Americans are holding on to their automobiles longer, and this means proper maintenance is key to keeping their cars running smoothly and efficiently.

Dr. FuelGood is Sam Memmolo, an ASE-certified auto technician and automotive expert for Shell.buy viagra He has the following advice on the best care for your car:

A regular oil change is the service most likely to help prolong the life of your vehicle. Changing the oil (not just topping it off) using a high-quality motor oil that meets the specifications recommended by your vehicle’s manufacturer helps your engine get the lubricant protection it needs.

Engine oil is not the only fluid your vehicle needs to run properly. Reference your owner’s manual to find information on where fluids are contained, exactly how to check them, the type your vehicle uses and how much should be in each “reservoir.”

Some of the world’s top automakers have designated the voluntary TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline Standard to help drivers avoid the problems that can be associated with using lower quality gasolines.

Shell recently introduced the new Nitrogen Enriched Gasolines, containing a unique, patented cleaning system designed to seek and destroy engine gunk left by lower quality gasolines. The new nitrogen-enriched formula helps clean and protect critical engine parts in both conventional and modern engines, and it is TOP TIER certified.

Article courtesy of ARA Content.

Auto Parts Columbia MO Cautions

Auto parts can be broadly divided into two categories, original (OEM, or “original equipment manufacturer”) and duplicate auto parts. The original parts tend to be more reliable, more durable and safer of the two, since these parts are backed by big brands or the actual car manufacturer.

Duplicate auto parts may be fine, but it’s sometimes impossible to know what quality you’re getting – these “no-name” auto parts are made to look like exact replicas of the original parts so as to sell it to the audience looking for the cheaper range of products.
The duplicate auto parts may not go through the quality assurance tests that name brand car parts to and may not meet the safety or quality standards. The unbranded companies, in an attempt to reduce the cost of the products, ignore the standards and provide lower quality goods which cost less to manufacture and distribute. The biggest risk factor when it comes to these duplicate parts is that these look exactly like the original counterparts and unless your mechanic is being reliable, you cannot easily tell whether the part is duplicate or original.

To protect yourself from these types of auto parts fraud, you should get a reliable auto mechanic and stick to getting your parts fixed from there.

The repairmen who work on your automobiles know which parts are original and which are not. However, if they are not honest and trustworthy, they can easily get your car outfitted with a duplicate part and that would not last as long as the original part would nor will it give the same performance.

However, that might raise the question that why do people still use the duplicate parts? Well, the answer is simple, the duplicate auto parts are cheaper replacements of the original parts and at times, when the original´s manufacture has been discontinued, the duplicate becomes the only option for the vehicle owner. However, in most cases, the owner unwittingly gets the duplicate parts because the repairman at the repair garage wanted to make some extra money and decided to sell you the duplicate parts claiming that they were the original ones.

With the technology to manufacture these auto parts becoming even simpler and cheaper, the tendency of people to develop these cheaper, less safe, auto parts will only increase and this will ultimately give rise to issues which will create suffering for all involved. This trend should be discontinued as although these cheaper parts increase profit, it does so by placing people´s lives at risk and ignoring the safety of the consumers which is a very dirty strategy of doing business.

So be sure to ask your Columbia MO auto repair expert about the type of auto parts they use.

As new car sales have crashed, purchases of used cars continue to rise, according to many news reports. In March, PBS reported that dealerships sold more than 2 million used cars in recent months, about 25 percent higher volume than you would expect in a healthy economy. The math behind the trend is simple: new cars cost more than used, depreciate faster and are generally costlier to insure, so more Americans are buying used to save money.

But what about repair expenses? If you buy a used car for $15,000 and it costs you $5,000 in repairs in the first year, have you really saved? To ensure you’re buying a used vehicle that won’t turn into a money pit, follow a few simple steps:

Early in the Process:

Repairs are a reality of used car buying. As vehicles get older, they begin to need more maintenance and repairs. Some newer model used vehicles may still have some factory warranty left, but older models usually do not. An impending need for repairs, however, may not necessarily be a deal-breaker if you find out ahead of time how much those repairs might cost and budget appropriately.

You probably already have a few makes and models in mind. Before you settle on one, compare the cost of the parts needed for the most common repairs and maintenance. One model may have a sales price that’s $5,000 less than another you’re considering, but if the cost of parts is 20 or 30 percent higher than parts for another vehicle, the higher priced model might actually be a better deal.

