Care Care News and Product Updates

Apr 20, Car Care..... Information You Need to Know!

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 18:00:08 GMT

Is car care and maintenance a major headache? Learning about your vehicle's maintenance needs will save time, money and eliminate worry about its safety and reliablilty.

Apr 20, Our Car Care Newsletter Keeps You Current

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 17:18:15 GMT

Our car care newsletter provides helpful car maintenance tips and news from Amsoil, Inc. "The First in Synthetics.:

Mar 27, E-Commerce Websites Are My Second Passion

Sun, 27 Mar 2011 20:26:27 GMT

Besides being an AMSOIL Dealer and former auto service center and lube shop owner I also build e-commerce websites.

Feb 13, Oil Ain't Cheap Anymore

Sun, 13 Feb 2011 04:44:37 GMT

The price of motor oil and other lubricants is going up again. Around 3 to 8 percent across the industry. To combat this a lot of people buy the cheapest oil they can find thinking they are saving money. The way I look at it. Why not buy a premium quality synthetic oil. It might cost twice as much but it will deliver more than twice the benefit in the long run. Synthetic oil offers cooler running engines, less friction resulting in better gas mileage and less engine wear, both which result in less repair cost over time. Isn't it time we started looking at value instead of just what it costs to buy it? What if you could buy the best performing product wholesale? Click the link below and see what I'm talking about.

Feb 13, Tire Care May Save Your Life.

Sun, 13 Feb 2011 02:53:50 GMT

Tire care and maintenance is an often neglected part of overall car care.

Jan 11, BEWARE OF ENGINE OIL ADDITIVES

Tue, 11 Jan 2011 20:54:19 GMT

AMSOIL, Inc. issued a Technical Service Bulletin awhile back stating that the use of aftermarket supplements in your motor oil that contain chlorine can cause corrosive wear to a vehicle’s engine and result in possible eventual engine failure. Aftermarket engine oil treatments are advertised as improving an oil’s properties. Oil Supplement manufacturers claim these treatments will reduce friction, noise and wear; maintain higher lubricity and break down sludge and varnish, thus protecting the engine components. Many products advertise materials like Teflon, molybdenum or graphite; however, most fail to mention that they also contain chlorine, which can be highly corrosive when mixed with water. Chlorinated paraffin’s were once used as extreme pressure (EP) additives in lubricants, but the practice has been discontinued in most passenger vehicle lubricants due to the corrosive side effects. These chlorinated compounds are used due to their low cost and ability to provide EP properties, but they readily react with water and combustion by-products to form acidic materials that promote corrosion of engine components and bearings. Lubes ‘N’ Greases published an article in August 1998 outlining the effects of chlorine on vehicle engine components. Author Maurice LePera explains the following: “Chlorinated additives are not used in modern, fully formulated automotive engine oils. The environment within an internal combustion engine consists of high operating temperatures, combustion and blow by gases, moisture, acid and oxidation precursors, wear debris, un-burnt fuel, etc.The combination of these ingredients when combined with the catalytic effects of metallic surfaces and trace soluble metals such as copper will cause chlorine to hydrolyze – forming hydrochloric acid and other associated reaction products. Once generated, these acidic reaction products can cause serious internal engine corrosion problems, especially on ferrous and aluminum alloys”. The detrimental effects of chlorinated paraffins tend to increase as temperatures rise, making them more dangerous in hotter environments. “Chlorine-based additives can be film-forming even at ambient temperatures, but as the temperature rises they become aggressive and, with the release of HCl [hydrochloric acid], can cause significant corrosion.” Because of the side effects of chlorine breakdown, many military and commercial specifications prohibit the use of chlorinated additives. In short, if you use a properly formulated synthetic oil you don’t need additives. If you’re worried about the extra cost of synthetic oil vs. conventional oil, just figure in the cost of a quart or two of an aftermarket oil additive. I learned a long time ago. With lubricants, you get what you pay for.

Dec 27, The Right European Car Oil for You.

Mon, 27 Dec 2010 19:43:22 GMT

European car oil is made to strict specifications.

Nov 18, What Your Car Needs On A Cold Morning.

