Choose The Motor Oil for Car
Choosing the most suitable motor oil for your car is the aspect that should not be disregarded. This is because not all the oil types fit one and the same vehicle and some of them may even affect the way the auto will function. There are a few important questions you need to answer before shopping for the best engine oil brand. These questions concern the type of the vehicle you own, its age, manufacturer’s guidelines and the weather conditions that prevail in your location.
To start with, it is essential to recollect the type of engine oil you have been using before. If you have never inquired about this issue or if this is the first time you have to change the motor oil, then it makes sense to find out what engine oil you used before. Having found that out, analyze how exactly your car functioned when you used the oil. If everything was all right and you didn’t have to fix the engine problems, then you don’t have to look for another motor oil.
The next point that is worth consideration is checking the type of oil recommended by the manufacturer. This is especially true if you own a new vehicle, which comes with the warranty. In this case, changing the oil is not allowed. Otherwise, the manufacturer may not repair the car for free in case of necessity.
If your car is not new, this means that its engine may be worn. As a result, the parts of the engine may become smaller, forming space between them. To fill this space, you will need think oil, so find out more about heavy single-weight oil brands that will fit your car most of all.
Finally, it makes sense to take into account the weather conditions that prevail in your location. Thus, if you live in the mountainous area, where the temperature changes are extreme, then it is better to purchase multi-weight types of oil, which are allowed to be used under any temperature regimes. Pay attention to the “W” index, which reflects the way the oil “behaves” in hot and cold weather. The higher this index is, the worse the oil works in autumn and in winter, when it is too cold outside. Keep that in mind.
Different motor oil types are manufactured for various purposes. To select the one that meets your requirements and needs, you have to understand the essence of such notions as the viscosity ratings, classification codes and oil additives. Let us have a closer look at each notion.
Each type of oil has specific viscosity rating that shows how the oil flows in the engine. With regard to this aspect, customers choose between two popular types of oil – single- and multi-viscosity oils. The prevailing amount of vehicles run on the second type of oil, because it can be used under any temperature conditions. Actually, the higher the viscosity index is, the thicker the oil proves to be and the worse flow capability it has. As a rule, the first number in the combination signifies the way the oil flows during the autumn-winter season, while the second number shows the way it flows under the hot temperatures in spring and summer. If you don’t know the most suitable viscosity index for your automobile, consult the manufacturer or the manual that comes with the vehicle.
Speaking about the oil additives, they are required to ensure the best engine performance. They contribute to the way the engine is cooled and cleaned by the oil. In high quality engines, the cost of the oil additives constitutes over 25% of the overall cost of the oil.
All types of motor oil have unique classification codes that reveal the levels of engine protection and economy of the fuel they ensure. The popular oil classification codes include: the API starburst label, the API donut label for diesel motor oil and the API donut label for gasoline motor oil. You should select the one, which fits your vehicle.
Recycled Car Parts Replacements
Recyclers offer consumers great deals when they are looking for used car parts. The thing is, people might think that this is a bad idea, but the truth is there are so many recyclers around, it is amazing. The other great thing about these recyclers is that their prices are hard to beat. You will always find one beating the other, so look around. The reason for this is that insurance companies save lots of money when they pass wrecked vehicles down to junk yards.
Buying recycled parts is good, because when these parts are purchased, the pollution from manufacturing new parts is prevented. Manufactures use a lot of oil when making new parts and this is saved when recycling. Reusing the raw materials can be a benefit to the environment, and when you go out and find your recycled vehicle part, there are many places that you can go to in order to get them. Statistics have shown that there are over 4 million vehicles recycled each year in the United States, and that makes tons of vehicle parts available to you.
Recycling parts can save a lot of space when it comes to landfilling, and why should something that can be used again be thrown away? That is money being thrown away. Also, the other reason why you should consider used car parts is that you are purchasing quality parts that were manufactured by their original manufacturer. Recyclers have the skill when it comes to determining damaged parts and those that can be reused.
It is true: used parts can save plenty of money, and it is clear that this is by far the cheapest alternative available to you. The one question many people has it this: are we getting the same quality? That is a good question. Today, many recyclers supply warranties on parts. This means that you will not be buying a potato. Another advantage is that recyclers are much faster when it comes to a specific part you are looking for compared to many dealers. Their businesses run on a network and this allows them to communicate with other recyclers. If a recycler does not have the part you are looking for, there is a great chance that they will find it immediately.
