How Long Before I Should Change My Oil?
How often you should change your oil is becoming an issue in our industry because of changes in service intervals. Years ago, it was every three months or three thousand miles. Our fathers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers all taught us that. The reason the oil needed changing so often was because the engines were exposed to…
Does It Matter What Oil I Use?
Here are some common questions about engine oil: Does the type of engine oil I put in really matter? Can I change the brand of oil I use? What do the numbers mean? All oil today is called “paraffin-based oil.” That means the oil has the ability to capture dirt—this is one of its jobs….
What’s That Whining Noise In The Engine?
Whining usually occurs either from the children in the back seat or from the car’s power steering pump under the hood. You’ll want to check both of those possibilities. You may need a cookie for one and power steering fluid for the other. The power steering fluid is a sealed system for the most part….
What Is That Thumping Noise While I Am Driving?
If you hear a regular thumping or vibration that varies with your speed as you’re driving down the road, the tires are usually the culprit. Many times, the tread in the tire is separating internally. Want a sure-fire way to know if this has occurred? Try this: Drive across a parking lot at 2 to…
What Is That Thumping Or Clicking Noise When I Turn?
Sometimes when you turn the steering wheel, you will hear a thumping noise and possibly feel a jerking action through the steering wheel. Several problems could cause this thumping noise. One problem could be your “constant velocity joints” (or CV joints). A CV joint is pictured above. Your axle has a constant velocity joint built…
What Is That Squeak In My Engine?
Many times, you’ll find a plastic splash shield installed underneath the front of the car for multiple purposes. These shields not only prevent foreign objects from getting into the engine compartment and causing damage, but also protect against water getting into the drive belt area. If water enters that area, the drive belt may actually…
What Is That Noise When I Push The Brakes?
One common noise that often scares people is a squeaky noise that happens when you push on your brake pedal. A high-pitched noise is indicative of brakes needing repair, especially if this is a new sound. Sometimes what we’ll call “inferior” brake pads or “inferior” parts are used on a brake job. In those cases,…
Car Noise – How Do I Explain What Noise I Am Hearing?
One of the greatest things about car ownership is really getting to know your car. That means using your five senses—hearing, sight, smell, taste, and touch. You can use your senses to know what is normal for your car so you’ll recognize when something has changed. When it comes to hearing noises that you know…
What Is The Gauge That Tells Me How Many Miles The Car Has On It?
That gauge is known as an odometer. The name comes from the late 18th century: from French odomètre, from Greek hodos ‘way’ + meter. The accuracy of an odometer gauge has changed over the years. Today it’s electronic, whereas years ago, a cable ran from the speedometer head down to the transmission. As the transmission rotated, this cable…
Gas Gauge – When Should I Fill The Tank?
Most people know that “E” does not stand for “enough”—it stands for empty. And “F,” of course, stands for full. In today’s cars, the fuel pump is located inside the gas tank. Having enough fuel in the tank helps keep that little electric motor—called your fuel pump—cool, and will typically make it last longer. As…