Thu, 18 Nov 2010 05:09:18 GMT

On a cold winter morning there’s probably nothing you would rather do than stay in your nice warm bed. Unfortunately, work calls so you hit the cold floor and head toward the coffee pot for some wakeup juice. If you’re like me you don’t start functioning very well until after that first cup of coffee. Just like most of us, our cars need a little “wake up juice” to get them going too. In the car’s case the “wake up juice’ is motor oil. It’s especially important in the winter months that this motor oil doesn’t thicken up over night and increase the likelihood of cold start wear& tear. As much as 80 percent of the wear in an engine occurs at startup because it takes a moment for the oil to pump back into the parts of the engine that it drained out of overnight. While the oil is getting to those parts they're rubbing against each other with little or no lubrication. Luckily for us, there’s a solution to this problem. That solution is synthetic motor oil. Due to the nature of the chemicals used in synthetic motor oil it clings to metal parts much longer than conventional oil. It also flow at much lower temperatures which eliminates most of the cold start friction that causes so much of the internal wear in our car’s engine components. Since your car is one of the largest investments you make doesn’t it make sense to protect it with synthetic oil? Just remember, all synthetic oils are not the same. Do your research and make your choice based on facts and ASTM testing methods. Thom Wofford

Oct 25, Is Christine Hiding In Your Garage?

Mon, 25 Oct 2010 19:43:43 GMT

The upcoming Halloween holiday brings back memories of one of my favorite classic scary movies. Remember Christine, the movie about Arnie a young teenager who was obsessed with an old junker and restored it with tender loving care. In the process he neglected pretty much everything and everyone else in his life. “Christine” returned the favor by becoming obsessed with him. As he continued to restore the old rust bucket, strange things started to happen. One by one everyone that crossed Arnie met with misfortune at the hands of the car. I’ve never owned a “Christine” but I have had a few cars that seemed to have a mind of their own. They would exercise their “personality” by deciding when and where they wanted to start or stop, when the windshield wipers would work (usually all of the time except during a downpour), or when the engine would sputter and die when trying to impress a car load of girls at a stop light. My guess is that most of you have had a “Christine” experience. As I look back I have to admit that these incidents were not due to supernatural influences but to my neglect of basic routine car maintenance. To prevent demon possession of your car I suggest you pay attention to the maintenance schedule outlined in your car’s owner’s manual. Also, it might not hurt to talk nicely to her and rub her with a soft cloth occasionally just in case. If you haven’t seen the movie Christine this Halloween would be a good time. It’s a classic and I bet you can find it at one of the movie rental stores in town. One word of caution, don’t watch it by yourself; you won’t want to go in your garage ever again! Thom Wofford, AMSOIL Direct Jobber

Oct 9, Say NO! To Transmission Fluid Additives.

Sat, 09 Oct 2010 03:33:54 GMT

Transmission fluid additives have been shown to be ineffective and potentially damaging when used with a well formulated automatic transmission fluid. Review this Technical Service Bulletin Issued by AMSOIL to learn more about this issue.

Sep 14, Fake Speed Camera Tickets Pick Drivers Pockets.

Tue, 14 Sep 2010 15:22:23 GMT

Watch the video for information about how to avoid speed traps and be warned ahead of time when you are approaching stop lights, stop light cameras and school zones. Data base is downloaded to your GPS device or compatible cell phone. This is a bargain at the $29.99 per year flat fee price. You can also subscribe monthly but the cost is higher by the month. Law enforcement agencies even encourage this because it makes drivers more aware of what's going on. Go there now from the link below.

Sep 13, Ten Back to School Vehicle Maintenance Tips

Mon, 13 Sep 2010 02:41:21 GMT

Proper maintenance can be the difference between your vehicle lasting five years or fifteen years. It can also be the difference between you and your family being safe or in a dangerous situation. Here are 10 back to school vehicle maintenance tips to help you be proactive about your vehicle’s maintenance:

Sep 13, Back To School Maintenance Tips

Mon, 13 Sep 2010 02:36:28 GMT

Ten back to school maintenance tips to for reliable and safe transportation.

Sep 2, Black Engine Oil Ain’t Necessarily “Dirty”.

