Page loading ... Please wait.

(ARA) - For years, drivers have been hearing about changing their motor oil every 3,000 miles, but times have changed, and the '3,000-mile mantra' may or may not apply to you and your car.

The 3,000 mile oil change is a conservative approach to maintaining your vehicle that, according to General Motors, dates back to 1968. It's also an oil change interval that continues to be encouraged by the automotive oil change industry.

Automobile manufacturers cite modern oil and engine technology as the reason why oil change intervals can be extended. Numerous factors come in to play in determining the oil change interval you should follow including: The car you drive and the way you drive it, oil and filter selection and whether your vehicle has an oil life monitoring system.

Every automobile manufacturer establishes recommended oil change intervals for each model they manufacture. Oil change intervals are now between 5,000 and 7,500 miles for many new cars.

You should follow your car manufacturer's recommendations on oil change intervals while the car is under warranty. If your car is no longer under warranty, you can extend your oil change intervals by upgrading to synthetic motor oil. This will reduce the number of oil changes saving you time and money, and reducing the amount of oil purchased and disposed.

There are a number of quality synthetic motor oils available to choose from. Most lubricant manufacturers will give a recommended number of miles you can drive between oil changes under normal conditions. The number of miles you can allow between oil changes will depend on the way you drive and the oxidation stability (useful oil life) of the motor oil.

Oxidation stability can be measured by international standards board ASTM's rigorous Thin Film Oxidation Uptake Test (TFOUT). The test is so severe that it lasts 1,300 minutes. Conventional motor oils typically last less than 300 minutes. Synthetic motor oils typically last less than 500 minutes. One high performance synthetic motor oil, Royal Purple has been shown to outlast the duration of the test. Royal Purple motor oils are recommended to extend oil changes intervals to as much as 12,000 miles under normal driving conditions. The motor oil has also been shown to improve fuel economy. You can find out more at www.royalpurple.com.

If you elect to upgrade your motor oil, you should also upgrade your oil filter. Low quality filters are often made with the 3,000 mile interval in mind and may go into 'bypass' mode shortly thereafter. There are a number of premium oil filters on the market from manufacturers such as Wix, Purolator and Royal Purple. Check the recommended filter change interval on any filter your purchase.

A fairly new technology impacting oil change intervals is the 'oil life monitor.' Many people are unaware that oil life monitor systems are simply computer software algorithms that determine when to change oil based on engine operating conditions. An oil life monitor looks at mileage, speed and idling time to calculate when you should change the oil. A better name for the oil life monitor might be 'oil life predictor.'

There is no actual oil condition sensor or a chemical analysis of the oil. In fact, you could drain the oil and replace it with any fluid and the oil change monitor would have no way of knowing it. Additionally, the oil life monitor does not monitor how well your oil filter is filtering the oil in your system. Contaminated oil is just as, if not more harmful than oxidized motor oil. The bottom line is that an oil life monitor is a useful tool that should be used in concert with common sense and good judgment.

Whether or not you have an oil change monitor, if your car is still under warranty, stick with the car manufacturer's recommended oil change intervals. If your car is no longer under warranty, you can go beyond the typical 3,000 mile oil change or beyond the oil change monitor's recommendations by upgrading to a high performance synthetic motor oil and high performance oil filter.

Courtesy of ARA Content - You should follow us on Twitter

(ARA) - Americans will try anything to keep themselves feeling young - mind, body and spirit. From vitamin supplements and organic diets, to hiring personal trainers - the desire to live younger for longer continues to be a growing fixation and billion dollar business.

Linda Quirk, a 56-year-old marathon runner who recently completed a marathon on each of the seven continents in 11 months, understands the importance of running younger for longer. Linda ran around the globe to raise $1 million and awareness for Caron Treatment Centers - a network of addiction treatment and recovery facilities . To help her complete her mission of raising funds and with the support of BP and BP gasoline with Invigorate - an additive which helps cars run younger for longer, Quirk is now training to attempt to become the first woman to complete the "4 Deserts" in under a year - a series of four, seven day and 155-mile footraces across some of the most daunting deserts on Earth.

"For me, running these extreme missions helps me stay younger for longer," says Quirk. "Running fuels my life and keeps me feeling my best. For others, it may be swimming, yoga or walking. Whatever the case, you have to find time to do the exercises and activities that you're passionate about."

To keep your body running younger for longer, Quirk recommends these tips:

Partner up: Find a friend to be your training buddy or sign up for fitness classes to help meet your fitness goals and keep you on track. It's easier to stick to your fitness schedule if you have someone to join the experience and helps you stay accountable if you miss a class.

Fuel up with the right nutrients: Simply because your cardio workouts are increasing your body's metabolism, that doesn't mean you can eat whatever you want. Eating a balanced diet of carbohydrates, protein, good fats and fiber is always going to be the best way to fuel your body - no matter how hard you are working out.

