Turbocharged vehicles have officially flooded the automotive market as automakers strive to make good performance numbers while meeting green legislation obligations – and it’s changing the way we need to approach oil change maintenance. Motor oil has long been known as the lubricating life blood of the internal combustion engine – Without it, metal on…
Synthetic oil is the best lube option for cold starting a vehicle. Period. If you live in a frigid climate – as in, most mornings start at sub-freezing temperatures close to -18ºC between the months of November and March, you’re going to want to seriously consider switching to synthetic motor oil if you aren’t already there. To understand the logic behind that statement, it’s helpful to understand the internals of a typical ICE (internal combustion engine) and the path that oil takes within the engine when it’s added through the fill hole at the top of the valve cover.
In the past, we’ve discussed at length how the evolution of modern engines is impacting the way that drivers need to think about maintaining their vehicles. This conversation usually takes place in the context of small, low-displacement engines that get a major boost in power via turbocharger technology. If you’re unfamiliar, I recommend that you…
Synthetic lubricants used to be something that drivers would buy out of personal preference, usually driven by a desire to put nothing but the best in their cars. Let’s be very clear – Those days are gone. Extended protection oil filters and synthetic lubricants have transitioned from being premium maintenance products to products that are…
A synthetic oil change should be a really easy sell these days. Not because customers are cognizant of the benefits of using higher quality lubricants and premium filters, but because the use of synthetic lubricants by automakers is becoming more prevalent and on many late model vehicles it’s not just a recommendation, but a strict…
Changing engine oil every 3,000 miles/3 months was the standard recommended service interval for a long time. While many people still follow this historic standard, it is often because they are just unaware of the innovations that have been made in modern engine technology and the engineering advancements achieved in specialty lubricants that allow higher…
The historical standard of the 3,000 mile/3-month oil change interval remains commonplace in many areas even though it hasn’t been relevant for some time. Maintenance businesses such as quick lubes haven’t done much to dispel this standard either. Why would they? Less frequent oil change service equals fewer sales and a decrease in your bottom…
The use of synthetic oil has been on the rise for years following the federal Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standard’s initiative to have automakers maximize engine efficiency and cut carbon pollution. As a result of the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) effort to rapidly increase CAFE levels, the aftermarket is experiencing a…