Choose Pre-Owned Cars
Better Value
When a new vehicle is driven off of a dealer’s lot, it will lose 10% of its value on average. After a year that number increases to 20%, and after five years, the automobile will be worth less than half of what you paid for it. Furthermore, the average cost of a new model is about $30,000. Think about that. Someone could pay $30,000 for their car, drive it off the lot, then return it. It might only have two miles on it. Now you can buy it for $27,000. The average price of a used auto is $15,000. Pre-owned cars also depreciate at a more gradual rate than new ones. In short, buying used means saving money on the initial purchase, and having your investment depreciate less as the years go by.
Improved Reliability
One of the main reasons that people give for buying a new automobile is that they don’t want to deal with breakdowns. Fortunately for today’s buyers, vehicles are the most reliable in history. With the increase in competition between European, American, and Asian companies in the 1980s came a corresponding increase in reliability. Since the mid 1990s, the U.S. government has kept records of the average age of automobiles on the road. Last year, that number reached its highest point yet, with the average age eclipsing 11 years. So what does that mean for buyers? In short, it means that they can buy pre-owned cars with the knowledge that they can run for many more years and many more miles. For those who are very concerned with repairs, you can even find used models that come with a manufacturer’s warranty.
Car vs SUV for a Large Family
The SUV or sports utility Car Site was originally intended for difficult terrain and off-road driving. Designed with high clearance and a body-on-frame chassis, there is a strong engine powering the vehicle. These were the best choice for exploring the wilderness in Alaska or going on an African safari. Gradually, SUVs have emerged as a popular choice among suburban families for daily use. This is because SUVs have proved themselves to be a convenient vehicle even in an urban setting. Today one will find more people driving SUVs than minivans. Quick to notice the craze, manufacturers are constantly designing and building more improved models to suit the Top Savings on used BMW cars on CarSite.
There are a number of reasons why one should choose an SUV over a regular car for their family. Here are a few of the most important ones:
- More space
Thanks to its generous proportions, SUVs have spacious interiors and many have a third row of seats to carry extra passengers or additional baggage or cargo. - Better handling
SUV’s are better on city roads, thanks to their higher ground clearance. This is a more suitable class of vehicle and handles those rough patches on the roads much better than a regular car can. - Higher driving position
With a higher perch, one gets a better view of the road ahead and can keep a good eye on the traffic. This can help you make quick, important decisions when driving, especially in crowded cities. - Better hauling
Thanks to their size and larger cargo capacities, they are much better for hauling large amounts of groceries, camping equipment, sports equipment, etc. The rear seats can be removed and make an even bigger space for your stuff. - More power
One can feel all that power and muscle as soon as they get behind the wheel of an SUV. We all love to feel a vehicle’s power and if we can get it without sacrificing comfort and space, why not? - More safety features
With superior capabilities for handling & braking, a stronger frame and multiple parking and driving sensors and cameras, the SUV is much safer for your family than a car is.
SUVs are quickly becoming the first choice for families, as they offer comfortable passenger seating, attractive exteriors, great performance and power while providing respectable fuel economy. They are much safer than they have been in the past, offer a great driving experience and the advantage of a great capacity for passengers and cargo. Most people choose to buy an SUV over a car as it fulfills more of their wants and needs.
Car Paint Repair
The first option , primarily for more extensive damage – is to take your car to a paint repair specialist (bodyshop or crash repair centre) to fix the damage and repaint the affected area. Usually this type of repair job can take several days.
The second option , primarily for minor damage (and if the car paintwork is not damaged) – is to have a paintless dent removal technician work on it, which will be much faster, cheaper and convenient as their mobile service personnel can come to you at a suitable time, rather than you going to them during your working hours.
The third option is to use a SMART repair technician (small to medium area repair technique) as these paint repair technicians specialise in minor repairs such as bumper scuffs and small scratches.
The fourth option is to attempt to do the repair job yourself, although this only solves the paint repair, not the actual dent or scratch itself. It goes without saying that if you’re not experienced in this type of work, you could end up doing more harm than good, with a result that is a lot worse than when you started!
And the fifth option is to do nothing and leave it as it is. Of course, that doesn’t really solve anything, but it doesn’t cost you anything either. However, it is recommended that you at least “touch in” any scratches to prevent rust forming.
Which method of repair you choose depends on several different factors: the cost, the make of the car, the extent of the damage, and your car insurance cover.
