Safely Changing Your Vehicle from Mineral to Synthetic Oil

“Oh no! I put synthetic oil in my engine and now my car exploded,” are words the average driver does not want to be in a position to utter. As a result, many drivers staunchly swear by using standard mineral oil in their rides, believing that a switch to synthetic could have some detrimental effect (though perhaps not one so dramatic as an explosion). Some have heard that switching from mineral to synthetic oil could cause an unpleasant shock to their vehicle’s system.

Are the fears of these drivers justified? Is it safe to start using synthetic oil in your vehicle if you haven’t done so before?

Car Care and Maintenance FAQs Video Compilation

Wondering what you should know to be a smart car owner? Courtesy of Consumer Reports, we’ve compiled six videos covering key points to store away in your brain. Check them out below to bring a dose of improvement to your car-owning experience.

Ideal Engine Temperature for Oil Check

Oil is a very important part of an automobile, as it lubricates the machinery inside so that everything can stay in good working order. To ensure your vehicle has enough of this precious slippery juice in its system, it’s a good idea to check your oil from time to time. In fact, Consumer Reports recommends doing so at every other fuel stop. But different opinions abound on the exact conditions under which oil should be checked. One area that seems “hotly” debated is the ideal engine temperature. Should you check your oil with a hot or cold engine?

Crude Vs. Motor Oil

You may hear the word “crude oil” batted around the news from time to time. “Crude oil was spilled here,” or “the prices of crude oil are rising there.” What exactly is crude oil? Is this the same oil that we use in our automobiles?

Windshield Wiper Attachment Instructions

Like headlights, brakes, tires, and many other parts of the automobile, windshield wipers are a necessity that often go taken for granted until they break down. When this sad state of affairs occurs, it’s time to replace your windshield wipers and attach new ones. A service shop can certainly do this for you, but a fair amount of labor costs can be saved by doing it yourself.

How does one replace and attach new windshield wipers to their vehicle?

If your driver-side windshield wiper breaks, one temporary solution could be to put your passenger-side wiper over onto the driver side. Is this possible? Are left and right windshield wipers the same, or are there differences between them?

Soft Touch vs Touch-Free Car Washes

Have you ever heard horror stories about local car washes leaving scratches on vehicles and decided then and there to avoid ever going near it? Or maybe you prefer to wash your vehicle at home but would like a more convenient wash option as well. This guide is going to breakdown the pros and cons of both soft touch and touch-free car washes to help you find the wash that is right for you and your vehicle. Check out the info below before letting a friend’s horror story keep you out of your local car wash.  Read the rest of this entry >>