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Servicing Tips

What customers like about Oil Changers

April 4th, 2023

A big part of the service we provide at Oil Changers for our customers is education. We want you to feel confident with your service decisions. We’re always open to questions from our valued customers. Even though we try to be proactive in our Oil Changers automotive education, we sometimes get busy servicing vehicles and need…

Smart Drivers Protect Against Overheating

February 14th, 2023

Engines get hot when they run. This heat can build up and damage vital engine parts, so engines need a cooling system to keep them running. Cooling system failure is the most common mechanical failure in vehicles. This is unfortunate, because these failures are usually easy for drivers to prevent. The radiator is the best-known…

The Key Won’t Turn! (Ignition Problems)

February 14th, 2023

You’ve just finished at the store shopping and you’re now ready to head home.  You put your key in the ignition and… oh, no! The ignition won’t turn! What do you do now? Don’t panic.  There are some things you can try to get going again.  The first thing to do is see if you…

Change is Good

November 22nd, 2022

You’ve heard that expression, change is good.  When it comes to your vehicle’s oil, change is not only good, it’s vital for the health of the engine.  But there’s one question that puzzles many drivers: how frequently should my vehicle’s oil be changed? There is not one simple answer, but here are some guidelines that…

Maintenance on my mind

September 13th, 2022

Ask anyone if they’ve taken their vehicle in for preventive maintenance lately, and the answer may well be “no.” Surveys indicate that over 80% of vehicles on the road today are in need of some kind of repair or maintenance. Now, ask that same person why they haven’t taken their car in and the answer…

Regular Vehicle Inspection at Oil Changers

July 25th, 2022

Good vehicle care means taking our vehicles in for a check-up. Vehicles need routine checks and maintenance to keep them in good condition. Today’s vehicles may be more reliable than those manufactured 30 or 40 years ago but they still require regular checks to make sure there are no problems that you need to be aware…

The Ethics of Automotive Repair and Servicing

April 4th, 2022

Today we’re going to be talking about the ethics of automotive repair. Unfortunately, every industry or profession contains some bad characters who’s actions and business methods can hurt the reputation of everyone else. In the automotive world, industry associations and professional licensing organizations are committed to high ethical standards. Yet some people remain uncomfortable and…

How Your Check Engine Light Works

February 27th, 2022

  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….

Speak Up: Talking with Your Oil Changers Service Advisor

February 22nd, 2022

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…

Engine Air Filter from Oil Changers

May 10th, 2021

  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…

Vehicle Warranties

January 28th, 2021

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…

Recommended Service Intervals for your vehicle

January 28th, 2021

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…

Breathe Deep With Your Car’s Cabin Air Filter

November 10th, 2019

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…

Why People Hesitate to Get Their Vehicle Serviced

August 18th, 2019

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….

Oil Changers Advice on What to Pour into Your Vehicle

December 17th, 2018

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…

Time for a Differential Service on your car?

December 14th, 2018

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…

Vehicle Servicing – Cabin Air Filter Replacement

November 12th, 2018

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…

What Is the Risk of High Oil Change Intervals for your car?

November 7th, 2018

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…

Vehicle servicing – An Introduction to Diesels

September 6th, 2018

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…

Car Servicing – Engine Air Filter

June 25th, 2018

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…

Why Is My Check Engine Light On in my car?

May 29th, 2018

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…

How Does Oil Changers Know What to Recommend for your car?

February 15th, 2018

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…

The Oil Changers Guide to Saving Fuel in your car: Get Rid of Dirty Oil

January 21st, 2018

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…

Car Servicing – Diesel Fuel Filter Service

October 18th, 2017

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…

Vehicle Servicing – Wiper Blades

October 13th, 2017

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…

Car Servicing – The Maintenance Free Myth

September 29th, 2017

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…

Drive Train Services for your vehicle

May 14th, 2017

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…

Keep Your Cool in your car

October 27th, 2016

  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…

Vehicle Servicing – Road Trip Preparation.

August 7th, 2016

  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…

Let us help keep your older Vehicle running

July 31st, 2016

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 Easy Way to Save Money on your car

June 26th, 2016

  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…

It Pays to Take Care of Your Vehicle’s Transmission

June 7th, 2016

  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…

Training Received by Technicians

May 24th, 2016

  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…

New Life for Your Older Car

April 3rd, 2016

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…

Customer Detective Work

March 30th, 2016

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…

Severe Service Requirements for your Vehicle?

March 23rd, 2016

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…

Will proper maintenance really save fuel in my vehicle?

March 13th, 2016

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…

Vehicle Servicing – Coolant/Antifreeze Service

January 28th, 2015

  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…

It’s About Time: Following Service Intervals

August 22nd, 2014

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…