In May of 2011, we ran a story about a small company seeking backers for an innovative do-it-yourself device engineered to measure the level of contaminants in a vehicle's motor oil. Armed with the knowledge, consumers could extend oil change intervals, save money and help the environment. Things apparently went well for the startup, as its Lubrich
Getting an oil change is a pain, whether you do it yourself or have it done professionally. You have to take time out of your day, pay for it and, if you're at a lube shop, endure a stream of questions and accusations that make you feel like a worse car owner than Tommy Callahan.
This week the Car Coach Lauren Fix answers questions about how to keep your car running at peak performance.
If you ask the typical driver how often they should change their oil, the answer would likely be about 3,000 miles. But thanks to advances in engine and oil technology, the 3,000-mile barrier is just a number. Many vehicles can travel 7,500 miles or more between oil changes, but still a large number of drivers head to the nearest oil change facility for their 3,000-mile fix.
There are some days at work that are rougher than others, and we all have them. Thankfully for most of us, those days and moments aren't typically captured by video camera. For one worker at an auto repair shop, however, that wasn't the case. He got to experience a new low recently, which involved a routine task, an awkward moment and giggling coworkers.
Have you ever gone to a quick-lube place for an oil change and, while you're waiting in the lobby for your car, the service bay/sales person informs you that a certain service(s) "must" be performed on the vehicle immediately to avert a disaster of immense proportion?
The 3,000-mile oil change has gone the way of the dinosaur. What do I base this statement on given my staunch support of the 3,000-mile oil change for so many years? Today oils and lubricants are so much better compared to several years ago. Under normal driving conditions, viscosity breakdown (viscosity is the oil's ability to flow and lubricate) usually occurred at about 3,000 miles. The elements that cause deterioration of oil are heat, friction, chemical contamination, and oxidation. In rece
2011 Chevrolet Volt – Click above for high-res image gallery
Have you ever tried to actually read your owner’s manual, especially the part about maintenance and service? As if this kind of stuff isn’t confusing enough, there are always two schedules listed, one for a vehicle driven under “normal” conditions and another for “severe.” But what exactly does this mean? I have yet to see an automaker that actually explains, in
Anyone that's ever done their own oil changes is familiar with the joys (or, ya know, not) of trying to access and then remove the filters on their engines. If you do manage to get it loose, there is the inevitable mess of oil dripping down your arm as you spin the filter off.
When the time comes to change your vehicle's oil, walk into any major store and you'll find dozens of brands. How do you know which to choose? AOL Autos has teamed up with AutoZone to bring you a series of DIY car maintenance tips and tricks, straight from our garage to yours. The DIY Garage video series covers common questions like how to change your own oil, or what the source of that pesky..
Dear Tom, I just bought a 2009 KIA Optima. The owner's manual says I should use 5W20 oil in the engine. My dad used to fix cars and he said that this oil is too thin and that I should use "Straight 30 weight" in the winter and the 5W20 in the summer. Is he right? Sandy from Salt Lake City, UTSandy Gently tell your dad to stifle himself. Use the 5W20 oil in your KIA. The carmaker
The synchronized movement of an internal combustion engine is a romantic tale in engineering. As the engine performs an initial task thousands of times per minute for hours, the mechanical ballet depends on a protective fluid -- engine oil -- to add lubrication to part movements. Depriving a vehicle of regular oil changes will result in a slow death to the inner engine components. For aspiring sha
Depriving your car of the necessary maintenance will cause it to malfunction or even worse stop working. The longer you wait past the due mileage for your routine maintenance and MyLifeProtected
I have been in the auto repair industry since 1972 ... hummmm, a simple calculation of the math illustrates that I have been in car repair for, uh, well, let's not go there. It makes me depressed. You do the math and keep it to yourself. At any rate, enough about my mid life crisis. Let's talk about oil change intervals.For years the accepted oil change interval (as per the carmakers) has been eve
I've been getting a lot of mail regarding using synthetic motor oil in vehicles. Questions such as: Should I use synthetic oil? Does it work better in some cars than others? Does it cost more? Do I have to change the oil more frequently? Less frequently? Does it make my engine last longer? First of all, let's take a brief look at the history of synthetic motor oil and its introduction to the marke
Oftentimes, when the subject of oil appears on the internet, a raging debate ensues regarding which brand offers the highest quality or whether or not synthetic is superior to straight dino-oil. We're not touching that one today, but we would like to remind our readers of the importance of recycling your used motor oil. Matt Hale, Director of EPA's Office of Solid Waste, says, "Recycling used motor oil conserves energy, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and prevents the possible contamination of
Quite often the subject of motor oil comes up during my radio program. Questions such as: How often should I change the oil? What type of oil should I use? What kinds of oils are available? What do the letters and symbols on an oilcan mean?Before I answer these "Frequently Asked Questions," allow me to preface with my basic philosophy on changing oil.The single most important thing you can do to g
A few months ago I wrote and recorded a car care tip that aired on XM Satellite Radio. To the best of my recollection, the tip was an answer to a question addressed to me from a listener in California. She wanted to know why her vehicle's 'oil light' was telling her to change the oil in her new Chevy Trailblazer (having changed it just 1500 miles previously). I advised her to ignore the light beca