Turn to resources like RockAuto.com to compare parts prices. The site’s Repair Index automatically pulls prices from the company’s vast auto parts catalog based on year, make, model and type of part. It’s a quick, easy way to compare parts costs for different models and the results can be surprising.

For example, you might think a Chevy Metro is an economical car, but parts for one can be expensive, according to RockAuto, which sells parts for an average 20 to 60 percent less than other parts dealers. The bulk of the company’s business is selling parts direct to consumers, so it’s possible to save even more money by buying parts directly and doing repairs yourself. Visit www.RockAuto.com to learn more.

Next, check the repair history for a particular make and model from a credible source like Consumer Reports. The independent ratings organization maintains a huge database of information on virtually every make and model vehicle available in America. Actual owners and drivers contribute the information based on their experiences with a particular vehicle.

Once You’ve Narrowed it Down

When you find a vehicle you’re interested in, check the repair history and maintenance for that specific car. Pull a vehicle history report from a third-party source like CarFax, which will generally list major (reported) maintenance and accidents. The report can also help you spot discrepancies in odometer readings, if the vehicle has been used in an area prone to flooding, or if it’s been rebuilt after being in an accident so severe it was declared a total loss.

Never buy a used car until you’ve had it checked by your own mechanic – not even from a dealership that offers “certification” on its used vehicles. If a seller isn’t willing to let you take the vehicle to your mechanic, walk away.

Finally, consult your insurance agent to see how much it will cost to insure the vehicle. A used car that actually increases your annual premium may not be the great deal you thought it was.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Keeping your car running is more important than ever, given the current economy, which means you are probably evaluating how your car or truck is performing. One important factor you need to keep in mind is using the right motor oil to help improve you car’s performance and reliability.

Two components determine how well motor oil will perform in your car. One factor is the base oil, and the other is the combination of chemicals (additives) that are added to the base oil.

Base oils
Mineral and synthetic are the two primary types of base oils. Mineral oils are by-products of refined crude oil. Refining helps reduce the impurities, but leaves molecules of all shapes and sizes. Synthetic oils are man-made compounds whose molecules are all the same size and shape. Consequently, synthetic oil has less friction and performs significantly better than mineral oils.

There’s been sizable growth in the use of synthetic oils over the years. In fact, synthetic oils are often what the factory puts in many new performance and luxury cars.

Additives
Regardless of the base oil used, chemicals must be added to give motor oil the characteristics needed to do its job. Typical additives that may be added to base oil include detergents to reduce the formation of residue, defoamants to deter absorption of air, anti-wear agents, antioxidants and others.

Although additives are typically only 15 to 25 percent of the make-up of motor oil, they can impact a lubricant’s performance much more than the base oil. For instance, mineral-based motor oil with a very good additive package can easily outperform synthetic motor oil with a mediocre additive package.

There is no easy way for a consumer to determine the quality of motor oil’s additive package. Price is often an indicator of quality since the more advanced additive technologies cost more to produce. Performance is the ultimate measure of additive package quality.

Advances in lubrication
Some of the biggest technological advances in lubrication are now coming through advancements in chemical additives. These breakthroughs have been developed by a handful of companies that specialize in high-performance lubricants, as opposed to major oil companies whose primary focus is refining and selling crude oil byproducts like gasoline and other fuels.

One high-performance lubricant company, Royal Purple, has developed lubricants that outperform both leading mineral oils and other synthetics. Their oil has been reported by numerous independent sources to dramatically reduce engine wear, increase horsepower and torque, and reduce fuel consumption and emissions. Cars using their oils can also go further between oil changes, saving the owner time and money, and reducing the impact on the environment. More information about their products is available at www.royalpurple.com.

How to choose:
Mineral-based (conventional) motor oils — These are the cheapest and most widely available oils. They typically use standard additive packages that provide minimum levels of performance and protection.

Synthetic motor oils — These man-made oils are more expensive that mineral-based oils but are still widely available. Their performance advantages come predominantly from the synthetic base oil used. They have a longer service life and offer some improvements in protection. They typically use the same additive packages found in mineral-based oils.

High-performance ‘specialty’ synthetic motor oils — These motor oils are the most technologically advanced oils. Although they significantly out-perform mineral-based or synthetic motor oils, they are about the same price as standard synthetic motor oil. They are typically only available through auto parts stores and select oil change centers. These oils primarily differ in their use of more advanced, proprietary additive technologies.