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:07:17 GMT

It’s a common misconception that oil’s color is an indication of how dirty it is. This in fact is not the case at all. The color of oil doesn’t have any anything to do with its lubrication ability. Most oil and especially diesel engine oil will turn black in the first few hours of operation due to contaminates and soot particles generated by the combustion process. The only way to accurately determine oil's lubricating value or contamination level is through (spectrographic) oil analysis. Oil analysis is common practice used regularly in commercial, industrial and fleet operations and can also be used for passenger cars, light trucks or any other application. In addition oil analysis will also determine the exact pars per million (ppm) of wear metals in your oil which provides an indication of any abnormal wear or specific components that need mechanical inspection in addition to checking for any fuel, water or glycol contamination. The useful life of an engine oil is dependent on several factors such as the quality of the oil, type of fuel used in the engine, equipment condition, type and operating environment of the equipment and, most important, the type of filtration used. The filtration system and the oil are vital tools for preserving engine life. A highly efficient oil filter is essential to protect an engine by removing both liquid and abrasive contaminants held in suspension. Air filtration is also extremely important because microscopic dirt particles that get past the air cleaner are eventually introduced into the engine oil. These particles are extremely abrasive and can cause a lot of damage. If you intend to keep your vehicle for a long time and would like to see how the engine is wearing, oil analysis is a good way to do it. For about $30 you can have an extensive oil analysis done that will tell you exactly what’s going on inside the engine. If you are interested in taking a look at the status of your engines internal wear through oil analysis give me a call and I can hook you up. It’s easy, affordable and can warn you of any impending problems. Thom Wofford, AMSOIL Direct Jobber
800-867-3941

Sep 2, Who Can You Trust

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 16:19:25 GMT

There are a lot of excellent and honest mechanics and automotive service businesses around. Unfortunately there are some not so honest ones.

Aug 18, AMSOIL Synthetic Oil Information. Learn the Facts About Synthetic Lubricants.

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 06:55:23 GMT

Get up to date AMSOIL synthetic oil information here. Learn why amsoil ynthetic lubricants offer the best protection for your vehicles.

Aug 18, Buy AMSOIL Wholesale and Save Up to 25%.

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 06:09:38 GMT

Did you know you can buy the best performing synthetic oil on the market today at the wholesale dealer cost. Sign up to buy amsoil wholesale today.

Aug 11, How to Decrease Tire Wear

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 18:50:16 GMT

Decrease tire wear by following these simple steps.

Aug 4, Make Your Tires Last Longer!

Wed, 04 Aug 2010 03:06:36 GMT

Tires now days can last upwards of 60,000 miles when cared for properly. The tires on my Honda Ridgeline are the original ones and have a little over 70,000 miles on them.

Aug 4, Why Does My Car Use Oil?

Wed, 04 Aug 2010 03:06:36 GMT

There are a large number of reasons for oil consumption in a vehicle. I am sitting here at my computer as I write this post looking at a list over 40 reasons a vehicle will consume oil. Most auto manufacturers' consider some oil consumption to be normal. With the longer oil drain intervals we are now seeing motorists are beginning to notice some oil consumption that wasn’t evident when they were changing oil every 3000 miles. With that said, the major source of oil consumption is a leak rather than actually burning the oil. The most common place for leaks to occur are the oil pan drain plug, oil pan gasket, valve cover gasket, timing chain case cover gasket, front and rear main seals and oil line connections. A leak of one drop of oil every twenty feet is equivalent to losing one quart of oil every 100 miles. There are two other common sources of oil consumption. One involves a number of internal engine issues that cause excess oil to be thrown into the cylinders and burned during combustion. It would take two full pages to list them so just boil it down to either engine wear and/or inadequate maintenance. The other Involves problems with the Exhaust Gas Recirculation System and PCV valve. Malfunctions in these components result in excessive “blowby gases" being directed to and burned in the cylinders during combustion. Basically, what all of this “mumbo jumbo” means is that the older and more abused a vehicle becomes the more oil it will tend to consume. If yours is using more than a quart every 3000 miles or so have it checked out. Regular maintenance will go a long way to preventing excessive oil consumption. See you next post. Thom

Jul 10, Warranty Laws You Need To Know.

Sat, 10 Jul 2010 02:17:52 GMT

Be sure you have the facts about new car warranties. Many dealers will tell you that using synthetic oil or extending your oil drain intervals will void your warranty. Take a look at this information and get the facts.

Jun 30, Synthetic Lubricant History

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 22:11:26 GMT

Synthetic lubricant history has been profoundly influenced by AMSOIL, Inc's contributions.

