The Superior Automotive Group want’s you to know that changing your new car’s oil is one of those things that you need to be sure to get done regularly to help maintain the operations of your car’s engine. The motor oil keeps your engine lubricated, and all the major components working smoothly. Over time, constant heat and pressure in your engine will start to turn your motor oil into a dirty sludge, which is why you need to change your oil every 3,000 miles or three months. Of course, a lot of drivers will go past this mark, or simply forget about changing their oil, and the next thing you know you are stuck with an engine that won’t crank.
If you have bought a new car then you should get in the habit of getting regular and on time oil changes. Oil technology has changed a lot over the last few decades and there are more choices than ever to choose what goes into your car. From synthetic to conventional, high mileage to high performance, you can now choose a motor oil that will keep your car running longer and smoother. So what oil should you choose to put in your car? Your owner’s manual will have the listing for the correct viscosity for your car, so this is the place to start. A lot of people don’t know what the numbers mean for their oil. It has to do with the viscosity at certain temperatures. For instance, 5W-20 means that the thickness rating is 5 in cold weather, 20 in warm weather, and the “W” means it is specified to work in wintry conditions.
Now that you know what rating of oil to use, it is up to you to decide what to put in your engine. If you are a high volume driver, then you should probably look into oils that are made to go longer between oil changes. If your car has over 75,000 miles, then you should look at high mileage oils that help keep your engine clean. When it comes to synthetic versus conventional, it is entirely up to you. Synthetic oil will not damage your car, even if you are replacing conventional oil.
Remember to take your car in to get an oil change regularly, and don’t be afraid to talk to whoever is performing the change about the best oil for you.
We have all hopped in our car at one point or another, put in the key in the ignition, gave the old girl a crank and been met with an engine that won’t turn. Instead you get that the most terrifying sound in the world…”CLICK”. Dead battery…bummer. Car batteries, like tires and oil, need to be changed more often than any other part of your car, but you usually won’t know when to change it until it’s too late and you are stuck in a near deserted parking lot 40 miles from home. You have three options, getting a jump from someone, call a tow truck too take your car to the shop or walk.
Before you have to make any of these decisions, a little battery maintenance will go a long way in getting the most amps out of it.
This is a handy trick. If you have poor pole contact, you are going to have a temperamental battery. Keep your battery terminals clean. No doubt you’ve popped your hood before and have seen the blue/white battery acid buildup on your pole and connectors. You can fix that! The most common way of doing this is with a wire brush and a solution of baking soda and water. This will help you get rid of all the corrosive build up which may be hurting the connection of your battery. If you don’t have baking soda, then you can use regular soda like Coke. Yup, is there anything that stuff can’t do? All soda’s have carbonic acid which will help get rid of any corrosion. Just pour it on the battery terminals, but be sure to wipe off the sticky residue with a damp cloth or sponge after it has dried.
What if your battery is dead but you are in an area where you can’t get it charged? There are a few things you can put inside your battery to help get you one last burst of energy to get you to a place with where you can get a new battery. One way is to put two aspirin into the battery. The aspirin reacts with the acid and will give you one last big boost to get your car turned on. You can also do the same thing with Epsom salt. Dissolve an ounce of Epsom salt in warm water, and then add the mixture to your battery to extend it’s life for a little bit.
With the cold weather coming, you may experience battery problems, so be sure to change your battery now if you haven’t done so in the last 6 months or year. If you are having serious battery issues, then it might not be your battery at all, but your alternator…but that’s another post. If you need ANY come into any Superior Automotive Center location.
Here’s a test to check your car’s alignment, Cincinnati. Drive your new or used car down a long, straight stretch of highway, if you feel like you are fighting to keep your vehicle going in a straight line, or more to the point, fee your car pull to one side or the other then you are most likely dealing with wheel alignment issues. Another dead giveaway is that your steering wheel isn’t straight.
This is just a byproduct of being a car owner. Over time, your car’s wheels will slowly start going out of line over the thousands of miles that you put on it. It is a very common problem, but if left ignored you may find yourself not getting the projected wear out of your tires…and that’s just throwing money down the drain.
As I just stated, the biggest problem that is a result of new and used car alignment issues is tire costs. If your alignment is off even by 0.34 degrees, which is less than two-tenths of an inch, then the result is almost the same as dragging your tire sideways across the road for 64 miles over a year. You may notice that your tires are starting to get worn down and shredded on the inner or outer part of each tire, and this is most likely due to your wheels being out of line. This means that you are having to buy new tires thousands of miles earlier than you would if your car’s wheels were aligned.
