The Big Question - Part 3 (and this is it, I promise!)

So oil companies and their marketing arms are always looking to distinguish their line of oils from the next company.  I think we all get that.  And it’s OK to have a loyalty to a good name-brand oil if it has worked for you over the years.  But I submit to you that a big portion of the differences between oils (other than viscosity differences, i.e. 10W-30 and 0W-20) has more to do with marketing than it does with chemical engineering.  

Service Reminder: Coolant

Long, hot summer days put added stress on your vehicle, especially your vehicle’s cooling system. Now that summer is behind us, it is a great time to check your vehicle’s coolant and coolant level.

The Big Question - Part 2

Over the years I have to shake my head when one more consumer “advocate” writes about the “3,000 mile oil change myth.”  Wow, you’re really breaking new ground with that one.  This has only been happening since 1996.  Nationally, the average service interval is between 6k-7k miles so I don’t really think legions of drivers are pre-programmed robots  that simply must get their oil changed every 3k miles.  And in fact, there are vehicles out there that still need to be serviced every 3k miles as per the owner’s manual.  The big rub is over “normal service” and “severe service”. 

Service Reminder: Air Filter

The end of summer is a great time to check and replace your air filter. During the summer, a mixture of additional driving time and extra pollen and dust floating around in the air can really start to dirty up and clog your air filter.

The Big Question - Part 1

Years ago when I actually managed one of our stores, I was constantly being asked by customers “How often should I change my oil?” Should I poll our current managers I suspect they would get the same question on a daily basis. Indeed, there is much confusion over what we in the industry call “oil change intervals.”

Summer Tips: Does Your A/C Hurt MPG?

Word is always spreading around that using your car’s air conditioner hurts your fuel economy. You may be asking, “well does it?” Continue reading to find out!