A flashing Check Engine light is an indication of a serious problem. You need to get it diagnosed as soon as possible. However, if it stops flashing then you can wait a few days, so you have time to see if the problem will clear itself or if you need to get it checked….
Many drivers have found themselves in the following situation: They go to get their oil changed and their friendly service advisor at Oil Changers recommends a new engine air filter. They say yes, but don’t know what an air filter is or what it does. If this has happened to you, rest assured that…
PLEASE NOTE: This article refers to USA law : If you own a vehicle with a warranty, beware! Many dealers and manufacturers suggest that you need to get your maintenance services at a dealership in order to keep your warranty. That simply isn’t true! You can have your vehicle serviced at your trusted, local service center…
Most people are aware that automotive manufacturers have recommended service intervals for their vehicles. Following these recommended service intervals is very important. The engineers that design our vehicles have tested the various systems and components to meet durability and safety standards. Some of these standards are self-imposed and others, like those for emissions are government…
Your browser does not support the video tag. Dust and pollen is nothing to sneeze at. But seriously, more and more vehicles these days come equipped with a cabin air filter. Since they’re fairly new on the scene, a lot of people don’t know about them yet. These filters clean the air in the passenger…
A recent report stated that over 80 percent of the vehicles on our roads have one or more service or repair that’s needed but hasn’t been taken care of. Now that’s a lot of unperformed servicing. With over 4 million vehicles on the road currently in New Zealand, that translates into over 3 million vehicles….
Your browser does not support the video tag. Changes in vehicle design and manufacture have resulted in changed fluid requirements for our vehicles. With the sophistication of engines, transmissions, differentials, etc., it’s best to always use the proper type of fluid for your vehicle. Using incorrect fluids can actually damage your engine. As engines have…
Your browser does not support the video tag. Let’s talk differentials. If you have a rear-wheel drive vehicle, your differential is on the back axle. With front-wheel drive cars, the differential is up front. All-wheel drive and 4-wheel drive vehicles have three differentials – front, rear and in the middle. So you see, you’ve got…
Your browser does not support the video tag. There are a lot of new features on vehicles these days. One you may not have heard of is called a cabin air filter. Simply put, its job is to keep the air in the passenger compartment of your car nice and clean. Cabin air filters can catch…
You may have heard or seen on TV that vehicles don’t need their oil changed as often as they used to. That’s true. But it’s not the whole story. Owing to improved engine technology and higher oil quality, most newer vehicles can go longer between oil changes than their older counterparts. So what is a…
Something you’ve probably seen and heard a lot more about recently is diesel engines. We’re not talking about semi-trucks and buses; we’re talking about diesel engine cars, utes and SUVs. Most people in are surprised to learn that around half the cars on the road in Europe have diesel engines. Nearly all import brands offer…
Your browser does not support the video tag. Many of us have found themselves in the following situation: They go to get their oil changed and their friendly service advisor at Oil Changers recommends a new engine air filter. They say yes, but don’t know what an air filter is or what it does. If…
The Check Engine Light strikes fear into the hearts of most drivers, and is totally ignored by just as many. Just what it means is a mystery to most people. Let’s get the urgency issues out of the way first. If your Check Engine light is flashing, that means that something is wrong that could cause…
When you drop your vehicle off at Oil Changers they don’t just poke around under your hood looking for stuff to do. The friendly technicians at Oil Changers have lists and procedures they follow for different types of services. First of all they will note the mileage on your vehicle. They’ll then check to see what inspections…
A lot of us are asking ourselves the same question lately: how can we save on fuel? We are all cutting back, if not in fuel consumption, then in other areas of our lives. Preventive Maintenance Preventive maintenance is an important way that you can save fuel by improving fuel economy. One of the easiest and…
There are a surprising number of small, inexpensive parts that can lead to expensive engine damage when they fail. It doesn’t seem right. Fortunately a lot of those things can be taken care of in routine maintenance. They may not be easy to remember because it is a long list, but your local Oil Changers…
If you’re gonna drive around in your car you’ve got to be able to see! So having a good set of windshield wipers is extremely important. We’ve all experienced the frustration and fear of not being able to see clearly during a storm or when our windshield is just dirty. It seems like your wiper blades are always at their…
Sometimes we hear people say, “What’s up with all this maintenance stuff? Modern cars just don’t break down.” While it is true that today’s vehicles are extremely reliable, they are also becoming increasingly complicated and use more exotic materials than ever before. All that complexity demands higher tolerances for everything. For example, most car owners don’t realize…
The drive train in your vehicle includes all the components that transfer power from the transmission to the wheels. Those components differ depending on what type of vehicle you drive, namely, front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, all-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. The preventive maintenance your driveshaft needs will also differ by what type of vehicle you drive. Let’s start with…