If you don’t have much money, then the first car paint repair option is eliminated. However, if your car is a Porsche, where the paint job comprises 21 different stages to ensure its durability, you may find the first repair option the only viable one available for major damages.
If the extent of the damage is minor, then the second or third paint repair options become the most practical, although the rather primitive touching-up method will always show much more so than the method of paintless dent removal followed by touching in, which is designed to disguise the damage to almost invisible. It is important to note that paintless dent removal is largely used when there is very minor or no paint damage.
Whichever method you choose, it is still hard to believe that the “paint” used in Auto Industry paint repair originated from a substance comprised of items such as berries, blood, plants, soot and ash, during the cave men era.
As the demand for vehicle paint increased dramatically, technologists were commissioned to discover faster ways of applying paint to automobiles. The three days needed for the numerous coats of standard paint to dry was hampering supply and a damaged car needing car paint repair was taking almost as long as a new one to finish!
Aside from perfecting the spray gun so that greater quantities of paint could be more accurately and evenly dispersed over the shell of a car, “dilutable” paint resins incorporating water were produced. These were more environmentally-friendly than previous ones, releasing water into the atmosphere upon drying instead of organic solvents and are still the ones used today.
Later, tiny metallic pieces which when administered would only be a depth of 15 microns (15 millionths of a metre) were added as well as pigments to the paints to vary the car paint palette and choice of car paint repair materials. To finish, a clear coat of protective resin was introduced over the paintjob to seal in the paint, add to durability, and give it that lustrous shine.
This explains why when you take your car to a garage it takes so long, why paintless dent removal is such good value, and why when you do a “touch up” car paint repair job yourself, it looks so noticeably different from the original manufacturer’s paintjob.
Car Body Types
Sedan
A sedan, which is sometimes called a saloon, is the standard passenger car that has a bonnet at the front, a boot for luggage in the back, and usually four doors. This is one of the most popular types of car and they are ideal for families, as they usually seat four or five people comfortably.
Hatch-back
Hatch-backs are the types of cars that have no rear boot, but they have a rear compartment that can be accessed via a door that swings open at the back. The other feature of this type of car is that rear luggage compartment is not sealed off from the passenger compartment. Hatch-backs are usually smaller cars and they often have only three doors, including the swing door at the back.
Estate
Estate cars, or wagons, are like a larger version of a hatchback with an extended rear compartment for storing luggage. Like a hatchback, this type of cars luggage area is not separated from the passenger compartment and, usually, the rear seats can be folded down to accommodate a greater amount of luggage when it is required. Due to the extended rear compartment, estate cars are normally quite long.
Coupe
A coupe will be quite a small, two door car, and they are usually quite sporty in style too. They will normally only seat two people comfortably, but they might have two very small seats in the rear, but with very limited leg room.
Convertible
Convertibles, sometimes called cabriolets, are the types of cars where the roof can be removed so that it can be driven with the roof open in the summer. They are usually a similar sized car to a coupe style car and they too generally have limited room inside and are not suitable for any more than two people. The roof is often made of soft fabric; hence the term soft top, but more expensive convertibles might have hard tops that are folded back by hydraulics.
M.P.V
The term M.P.V, or multi-purpose vehicle, is usually applied to vehicles that have large bodies, like a van, but it still has both rear and side doors. Examples of M.P.V’s are people carriers, minivans, and multi utility vehicles (M.U.V’s). They can often seat as many as seven people and they are also characterised by being higher off the ground than a saloon type of car.
Pickup
Pickup trucks are the type of vehicle that has a flat-bed open space at the rear of the vehicle for carrying luggage and equipment. They are usually large vehicles, often 4×4, and they are designed to carry heavy loads, as well as people.
Off-Road
An off-road vehicle, such as a Land Rover, or a Jeep, will have been designed to be driven on the roads as well as off them. Typically, they will have a 4×4 drive, and the ability to be driven in very low gears, so that they can cope with muddy and difficult terrain.
Avoid Car Repair Scams
The first and most important tip I can give you is to seek recommendations from people that you know before taking your car in for repair. Word of mouth is a very powerful advertising medium and it works both ways, most people will take pleasure in telling you who to avoid if they have had a bad experience with someone in particular. Ask around your workplace, talk to family members, even your Wealthface may be able to shed some light on who will look after your car well and not charge an arm and a leg for it.
