal temperature. For this reason, under-performing engine oil is an additional concern for the health of your engine. You will, therefore, need to pick a high-performing oil that will stick out over the long haul. A synthetic oil change will be ideal for you.

Climate

The viscosity of the engine oil determines its performance at different temperatures. An example of the oil viscosity rating is SAE 5W-30. Here W stands for winter, and 5 is the cold temperature viscosity grade. 30 indicates its viscosity at the engine’s operating temperature. The higher this value, the thicker the engine oil is.

If you stay in a colder climate, synthetic oil with the lowest winter rate is your perfect choice as it will give you the best protection for cold starts. On the other hand, a warm climate does not need thicker oil. The engine gets hotter than any summer day. It is designed to operate with specific viscosity grades, so it is essential to follow the owner’s manual to know the right viscosity grade, oil drain interval, and engine oil specification.

Condition of the Engine

Your car may have logged great miles over several years and has been running on the single-weight oil, multi-weight is not consistently thick enough for lubricating the worn-out engine parts which have become smaller due to wearing leaving spaces between them. You will need to switch to a heavier oil as the car get older and starts running more roughly or burning up oil quickly.

These are the vital factors you need to pay attention to when looking for engine oil. Having these factors in mind will help you get the right engine oil for your car.…

Most cars in the market today have an automatic transmission system. These engines have a host of components which include mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic. These components are expected to work in perfect synchronization. Any disruption in timing is what breeds transmission problems. Some transmission issues can be easy to understand whereas others might require professional diagnostics. Here are some common problems observed in cars with automatic transmission systems.

Noise

A noisy engine or transmission system is a sure indicator that something is wrong with your car. It is worth noting that the nature of these sounds varies considerably from car to car. But if you hear some whining, buzzing, whirring, or clanging noises, you can be sure that something is wrong with its transmission. These sounds often occur during transition speeds, when the car starts decelerating or accelerating, and the intensity gives you an idea of the magnitude of the problem.

Loose Transmission

There might be cases where your car is not able to go into gear or stay once it is shifted. This is often characterized by a sudden jerk every time the vehicle attempts to engage a different gear. In worst case scenarios, the jerk might be significant to the extent of making you feel as if you might have been rear-ended. These anomalies in gear changes are often indicative of looseness in the transmission system.

Leaking Transmission Fluids

Leaking fluids are very common to any transmission system. You do not have to see the leaks; you only need to look at the indicator. From there, you are required to locate the source of the problem, which can be easily identified by looking at the last time you changed the transmission fluids. A recent change could mean that the losses are around the valves or joints and if the transmission fluid has not been changed for a while, check the gaskets and the filters.

Vehicle Not Moving

It is rare to find a transmission system failing abruptly without offering some signs. But if your car suddenly stops due to a transmission problem, the only way to fix this is to go for a transmission overhaul. However, if you need to get some warning before the failures, there is a high chance that the transmission system is still intact. Look at things like cable connections to the gear shifter, broken bushing, or issues with the drive shaft.…