That’s not the only problem. Since you are dragging your tires across the road, your engine is having to work harder to maintain speeds. This causes less fuel efficiency, and means more trips to the gas pump. There are more than monetary costs that are effected by alignment issues. It becomes harder to control your vehicle, which is not only a safety issue, but you are actually having to work harder driving your vehicle and holding your steering wheel in line with the road. If you need to fix your car’s alignment, then be sure to bring it into any Superior location as soon as you can.
If you are noticing any of these problems, then be sure to get your alignment checked and fixed. Your tires, arms, and pocket book, will thank you over time. Of course, if you just can’t stand it anymore and are looking for a new car in Cincinnati, then you know where to find us.
Buying new tires for your car is one of those expenditures that you have to have. All tires will wear down over time, and if you don’t change them then you will surely have a blow out to deal with on the side of the road. The problem with buying new tires is that it usually means spending a few hundred dollars. Not only are you going to have to spend the money, but there are so many different types of tires for a lot of different driving types that there may be a kind of tire for you that lasts longer, or shorter, than a normal tire.
Consumer Reports has 5 great tips that will help you get the most out of your tires and help cut your yearly tire budget.
Here are a few money-saving tips:
Keep up the pressure. Rolling resistance increases with underinflated tires, which can reduce fuel mileage by one mpg or more. Low pressure also makes tires wear out faster, and it can lead to tires overheating, risking a dangerous failure at speed. It takes only a couple minutes every month to check your tire pressure. And don’t forget to check the spare; you don’t want to wait until you get a flat to find out it needs air, too.
Rotate for long life. Front tires have to work harder than rear tires on front-wheel drive cars, the most common type on the road today. These tires have to deal with steering, driving and braking forces, and the weight of the engine. All that means the front tires often wear out faster. Have your tires rotated according to the schedule in your owner’s manual, and you’ll avoid spending hundreds of dollars sooner than you should for a new set. It will also ensure balanced wear at all four corners and consequently, balanced handling and braking.
Pass on the nitrogen. Many car dealers and tire retailers will tell you adding nitrogen to your tires in place of plain-old air will help maintain the proper pressure longer. That may be true but whether you use nitrogen or air, check your tire pressure routinely. Our tests showed that tires will lose pressure whether filled with nitrogen or air. If nitrogen filling is free, there is no harm in using it, but why pay for it? Bottom line: there is no substitute for doing proper pressure checks.
Snow removal. If you live in a snowy climate, you should use four winter tires for the best traction and safety. But their compounds often wear much faster than conventional tires, and dry handling isn’t as good on cleared roads. To maximize wear and usefulness of your snow tires, don’t put them on until snow is likely in your area, and take them off promptly in spring.
Shop around. When it is time to replace tires, replace all four for best traction, emergency handling, and all-around performance. And check around for the best price. Online retailers make it easy to compare prices, and some make it easier to find the right tires for your car just by keying in the make and model). See our ratings for the best tires that suit your needs.
So be sure to closely monitor your tires whenever you are fueling up or cleaning your car and avoid going through tires faster than you have to. If you are looking for a new car, then be sure to come into Superior Cars.
One of those forgotten things in your car that you need to take of is your car’s windows. It is easy to forget to properly clean and maintain your windows because the only time you notice them is when something is wrong. Like other parts of your car, your windows have a lot of moving parts, and if one thing starts to wear down then you can be forced to spend a few hundred bucks having it fixed. The best thing that you can do to make sure that your windows will work properly for years to come is proper cleaning.
The video below shows how easy it is to stop future window problems, and how those problems occur.
So be sure to clean out all parts of your window once a month or so to stop any damage before it happens. It is very easy and will save you money in the long run. If you are looking for a new car, then be sure to come into Superior Cars.
There are hundreds of parts and components in your car that can start to wear or break down and need to be replaced. A lot of time, these repairs can be easily done and won’t break the bank. But there is one part of your car that can cost thousands of dollars to repair or replace if it completely breaks down and that is your transmission. Transmission repairs are notoriously expensive and lengthy fixes, and that’s why it is so important to stop any problems as soon as they start. While that sounds easy enough it can be hard to know if you are facing a problem if you don’t know what to check for.
The video below does a great job at explaining what you should listen and feel for when driving to try to stop any major transmission problems before they start.
So be sure to regularly check your transmission fluid and keep your ears open when driving to stop any major transmission problems before they stop your car from working. If your old car has experienced major transmission failure and you’d rather get into a new ride rather than spend the same money on a new transmission, then be sure to come into Superior Cars.
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The Superior Automotive Group and Mike Albert Direct have been serving Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky since 1928. We care about you, your cars, your safety, and our community.
If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask and any suggestions are always welcome at [email protected]
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