Be wary of auto repair workshops that advertise cheap oil changes with a safety check of your vehicle thrown in for free. Sure there is honest mechanics out there that are genuinely concerned for your safety and don’t want to see you driving an unsafe car but there is also some out there that use this tactic to first get you to bring your car to them and then do their best to find thousands of dollars worth of work that just has to be done before you drive the car from the shop. Think about it, in business do you think you would be wise offering something for free if there wasn’t anything in it for you? Even if it is a vehicle safety check that takes half an hour at the most to complete.
The third tip I can give you is to be aware of what parts are being used on your vehicle and the markup that comes with those parts. Many workshops will insist on using genuine parts only, that is parts from the manufacturer of your particular vehicle. Unless your car is still under the factory warranted there is no real reason not to use aftermarket parts when they are available. The aftermarket part is usually a lot cheaper and more often than not the warranted on these parts equals or exceeds the genuine part warranted anyway.
Spare part markup is another area where we can stand to save ourselves some money. When a mechanic buys a part there is a recommended retail price that goes with that part. However that is only a recommended price and if the dishonest mechanic can get away with charging more you can bet your life they will. Before agreeing to having the repair carried out ask your mechanic what markup they charge on their parts and if they are honest they will have no trouble answering your question.
So there you have just a few ways that we can help protect ourselves from car repair scams. I wish I could say that all workshop owners are honest but I can tell you hardly a day went by that we weren’t listening to customers complaining about the price and the service they received from certain mechanics. It is a shame that these people don’t realize that they are shooting themselves in the foot when ripping people off as the word soon gets around and as I said word of mouth is a very powerful advertising tool, both in a positive way and a negative way.
Benefits of Car Leasing
Great choice of vehicle
When buying outright the choice of vehicle is a lot more limited because it needs to be within your affordable price range. But, with car leasing, you aren’t buying outright, so the ability to find a perfect make or model is that much more feasible. If you have been after a particular car for a while, but it has been out of your price range, the option to lease the vehicle may be a great option.
Affordability
The option to lease often removes the concern of taking out a loan or depleting the personals savings. Before signing a contract with a dealer, it is possible to see a full breakdown of future payments including the deposit and monthly fee.
Mechanical issues
With the option to drive a brand new car off the dealership forecourt there is a lower risk of mechanical’s breakdown. A used car with plenty of miles and years on the clock is a significantly greater risk for mechanical issues. Also, the leasing option is certain to be packaged with a vehicle warranty to give the desired protection in the event of unexpected faults. A warranty is a great way to avoid having to spend extra money on repairs or a regular service.
Flexible contracts
Most contracts give a certain degree of flexibility to make it easy to tailor the terms to match the specific needs. For instance, it may be possible to set the preferred time-frame of the contract or the annual mileage. Other options include the ability to include vehicle servicing or maintenance.
Car Shipping Made Easier
Whatever the reason, transporting your vehicle to the final destination rather than driving it over can save both money and time. Finding the right professional transporting company saves you a lot of sweat without the stress or hassle of doing it yourself. Auto transport is now made much easier than before. It can be done in a few simple steps as discussed further.
Shipment Listing
A clear budget estimate has to be prepared first to successfully transport the car. Deciding on the right type of trailer or lorry to load the car depends on the total weight, value, time, and exposure of the vehicle during transportation. Any special conditions for extra care have to be mentioned earlier. One of the main components in calculating the cost of car shipping is the distance involved. Also, taller and longer cars need additional adjustments and are more expensive.
Two car transport alternatives are available such as enclosed or open. The enclosed option is ideal in the case of luxury vehicles and provides full protection during shipping. In the open transport, the car will be transported on an open or exposed trailer and costs less. If the car is running, loading onto the trailer becomes easier. Otherwise, it requires a winch and other equipment for loading onto the trailer, which increases the Dailyhawker.
Get Multiple Quotes
Once you fill in the vehicle data and your requirements in major professional websites, quotes from auto shipping companies come flooding in. You can share your concerns regarding their insurance, safety, and past experiences. You can also review the profiles of the shipping companies using feedbacks from past customers. Also, photos of the equipment and vehicle used for auto shipping will be shared by top-rated companies. Once you have negotiated the right quote, get the transport contract done.
Shipping and Delivery
The contact details of the shipping company will be provided once the best quote is approved. A direct meeting can be had with the transport company to discuss regarding pick-up, transport, and drop or any additional information required.