This same principle should be applied to your car. In fact, filling up with a high-quality fuel like BP gasoline with Invigorate can help cars run younger for longer. BP gasoline with Invigorate is a unique formula that helps clean and protect vital engine parts to help restore fuel economy lost to a dirty engine, so your car could get a few more miles per tank.

Embrace your age: As your body ages, it's important to pay attention to how it responds during any new physical activities. The older your body gets, the more you need to ease it into any new fitness regimens. This will help you reduce the risk of over-training. Be sure to incorporate the use of gentler exercises - when necessary - like swimming or the elliptical machine.

Post-workout care: After completing a workout routine, remember to keep moving to allow the blood in the body's muscles to circulate back to the heart. If your leg muscles experience soreness after a lower body workout, take an ice bath to instantly reduce any inflammation in the legs. Finally, be proud of your achievement.

To keep track of Linda's "4 Deserts" mission and to learn more about BP gasoline with Invigorate, visit www.bpinvigorate.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent - You should follow us on Twitter

(ARA) - If you can't see, you can't be safe behind the wheel. Yet millions of American motorists drive on winter roads peering through windshields that probably haven't had proper care and cleaning since spring.

Just as you make sure your vehicle's engine and tires are ready for winter roads, you need to care for your windshield as well. After all, the best tires and engine are useless if you can't see well enough to drive. So as summer gives way to fall, take a few extra moments to ensure your vision through the windshield is as good as possible.

Keep it clean

Does it seem like cleaning the windshield is more dreadful than cleaning the windows of your house? After all, your house doesn't move through a minefield of insects, dust, dirt and airborne road debris at 60-plus mph the way your car does. Gook smeared on your windshield at those speeds can be downright difficult to scrape off.

But scrape you must - or at least clean with a powerful agent like Invisible Glass Premium Windshield Cleaner & Rain Repellent. Designed to leave your windshield so clean it seems invisible, Invisible Glass also adds in a repellent to help shed rain and moisture from the windshield.

Clean, clear, streak-free glass and water repellent properties ensure you'll have maximum visibility in any kind of weather - rain, snow or shine. What's more, your wipers will work better and you won't have to buff to achieve clear, clean glass. Visit www.InvisibleGlass.com to learn more.

Don't crack up

Even the most cautious driver can be on the receiving end of a stone thrown into the air by the tires of another vehicle. When your windshield chips or cracks, it's important to take care of it before the minor flaw develops into a major problem. Most small chips and cracks can be filled with a special compound that bonds to the glass, making the chip virtually invisible and ensuring it won't "spiderweb" into a larger crack.

You don't need to hire a professional to repair a chip. You can do the job yourself. Stoner, makers of Invisible Glass and other car care products favored by auto enthusiasts, also offers a windshield repair kit on its Web site that makes preserving your glass and preventing cracks a simple process. It's well worth the minor investment of time and money to prevent greater damage that could require you to replace the entire windshield.

Take care of yourself

The best way to stay safe on winter roads is to stay off them, whenever possible. But if you absolutely must drive in snowy conditions, always turn on your headlights - but not high beams, which will simply reflect up into falling snow and blind you. Turn off the radio or CD player and use your sense of hearing to listen for other vehicles - you might be able to hear them before you see them if falling snow obscures your vision.

If you wear glasses or contact lenses, make sure the prescription is up to date and the lenses are in good condition. If you must drive in snow, make sure you are rested and give yourself plenty of extra time to get to your destination, so you can go slowly and safely.

To learn more about improving your vision through a clean windshield, visit www.InvisibleGlass.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent - You should follow us on Twitter

(ARA) - The average car and light truck on American roads has reached a record age of 9.4 years, according to a recent survey by R.L. Polk & Co. With new car sales down, consumers across the country are looking to get the most out of their existing cars and to save money whenever possible.

However, spending a little more today on the right maintenance routine with quality products and trusted service technicians can help save money over the long run. Alan Taylor, host of the nationally syndicated show Car & Driver Radio, offers the following simple checklist of tips motorists should perform to help keep their vehicles running longer, safer and more cost-effectively:

Motor oil really does matter
Beyond regular, specified oil changes, automobile manufacturers recommend the use of high-quality motor oils that meet the latest American Petroleum Institute (API) specifications in their particular grade. Consumers should ask for quality motor oils by name because they are formulated to meet the demands of today's engines. Using a quality motor oil in the right grade can help maximize fuel economy, and help save money by preventing costly engine damage. A new, informative Web site - www.MotorOilMatters.org - answers many motor oil questions and dispels many common myths.

Regular preventive maintenance pays off
Most vehicle manufacturers have two classifications for driving conditions, "normal" and "severe," which they use to recommend how often drivers should have services such as oil changes performed on their vehicle. A driving habits survey conducted for Jiffy Lube found that more than 92 percent of motorists drive in what vehicle manufacturers consider "severe" conditions.