Still confused? For a used car with little life left in it, stick with the cheap mineral-based motor oil. For a car you plan to keep for a few years and want to get a little better performance from, you should at least upgrade to synthetic motor oil. To get the most performance out of your car, truck or RV, or to protect a vehicle you really care about and want to last, upgrade to a high performance motor oil.

Courtesy of ARA Content.

To stay safe and save money at the pump, take five minutes a month to check your tires.

Have you checked your tire pressure lately? Properly inflated tires save gas, prevent premature tire wear and increase safety on the road.

Fewer than 8 percent of vehicles have four properly inflated tires, according to a Rubber Manufacturers Association sponsored national tire pressure survey. Worse, at least 20 percent of vehicles were found to have at least one tire under inflated by at least 8 pounds per square inch, also referred to as PSI.

Driving on under-inflated tires can significantly affect fuel economy and safety. The U.S. Department of Energy says that properly-inflated tires can improve fuel economy by 3.3 percent. The National Highway Traffic Safety Association estimates that under-inflated tires contribute to more than 600 fatalities and 33,000 injuries a year.

The RMA offers tips that will not only help motorists stay safe, but will also help them save money. Drivers can save 6 cents per gallon at the pump and keep tires rolling longer with simple, monthly maintenance. Regular care helps tires get the most potential wear so they don’t need to be replaced as often. Practicing good driving habits also keeps tires in good condition (avoid fast starts, stops, potholes and curbs). To help keep tires roadworthy, RMA recommends that motorists take five minutes a month to check their tires.

Be Tire Smart — Play Your PART — Pressure, Alignment, Rotation and Tread. These are all key things to check during monthly tire maintenance.

• Pressure: Check tire pressure monthly with a tire gauge and inflate to vehicle manufacturer’s recommended pressure.
• Alignment: Misalignment of wheels can cause uneven and rapid tread-wear.
• Rotation: Rotate tires every 5,000 to 8,000 miles to help you achieve more uniform wear.
• Tread: Advanced and unusual wear can reduce the ability of tread to grip the road in adverse conditions.

Regular tire maintenance of your vehicle can save you money at the pump and keeps you and your family safe on the road. For more information visit RMA’s Web site at www.betiresmart.org.

Courtesy of ARA Content.

The average price of a light vehicle has risen to $28,715, according to the Comerica Index. For most Americans, this means their car is the second largest investment they will make in their lifetime.

With the average age of a passenger car in North America being 9.4 years according to R.L. Polk & Co. — and the current economic conditions — motorists are working to stretch the life of their vehicle even longer. To help maintain this significant investment, extending the household cleaning ritual to the family vehicle is more important than ever.

Incorporating a vehicle into any cleaning routine can be easy. Start by examining the car from top to bottom, checking everything including tire pressure, tread depth, wiper blade wear and parts that should be replaced. Regular maintenance tasks and recommended intervals are often outlined in a vehicle’s manual.

“For anyone looking to extend the life of their vehicle, maintaining its interior and exterior routinely is essential. Motorists appear to be following this advice, as the automotive industry has seen an increase in regular vehicle maintenance being completed,” says Mark Ferner, Shell Lubricants technical specialist and ASE-certified master technician. “Maintaining a vehicle by cleaning interior and exterior with appropriate products and completing manufacturer-recommended engine maintenance can save money on expensive repairs down the line and potentially extend its usable life.”

Ferner recommends lifting the hood of the vehicle next to check the motor oil, which is considered the lifeblood of the engine. Just like dust and dirt can build up in a home, sludge can build up in an engine. To clean sludge out of the engine and restore responsiveness, drivers should use quality full-synthetic motor oil such as Pennzoil. By using Pennzoil motor oil, motorists can clean out up to 15 percent of engine sludge in the first oil change. With Pennzoil Platinum full synthetic motor oil motorists can clean up to 46 percent of engine sludge in the first oil change and it has the ability to continue to clean the engine further during the next oil change.