Jun 30, Replace Your Belts & Hoses

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 20:04:58 GMT

Two of the most likely parts of your vehicle to go kablooey on a trip far from home are drive belts and radiator hoses. Most people don’t think of replacing hoses and belts as preventive maintenance. If they did they could save themselves a lot of trouble and in some cases a lot of money when something else is damaged in the process. The lifespan of a typical serpentine belt is around 50 to 60 thousand miles. A belt can appear like new on the outside and be on the verge of failure due to weakened or separated cords on the inside. Heat and high mileage are the main culprits here. Every time a belt passes around a pulley it flexes causing heat, which over time, hardens the rubber in the belt leading to cracking and weakening of the inner cords. Loose belts wear even quicker so it’s important to check the tightness of the belt periodically. Most vehicle owner manuals will give serpentine and v-belt tightness specifications. Most hose manufacturers recommend replacing hoses every four years. Rubber hoses deteriorate over time due to exposure to heat, oil, atmospheric ozone, and in the case of radiator hoses, internal corrosion due to the coolant inside the hose acting like an electrolyte that allows electrical current to flow between the engine and the radiator causing small cracks and pinholes on the inside of the hose. The inside of the hose eventually erodes away ending up in a leak or rupture. The moral of the story here is to have your vehicle’s belts and hoses inspected on a regular basis. If you don’t know what to look for have your mechanic inspect them for you. Don’t let yourself get stranded somewhere because you didn’t pay attention to these two commonly overlooked components. In Wichita Falls call 940-264-5823 and ask one of the guys at Freedom Lube Auto Service Center for an appointment to have your belts and hoses inspected. Thom Wofford, AMSOIL Direct Jobber

Jun 23, Don't Ignore Your Air Filter.

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 16:48:50 GMT

Do you know what the most neglected aspects of car maintenance are? My observations over the last 3 years tell me that the number one neglected part of the cars we see in our shop is the air filter. The interesting thing is the air filter is one of the most important parts on the vehicle. The biggest cause of engine wear is ingestion of dirt particles into the engine. Dirt creates a lot of havoc when it gets between the microscopic clearances of bearings and gears. Keeping dirt and dust out of the engine is extremely important. The air filter is the engine’s first line of defense where this is concerned. There are many types of air filters out there. Some are terrible and some are really good. Some are pretty much maintenance free and some are a royal pain to take care of. Some last just a few months and some are designated as lifetime. Some are made from a dry paper material and some are made from semi-synthetic and fully synthetic media. They all have their pluses and minuses. No matter what air filter you use be sure it is cleaned when it starts to get dirty and replaced when it can no longer be cleaned. If you do your engine will last longer, run better and get better fuel economy. If you would like more specific information about what to look for in an air filter give me a call or come by the shop. I have a lot of material available that will give you a better idea of what works best for most vehicles. Look here for information about AMSOIL Absolute Efficiency Air Filters. Thom Wofford, AMSOIL Direct Jobber Give me a call at 940-867-2023 with any questions or comments.

Jun 17, Damage From Chlorine in Aftermarket Oil Treatments

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 23:16:21 GMT

Here's an interesting Technical Service Bulletin I received from AMSOIL considering problems with aftermarket oil additives. If you are using any of them you might want to take a look at this. Thom Wofford, AMSOIL Direct Jobber

Jun 17, Save Money by Improving Gas Mileage.

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 20:43:52 GMT

As gas prices continue to increase, we gear up our efforts to finds ways of improving the fuel economy of our vehicles. Although switching from an SUV to a small economy sedan is pretty much a sure bet for getting more mpg, buying a new vehicle isn’t for everyone. Even 30 mpg is painful at over $3 per gallon. Many motorists make their way to the local auto parts store to investigate the various gasoline saving devices available to today’s consumer. According to a story in the Detroit News, many of these devices do not deliver on the claims their manufacturers make. The Federal Trade Commission issued a consumer warning showing that most of these devices rarely work. The EPA tested 93 items that claimed to save fuel but only 10 out of the 93 showed even a small improvement in fuel economy and 4 of those actually increased emissions of noxious exhaust gases. A more realistic approach to gaining a few mpg includes the following vehicle maintenance procedures: 1. Keep your tires properly inflated. Each tire has a maximum cold pressure rating noted on the tire. If you keep your tire pressure a few pounds below this level as opposed to the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendation (often 10 or more pounds of pressure below the tire manufacturer’s recommendation) you can see immediate gains in mpg as well as reduce the wear on your tires. Vehicle manufacturers tire pressure recommendations are designed to promote a more comfortable ride as opposed to promoting increased fuel economy and tire life span. 2. Premium gasoline additives will insure your fuel injectors are clean and functioning at their optimum level. 3. Switching from petroleum based lubricants to synthetic ones have been shown to increase gas mileage by 3 to 5% when used in the engine and up to 10% when used throughout the entire drive train. The uniform molecular structure of synthetics allows them to flow more freely and reduce friction between moving parts. 4. Replacing sparkplugs and plug wires after 100,000 miles will often provide a small increase in fuel economy. 5. Keeping the vehicles air filter clean and replacing it when it is no longer cleanable is another proven method of maximizing your fuel economy. Last of all, find someone you trust, with the necessary training, to provide the regular maintenance for you if you aren’t able or don’t want to do it yourself, and don’t be afraid to ask questions and provide information to that person or facility about any problems you might be having. Thom Wofford, AMSOIL Direct Jobber

