How To Deal With Frequent Engine oil Changes?

VEHICLE ENGINE OIL

Q: Own few different vehicles and these are its oil details.
My oil of choice is Quaker State with AC/Delco filters. I drive one of our cars eighty miles per day and change both the filter and oil at 3000 miles, 1.5 months. The other is around town and it gets changed at 3000 miles, the 3-month mark. The last one is a ‘72 Corvette, engine overhauled just before I purchased the car 5 years ago. This one I change the oil and filter when it's placed in winter storage. The Corvette is driven anywhere from 1.5k to 2k miles per summer. The oil is changed once per year. How should the classic car owner handle oil changes? I've never used full synthetic oil in any of my cars and would like to know your thoughts about this issue, pros and cons. In what conditions would you recommend the use of full synthetic oils. Should you upgrade to high efficient filters when using the synthetics?


A: At our Auto garage we make the use of synthetic engine oils and as a mechanic i myself also use them in my owned vehicles. But with that said, what you have been using (regular engine oil) is a cost effective and has been proven over the long haul. There are many vehicles on the road with over 200k miles that have used regular engine oil. I feel that the maintenance choice that you have made on your primary vehicles is sound. About the only thing I would do different with the Corvette is change the oil a minimum of 2 times a year. Why? The inside of the engine, even when the vehicle is not being driven, is a chemical lab at work. The oil that is in the engine is being assaulted in a variety of ways that causes the additive packages to break down and reduce the protection.

As per my auto garage repair experience i suggest, when you first bring your Corvette out for summer fun give it a good drive and really warm the engine up. Then shut the engine down and drain the oil immediately. Running the engine causes the oil to pick-up contaminants that have formed over the winter and suspend them in the oil. Draining the oil while it is hot proves to be more effective at removing these contaminants. Then install fresh oil and a new filter for the summer.

Electro chemical Degradation Causes Cooling System Failure

Cooling System Failure on  Chevy Vehicle

 Q: Mechanic said  electrochemical degradation causing cooling system failure. It seems to be a hidden problem with some vehicles which causes radiator failure. I read a car-care article describing how to check for stray voltage using a DVM. So I took some measurements. I put the negative probe on the engine ground and positive in the coolant of the surge tank of my 2005 Chevy Equinox. I measured +200mVDC with the engine off and about +240mVDC with it running. The engine was only cool to warm when I did this cautiously. Is this too high of a voltage? Will this cause problems with my cooling system in the future? What can I do if it is a problem?

A: First Off all i will say, Electrochemical degradation of the cooling system is a problem in today’s vehicles; this chemical reaction is called electrolysis.


What is Electrolysis the details are a follows:---

Electrolysis involves an ion exchange between the coolant and the components that the coolant contacts, which eats away at the heater core, radiator and engine material. The most common cause for this condition is due to coolant acidity. Also bad electrical grounds on the engine or body of the vehicle can create this erosive condition.

I suggest yo to properly test.
To correctly check for the potential of electrolysis the engine has to be running, at about 2000 RPM, at operating temperature with the coolant flowing or the readings will not be correct. Place the negative probe of the voltmeter on the negative battery post and place the positive probe in the coolant.

Make sure that the positive probe is only touching the coolant. If the voltmeter displays 400mv (.4v) DC or greater then the cooling system needs to be flushed. After flushing the system be sure to check the coolant again. It is not uncommon to have to flush the coolant more than once to sufficiently cleanse the system. If an elevated voltage is still present then the electrical system of the vehicle has to be checked for ground integrity. I’ve even seen the need for additional grounding straps to get an electrically challenged vehicle back in line.

Consequences of using wrong fuel

Wrong Gas fill up in Car

Q: What are the consequences when you inadvertently pumped diesel fuel into an automobile gasoline tank. I have been told this happens frequently.Any quick fix when these occurs?

A: The biggest problem I’ve seen is a headache. Why a headache? Because the driver of the vehicle doesn't happen to mention as I am going bats trying to diagnose a starting and rough running problem that they PUT THE WRONG FUEL IN!! Oh, "I didn’t think I put that much in so I didn’t think is was worth mentioning". In our region even the diesel fuel pumps have the same size nozzles as the unleaded fuel pumps.

But in real,yes this does happen. When it does happen, the best and quickest fix is to drain the gas tank. It doesn't take much diesel fuel to really screw up today’s computerized vehicle’s. Not saying anything is just going to cost you labor$ until you tell the whole true.

Vehicle Computer Module Reset

How to Reset ECM/ECU

Car Computer Reset Or Car Computer Software Reset


Q: Options for dumping the computer by taking the negative terminal off and touching it to the positive for 20 seconds to clear the computer of any stored codes. If so, will a vehicle that’s equipped with air bags, possibly deploy the air bag?

A: Actually it’s a common practice to disconnect both battery terminals and not only hold them together but to connect them for the duration of the service being performed. For example when servicing the air bags some vehicles require the battery cables being joined for 15 minutes to a half hour before performing service or repairs that involve the air bag system. It is not uncommon for today’s vehicles to have several computers on-board. Inside the computers there are capacitors that will hold/store electrical energy. Connecting the battery cables provides a means of dissipating this stored energy without causing any harm. In most cases (not all vehicles) the software to operate the systems is not volatile and will be safely retained in the computer/s. If you have an anti-theft radio be sure you have the radio code so it can be reactivated.

What is Maintenance Free Car Batteries

Details regarding car battery 

Q: Do today's car batteries need distilled water added periodically or are they truly "maintenance free"? Thanks.


A: There are many good brand auto batteries available in market. Car batteries  from Walmart stores are preferred most.Also you can get batteries from Autozone service centers.
Not all of today's batteries are truly "Maintenance Free", although you will find the term applied to almost every battery sold. A large portion of batteries still provide a point to inspect and, if necessary, add water to the battery cells. "Maintenance Free" means you don't have to worry about it until it breaks.

Adding Fuel Additive to Fuel System

IS IT GOOD TO ADD FUEL ADDITIVE

Can Fuel Additive Kill a Fuel System? Yes OR No?

Q: Actually I added some STP "Jet Fuel" fuel additive to my vehicles fuel system. And since after that my fuel pump goes out. Is this a problem with the additive or a coincidence?  PleaseHelp!!!!!!!!!!!!

A: Its not good to be applying mechanic tricks without mechanical knowledge.
Why did you add the fuel treatment? Did you feel that your vehicle wasn't running right? I often find that customers, who normally do not use fuel additives, will suddenly change their habits when their vehicle doesn't seem to be running right. More often than not, this is a reaction to a problem that is surfacing with a vehicle, but has not fully manifested itself. Fuel additives such as STP’s Jet Fuel as with other such additives are meant to be used as maintenance products. These additives are not meant to repair a part that is failing. Their job is to help clean and maintain engine performance. There is no doubt in my mind that your vehicle’s fuel pump was failing. It is just a coincidence and nothing more.

Buick Alternator Makes Taping Noise

Noisy Alternator

Buick LeSabre, Failing Alternators 

Q: My Buick LeSabre is making a loud tapping noise. As per noise it appears to be coming from the alternator. The alternator has been replaced twice since 1997. Could it be the alternator again? Or its something else?

A: It can be again alternator.But to confirm the problem,you have to first check it.Try these simple test.
Remove the serpentine belt and spin the alternator by hand to check for bearing problems, etc. If the alternator is the cause then it will have to be replaced again. Be sure to check the mounting bolts and brackets for looseness or wear that would cause mounting strain on the alternator. Also be sure that the automatic belt tensioner is not binding. A failing tensioner can raise havoc with belt driven accessories.