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Many Different Oils-For the DIY Motorist

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Many Different Oils

Many Different Oils

Many Different Oils
Many Different Oils

The Challenge of DIY Oil Changes:

Getting Through the Maze of Modern Engine Oils


An oil change is no longer a simple Sunday afternoon job that requires a spanner, an oil pan, and a little elbow grease. Today’s engine lubricants are as diverse and sophisticated as the engines they lubricate. For many UK motorists, particularly those who enjoy doing their own car maintenance, this intricacy can make a normal oil change difficult.

The Evolution of Engine Oil: More Than Just Slick-Many Different Oils


Engine oils have changed dramatically, thanks in large part to developments in vehicle technology. Modern engines are intended to be more efficient, perform better, and be more eco-friendly. This means they need oils that can handle higher temperatures, lower pollutants, enhance fuel economy, and safeguard modern engine components.

The variety of lubricants available in the United Kingdom, where cars from Europe, Asia, and America may be found, is not only enormous but also overwhelming. Full synthetic oils, synthetic blends, and high-mileage oils are all designed to fulfil certain engine requirements and manufacturer specifications.

Many Different Oils
© Can Stock Photo / romarti

Why is choosing the right oil so important?


Engine Compatibility: Modern engines frequently require specific types of oil to function efficiently. Using the incorrect type might result in lower performance, higher wear and tear, and possibly severe engine damage. Many contemporary turbocharged engines in Halifax and around the UK, for example, require synthetic oils since they can withstand higher temperatures better than conventional oils.

Warranty Requirements: Many car manufacturers now require the usage of specified oil types in their owner’s manuals to maintain warranty coverage. This implies that a simple trip to your local Halfords for any old oil will not be enough; you need the perfect match for your make and model.

Technological Additives: Many Different Oils contain a variety of additives that protect and improve engine performance. These additions include detergents to clean the engine, antioxidants to prevent oxidation, and viscosity modifiers to ensure the oil’s performance in severe temperatures.

The Local Perspective: A Halifax Tale. Many Different Oils


In Halifax, where the weather changes as frequently as the local bus schedule, selecting the correct engine oil is very important. Cold starts in snowy Yorkshire winters necessitate an oil that will flow freely at low temperatures, whereas stop-start traffic in urban areas during a rare British heat necessitates an oil that will not thin down unduly.

Is making DIY oil changes a dying art?


With the increasing complexity of oil types and blends, combined with technological developments in automobile engines, the art of DIY oil changes is getting increasingly difficult. This isn’t only a question of pride for enthusiasts; it’s also about extending the life and efficiency of your car.

For many of us in the UK, stopping by the local garage in Halifax is becoming increasingly appealing. Not only does it eliminate the effort of deciphering complex oil specs, but it also assures that your favourite motor receives exactly what it requires. Plus, it’s always a good idea to talk with your mechanic about the latest car technology and the best routes to take for a weekend trip in the Dales.

Wrapping it up. Many Different Oils


While DIY oil changes are no longer as popular as they once were, they are far from extinct. For those who still enjoy delving under the hood, the key is comprehensive research and perhaps a conversation with a knowledgeable friend or a reputable mechanic. Remember that the appropriate oil can have a significant impact on the health and performance of your vehicle.

So, whether you’re taking your car to the garage or doing an oil change in your driveway, make sure you’re using the proper oil in your engine. After all, in a country known for its rich history and ongoing innovation, keeping our transportation system operating smoothly is simply expected!

mot testing and car servicing

Car Servicing Cold Weather

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Car Servicing Cold Weather

Car Servicing Cold Weather
Car Servicing Cold Weather

Car Servicing Cold Weather

Of course, sometimes I think that we can be lucky. Especially with the winter weather that we experience here in the UK. As we all know, most winters are a mixture of mild weather with cold spells in between. We certainly don’t get the extreme conditions seen in the USA. Including the  ten foot of snow, followed by temperature of 18 C. Causing the snow to melt and then flooding.

So, I know that the winter months are very good for garages. Especially as the winter approaches and the freezing conditions cause many problems for Halifax UK motorists.

This original post was written by me during the winter of 2014-2015.

Subsequently, it was the usual mixture of cold and mild weather. Both of which could affect your car. Mostly if it has not been properly maintained. Sooner or later, many motorists have now taken heed of the motor trade’s continuous publicity. Firstly, about the advantages of winter tyres and how they have now reaped rewards. Consequently, millions of motorists are now fitting award-winning Falken Winter Tyres to their cars. Of course, this will provide a much safer winter experience for them and other road users.

Pre-winter car servicing can beat off problems- Car Servicing Cold Weather

As I have mentioned above, winter tyres are an important part of your car’s safety, but other things are also important to have checked. I will start off with your window washer bottle. Make sure that you use a high-concentrate wiper fluid when filling the washer bottle. try not to be tempted to buy the really cheap stuff. There is nothing worse than your windscreen freezing because the washer water is made of a weak concentrate.

Check out your antifreeze levels and top them up with the right coloured coolant and antifreeze. Check the instructions on the bottle. Of course, to get the correct mix,. Also, make a note of when your antifreeze was last changed. In a word, every couple of years should be the right time to have it changed. Wiper blades are also worth checking, but these will be changed if your car has a pre-winter servicing checkout.

Oil too can be affected by temperature changes. Engine servicing could solve this problem

In my opinion, the UK climate is very changeable. But it does not get enough extremes to warrant changing your engine oil in a hot or cold climate. If you are not sure, then your car manual will give you the relevant information. Including the different viscosities that you may require. So, if you are heading for a very cold country or a hot country,.

Brake and clutch fluid can also be affected by extreme cold weather. If you carry out  regular car servicing. Then you will not need to worry about the fluid and will just have it topped up at your local garage.

Also, as I have said in other blogs,. So,  it is important that you carry an emergency kit in the car boot, including jump cables and a portable shovel.

Your lights are also very important. How many cars do we see driving about on one headlight? I think that they look like motorcycles when I see them coming towards me, and it can be very off-putting, so always check your lights at regular intervals all year round, but because of the short daylight hours, check them more regularly.

Car Servicing Cold Weather
Car Servicing Cold Weather
As a garage owner, I know only too well that the winter weather can bring all sorts of misery to your vehicles

Fortunately, for us garage owners, winter is perhaps our busiest time of year. So why not winter service your car and eliminate many of the problems that the cold weather will bring you? Only last week, one of our customers who is a courier driver, using his own transit van, noticed that his van had started to cut out when driving along.

This was after a very cold, frosty night and his van also started to overheat. He rang us up and we suggested that he should come in straight away to prevent any damage to his engine.

When he arrived the first thing that we did was to check his radiator water for antifreeze. Car Servicing Cold Weather

Sure enough the radiator was full but the colour of the liquid was very pale. So, indicating a lack of antifreeze. In fact this was the problem. Because, of the lack of antifreeze the water pump had frozen. Including, the splines connecting it to the power steering pump shearing off.

This would have been prevented if the mixture in the radiator had been checked and made up to the correct level of antifreeze. The water pump was changed, albeit in a very tight and awkward place in the engine and the guy went about his business delivering parcels.

This is just an example of what can go wrong in differing winter weather, so a little checking or servicing could in the long run save you pounds by the end of the winter.