Jun 15, Car Care and You Check Engine Light.

Tue, 15 Jun 2010 20:37:38 GMT

What to do When Your Check Engine Light Comes On. Since the early 1980’s computers have increasingly played an important role in controlling the operation of our vehicles through a number of electronic sensors that monitor various functions insuring the vehicle runs as efficiently as possible. When a check engine light comes on it indicates one of these sensors has received a signal outside of the normally expected parameters for that sensor. It will also send a signal to the main computer or OBD (onboard diagnostic) system of the vehicle in the form of a code that can be read with the proper equipment. The "check engine" light codes can mean many different things, from a loose gas cap to a seriously misfiring engine. Since these codes have specific meanings it’s important you take the vehicle to a shop with diagnostic equipment that can read the code accurately and someone that can take that code and make an accurate diagnosis of the problem from it. Manufacturers originally used the OBD system to help technicians pinpoint and troubleshoot malfunctions. But the systems now are required under federal laws governing automotive emissions. The OBD computer monitors and adjusts dozens of components and processes during your car’s operation, from continually sampling exhaust emissions as they come out of the engine and again when they leave the catalytic converter, to monitoring the car's fuel system to ensure that gasoline vapors are not escaping into the atmosphere. In most cases, if a problem occurs, the computer will wait to see if it corrects itself before turning on the light. When a “check engine light” comes on you don’t necessarily need to pull over and call a tow truck. You do need to get to a shop that can diagnose the problem as quickly as possible. The most important thing to remember is; ignoring a check engine light over time can result in some serious and expensive repairs. So if and when it comes on get it checked out. Many auto repair shops are able to check the OBD system and identify the diagnostic codes generated by the check engine light. There is usually a diagnostic charge for this service. At the shop I use for my vehicle repairs any check engine diagnostic charge is waived if you elect to have them perform any repair indicated by the presence of a lit check engine light. Other shops may do this. It's a nice little extra service for loyal customers. Thom W.

Jun 11, The Root Cause of Failure

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 21:02:46 GMT

Have you ever wondered why repair costs sometime increase after the mechanic begins working on your vehicle? The reason has to do with something called the Root Cause of Failure. Let me explain. Your car or truck isn’t just a chunk of metal (or in some cases now a days plastic). It’s composed of many parts working together in a series of systems designed to get you from point A to point B as efficiently as possible. A component or system failure in any vehicle, if not repaired, can cause other secondary failures. If a secondary failure is repaired, but the root cause is not repaired, the secondary failure will re-occur. For example, a plugged PCV (Pollution Control Valve) passage can cause high crankcase pressure resulting in oil leaking around gaskets and seals. Replacing the gaskets and seals may stop the oil leak, but if the root cause (the PCV restriction) is not diagnosed and repaired the oil leak will eventually return. It’s not always possible to diagnose the root cause of failure when the vehicle is initially inspected. Sometimes the mechanic starts on a job and finds the problem the vehicle was brought in for is a symptom of a failure in another system or systems. This results in more labor time and often additional parts. A reputable shop will do everything it can to diagnose the root cause of failure during the initial inspection of the vehicle. If they encounter a situation that requires more labor and/or more parts replacement than originally thought, they will stop work on the vehicle and notify you of the situation and only begin working on the vehicle again after you authorize the additional repairs. Your patience and understanding are greatly appreciated when this occurs. We understand that no one likes to spend money for repairs. But, waiting to fix the root cause at a later time will eventually result in even more down time and expense and often lead to unsafe operating conditions. Your safety and a reliable vehicle should be your mechanic’s first priority. Thom W.