About 80% of the vehicles on roads today are behind on their preventive maintenance schedules. That translates to about 160 million vehicles in the United States that aren’t performing as well as they could be – thousands right here in New Zealand. Some of the maintenance issues are minor. Others represent serious safety concerns. There are many reasons…
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…
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…
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….
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