Regardless of the driving conditions, it's important that people follow their vehicle manufacturer's maintenance recommendations. Keeping a vehicle on its proper preventive maintenance schedule will help keep it running smoothly. For instance, the minimal investment of an oil change (generally $25-$35 for a Jiffy Lube Signature Service Oil Change with conventional oil) can help drivers avoid potentially more costly repairs down the road.

Driving style can make a big difference
Aggressive driving wastes gas and can reduce gas mileage by 33 percent on the highway and 5 percent in the city, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Avoid quick or "jackrabbit" starts and stops, and observe the posted speed limits as gas mileage decreases rapidly above 60 mph.

Motorists should plan their route in advance and combine as many errands as possible to minimize time on the road. Especially on longer trips, drivers should take advantage of the cruise control feature if they have it - an Edmunds.com study revealed that using cruise control at highway speeds offered an average fuel economy savings of 7percent.

Use a high-quality gasoline
All gasolines are not the same, and no matter what grade of fuel a vehicle requires, it's important to use a high-quality gasoline. Industry research confirms that a clean engine can result in better fuel efficiency, reduced emissions and overall optimal engine performance. Fortunately, keeping the engine clean of performance-robbing "gunk" helps it perform better and is as easy as choosing the right gasoline. For example, Shell Nitrogen Enriched Gasolines contain a patented cleaning system that seeks and destroys engine gunk left behind by lower-quality gasoline.

Don't lose your grip
Tires are a car's only connection to the road, so making sure they are in good shape and properly inflated is essential for automotive safety, optimum driving performance and potential cost savings, including better fuel mileage. Tires should be inflated to the vehicle manufacturer's recommendations printed on the vehicle door placard or in the owner's manual. Properly inflated tires can improve gas mileage by around 3.3 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Energy

Watch the weight
If it's not needed, don't take it. Check the vehicle on a regular basis and remove all unnecessary items. Every additional 100 pounds in the trunk could reduce the typical car's fuel economy by up to 2 percent, the Department of Energy reports.

Let the car breathe free
Check that the air filter isn't clogged. Replacing a clogged air filter can improve a car's gas mileage by as much as 10 percent. And it won't just save money; it will also help protect the engine by keeping harmful impurities out.

Regular tune ups pay off over the long term
Before taking that long trip, motorists should visit a trusted professional and make sure their car is properly tuned. Depending on the kind of repair and how well it is performed, regular vehicle maintenance can improve gas mileage by an average of 4 percent, according to the Department of Energy.

For more information as well as helpful tips and advice, visit www.MotorOilMatters.org or www.fueleconomy.gov.

Courtesy of ARAcontent - You should follow us on Twitter

(ARA) - Despite advanced self-diagnosing technology, customers and auto repair shop operators still need to engage in good, old-fashioned communication, according to the experts at the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, the non-profit group that tests and certifies the competence of automotive technicians.

"Motorists drive their cars every day. They know in their bones how it feels and sounds when everything is right," says Martin Lawson, editorial director for ASE. "You can be your auto technician's 'go-to' source for pertinent information."

Here's a quick run down of what you need to know and what you need to communicate in order to make the repair process go smoothly. Follow these tips for better car care.

Do your homework before taking your vehicle in for repairs or service:

* Read the owner's manual to learn about the vehicle's systems and components.
* Follow the recommended service schedules.
* Keep a log of all repairs and service.

Use all your senses to inspect your car regularly. Check for:

* Unusual sounds, odors, drips, leaks, smoke, warning lights and gauge readings.
* Changes in acceleration, engine performance, gas mileage and fluid levels.
* Worn tires, belts and hoses.
* Problems in handling, braking, steering and vibrations.

Note when the problem occurs:

* Is it constant or periodic?
* When the vehicle is cold or after the engine has warmed up?
* At all speeds? Only under acceleration? During braking? When shifting?
* When did the problem first start?

Once you are at the repair establishment, communicate your findings. Be prepared to describe the symptoms. Carry a written list of the symptoms that you can give to the service consultant or mechanic (often called an auto technician nowadays).

Resist the temptation to suggest a specific course of repair. Just as you would with your family doctor, tell where it hurts and how long it's been that way, but let the technician diagnose and recommend a remedy.

Stay involved and ask questions.
Ask as many questions as you need. Do not be embarrassed to request simple definitions of technical terms. Avoid shops that refuse to communicate or where you feel you are being patronized.

Don't rush the shop to make an on-the-spot diagnosis. Ask to be called and apprised of the problem, course of action, and costs before work begins. Before you leave, be sure you understand shop policies regarding fees, guarantees, and acceptable methods of payment.

If you do have problems, or the service was subpar in your opinion, schedule a time to meet with the owner or manager. Professionally run establishments will try to resolve legitimate consumer complaints.

Reward good service with customer loyalty. To learn more about how to communicate with your mechanic, how to find a good repair shop and for seasonal car care tips, visit www.ase.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent - You should follow us on Twitter