All drivers rely on their car’s coolant system to keep their engine cool. Coolant (also called antifreeze) mixed with water flows through your vehicle engine and absorbs heat. The mixture then flows out to the radiator where it’s cooled by air flowing over the radiator. From there the coolant/water mix circulates back through the…
People love their cars and nothing goes with cars better than a road trip. Freedom from daily schedules, new sights and the open road – it’s great! But there’s nothing like car trouble to bring the fun to a grinding halt. You can’t always avoid problems, but you can take steps to reduce the probability of getting…
A lot of people want to hang onto their older vehicles. They’re dependable and they’re paid for. There are a lot of vehicles on the roads that have run past the 200,000 or 250,000 kilometers. Is there something that their owners are doing that keeps these vehicles on the road? Or did they just win…
The biggest news story may be different every day, but there’s one topic that seems to come up over and over again – the price of fuel. If you feel like most of your paycheck goes into your fuel tank, this post is for you. Here are several basic things people can do to…
If you’ve been paying attention, you’ve noticed that vehicle engines are getting more and more powerful and at the same time are getting better and better fuel economy. I’ve gotta tell you, most of that’s because of technological advances in transmissions. To get a better understanding of why that is, let’s talk bicycles. You’ve…
When your car breaks down or just needs some routine service, it can make you a little nervous. Because your car’s so important to your life, you need to be back on the road as soon as possible and with the problem fixed right the first time. We’ve been checking into some of the…
Isn’t it amazing how much of our stuff is disposable these days? Clothes, electronics, housewares, furniture. Remember the days when everybody mended their clothes, polished their shoes and neatly put away their toys every night? If something was lost or ruined through neglect, your parents just told you to do without, that you should have…
One might say the most challenging part of being an automotive service technician at Oil Changers is diagnosing a problem before it can be fixed. Cars are made up of a bunch of complex systems. There usually could be a number of reasons for any given symptom. So, it’s challenging to track down the actual…
Most vehicles owners manuals actually have two maintenance schedules. Sometimes these are called a ‘regular (or normal) service’ or a ‘severe service’ schedule. Sometimes they’re simply called Schedule 1 or A and Schedule 2 or B. A severe service schedule recommends that things like an oil change, air filter replacement, and transmission service be done…
Have you ever thought about all the little things we do to keep our lives running smoothly – like vacuuming? It makes a room feel fresher and more comfortable. We may not consider that we’re also prolonging the life of the carpet by keeping it clean but drivers don’t always extend those good habits into…
Differential? What’s that? And what’s it for? I’ve been told by my service advisor that I need to get it serviced, but is that on the level? Do these questions sound familiar? They’re not uncommon for drivers. A lot of us don’t know what a differential is or what it’s for. Every vehicle has a…
Anyone that drives a car knows that engines get hot when they run. But did you know that engines need to be cooled to keep running? Heat inside an engine can cause the metal parts to expand, which can seize up an engine and make it stop running. It can even ruin the entire engine! Good car…
There are a lot of things in life that people have to do on a regular basis. We wash dishes every day, do our laundry and mow our lawns every week, and pay the bills every month. We really should go to our dentist and see our doctor for a check-up once a year. When we…
Today we’re going to talk about on-board diagnostics and the questions we hear from people who need answers about diagnostic services. They want to know what diagnostics are, what’s involved and what the benefits are. They really want to understand the value of a diagnostic scan on their vehicle by a trained technician. These are…
No one likes to spend a chunk of change at the petrol pumps. Rising fuel prices, however, have spurred drivers to focus on how to improve their fuel economy. Nationwide, we can travel thousands of kilometres less each month during times of high fuel prices but we still need to drive (we are car-lovers after…
Let’s talk about transmission servicing. It can be easy for drivers to forget about getting their transmission serviced because it doesn’t need it very often. It’s easier for people to remember to change the engine oil – you know every 5,000 – 10,000 kilometers or so but proper transmission servicing keeps your vehicle running…
Some new manufacturers are now recommending much higher oil change intervals than they have in the past. Up to 15,000 kilometers, sometimes more. Following these recommendations is very important to avoid engine damage. When drivers go too long between oil changes, oil starts to turn to sludge. This causes small oil passages to clog and…
If you’ve walked through the fluids section of an automotive parts store recently, you’ll know how overwhelming the sheer number of products available can be. How do you know what’s right for your vehicle? As you know, these fluids all serve a function in making your car run as you drive. Your vehicle manufacturer…
Today in the Oil Changers auto care blog, we’re going to talk to you about oil change intervals. It seems that as engine technology advances vehicle manufacturers make their engine service intervals longer. What they don’t make as well known is that they also recommend the engine oil to be changed at a certain…
Your cooling system is very important. It circulates coolant through the radiator and your engine to protect your car from overheating. There are five main components to the cooling system: the radiator the radiator cap the hoses the thermostat and the water pump The water pump’s like the heart of your cooling system, circulating…