If a vehicle’s maintenance history is unknown or questionable, and if low-quality gasoline has been used in the vehicle, treat the car with a fuel system cleaner to help restore the engine to its peak condition. In older, high-mileage vehicles, special care may be required to clean out the tough, built-up gunk that has collected in the fuel system over time. Products such as Gumout Fuel System Cleaner are designed to help clean the combustion chamber, fuel injectors/carburetors and intake valves and ports of an engine, which can lead to improved fuel economy and engine performance. Regular use of a fuel-system cleaner is suggested for those who use a low quality fuel to continually clean the engine and keep it clean of any gunk or deposits.

“When cleaning a vehicle in an effort to maintain its usable life and value, it is not only the drive train that requires attention, but also the interior and exterior as well,” says Ferner.

For example, a vehicle’s wheels are subjected to a high amount of wear and tear. Tight, intricate wheel spaces can be particularly difficult to clean and polish, as dirt, dust and grime can get into those hard-to-reach spaces. The new Black Magic Bullet Wheel Polishing Tool is designed to polish your whole wheel — corners and all — in just minutes by using absorbent foam and gentle microfiber so that only the softest, safest material makes contact with the wheel.

For additional automotive cleaning hints and tips, visit pennzoil.com, gumout.com and blackmagicshine.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content.

You can drive more miles between oil changes by upgrading to synthetic motor oil and a premium oil filter.

For years, drivers have been hearing about changing their motor oil every 3,000 miles, but times have changed, and the ’3,000-mile mantra’  may or may not apply to you and your car.

The 3,000 mile oil change is a conservative approach to maintaining your vehicle that, according to General Motors, dates back to 1968. It’s also an oil change interval that continues to be encouraged by the automotive oil change industry.

Automobile manufacturers cite modern oil and engine technology as the reason why oil change intervals can be extended.

Numerous factors come in to play in determining the oil change interval you should follow including:  The car you drive and the way you drive it, oil and filter selection and whether your vehicle has an oil life monitoring system.

Every automobile manufacturer establishes recommended oil change intervals for each model they manufacture. Oil change intervals are now between 5,000 and 7,500 miles for many new cars.

You should follow your car manufacturer’s recommendations on oil change intervals while the car is under warranty. If your car is no longer under warranty, you can extend your oil change intervals by upgrading to synthetic motor oil. This will reduce the number of oil changes saving you time and money, and reducing the amount of oil purchased and disposed.

There are a number of quality synthetic motor oils available to choose from. Most lubricant manufacturers will give a recommended number of miles you can drive between oil changes under normal conditions. The number of miles you can allow between oil changes will depend on the way you drive and the oxidation stability (useful oil life) of the motor oil.

Oxidation stability can be measured by international standards board ASTM’s rigorous Thin Film Oxidation Uptake Test (TFOUT). The test is so severe that it lasts 1,300 minutes. Conventional motor oils typically last less than 300 minutes. Synthetic motor oils typically last less than 500 minutes. One high performance synthetic motor oil, Royal Purple has been shown to outlast the duration of the test. Royal Purple motor oils are recommended to extend oil changes intervals to as much as 12,000 miles under normal driving conditions. The motor oil has also been shown to improve fuel economy. You can find out more at www.royalpurple.com.

If you elect to upgrade your motor oil, you should also upgrade your oil filter. Low quality filters are often made with the 3,000 mile interval in mind and may go into ‘bypass’ mode shortly thereafter. There are a number of premium oil filters on the market from manufacturers such as Wix, Purolator and Royal Purple. Check the recommended filter change interval on any filter your purchase.

A fairly new technology impacting oil change intervals is the ‘oil life monitor.’ Many people are unaware that oil life monitor systems are simply computer software algorithms that determine when to change oil based on engine operating conditions. An oil life monitor looks at mileage, speed and idling time to calculate when you should change the oil. A better name for the oil life monitor might be ‘oil life predictor.’

There is no actual oil condition sensor or a chemical analysis of the oil. In fact, you could drain the oil and replace it with any fluid and the oil change monitor would have no way of knowing it. Additionally, the oil life monitor does not monitor how well your oil filter is filtering the oil in your system. Contaminated oil is just as, if not more harmful than oxidized motor oil. The bottom line is that an oil life monitor is a useful tool that should be used in concert with common sense and good judgment.

Whether or not you have an oil change monitor, if your car is still under warranty, stick with the car manufacturer’s recommended oil change intervals. If your car is no longer under warranty, you can go beyond the typical 3,000 mile oil change or beyond the oil change monitor’s recommendations by upgrading to a high performance synthetic motor oil and high performance oil filter.

Courtesy of ARA Content.