Motor oil has a changed a lot over the years, so much so that some of the things that used to be true about it are no longer. In other instances urban myths have grown up around the subject. Here are a few myths about changing the oil in your vehicle.

Myth: You must change your vehicle's oil every 3,000 miles.
Reality: While that once was true, different formulations have been developed to allow you to go 5,000 miles, and in some cases, 10,000 miles between changes. Follow the oil manufacturer's recommendation.

Myth: If the…

Your tires give your car traction on the road. Over time, friction causes the rubber on your tires to wear. Knowing when to replace your tires will help get you and your passengers to your destination safely.

As the tires wear down, the tread depth decreases. You may be able to notice visually that your treads don't look as deep as the once did. A simple test of your tread depth is to insert a penny into the treads with Lincoln's head pointed into the tread. If you can see the top of Lincoln's head, it's…

Many modern vehicles come with sophisticated driver-assistance systems that make handling vehicles easier than ever before. Features like traction control and cruise control can make drivers feel like they always have full control, but these systems can be defeated by the phenomenon known as hydroplaning.

When vehicles operate at relatively high speeds on wet or slick roads, water can build up between the tire treads and the road. This is called hydroplaning, and it can rob drivers of control of their vehicles.

Hydroplaning is caused by many factors, but one of the chief...

A quick and easy way to make sure your vehicle is running properly and doesn't have any damaged or leaking hoses to check where your vehicle was parked after it has been sitting for a while. Some leaks can be barely larger than a pinhole, and it can take a while for fluid to leak out. But any fluid is too much fluid, and if you see any signs of leakage bring your vehicle into Audi Allentown for service today.

The hoses in your car transport extremely important, and in some cases dangerous, fluids to different parts of your…

Keeping your engine oil fresh and clean is a good way to help your motor endure for the long haul. That said, using oil with the wrong viscosity rating for your motor can have a detrimental effect on matters.

Your oil viscosity describes how it responds to varying engine temperatures and pressures. The conditions inside your engine vary from mild to severe, and the oil must be hardy enough to perform under all of them. The viscosity rating numbers give you a quick way to size up potential multi-grade oil candidates for your unique motor.

Multi-grade oils maintain their...

There are many different aspects of your vehicle that you should keep an eye on to ensure that your car never lets you down. One such component that literally is necessary to keep your car moving is the differential. Understanding how it works will aid you in making sure that it is always working properly.

The differential is a gearbox that lies between the wheels of that drive your vehicle, up front on FWD cars and between the back wheels on RWD cars. Vehicles with 4WD have differentials in both the front and rear. The job of the differential is…

It is interesting to note that overheating is one of the major sources of engine failure. As a result, your car’s cooling system happens to be one of the most cherished parts because not servicing it could mean expensive repairs or purchases.

There is a number of ways that you can employ to prevent your cooling system from getting spoiled. The primary tip, however, is always ensuring you use the correct ratios when mixing the coolant and water. You might have noticed that most people just fill in their radiators with water without considering these ratios.

While car servicing and maintenance certainly can't be performed by just anyone, there are a few things that any car owner can do themselves. One of these includes fluid service. This really means lifting your hood and checking the level of some of the fluids that keep your car moving. The easiest way to remember what to check is to remember "Fluid five." It really is this simple! Fluid five includes:

1. Oil: Should be checked at least once a week, and is usually every time you get gas.
2. Transmission fluid: Should be checked at least once a month but…

The dashboard is without a doubt one of the best ways to keep you informed about your car's maintenance. Let's face it, sometimes our work and life can get in the way of taking care of our cars or trucks. However, thanks to the dashboard you can always be reminded of potential issues, especially when it is urgent that your vehicle needs it seasonal maintenance. It is not wise to wait for the lights on your dashboard to start showing, though.

 

Ever wonder why those parts that you bought for your vehicle wore out so quickly? You saved a few dollars getting them at a discount parts store, but you are paying the price today.