Misconceptions on Engine Oil Change

When it comes to keeping our car running, we need to conduct preventive maintenance. Changing your engine oil is one of the most important part of car maintenance routine. It is where you change your dirty engine oil and replace it with clean oil. But there are some misconceptions about the process which we’ll debunk and tackle for today.

Myth # 1 Thicker Motor Brings Extra Protection

The thickness of the motor oil doesn’t indicate wear protection. An additive called ZZDP or Zinc is the main formula that protects the engine from wear. Motor oil that is too thick can cause decrease in engine performance in some cases. Many vehicle manufacturers are now recommending vehicle owners to use motor oil that isn’t too thick for better economy.

Myth # 2 Change the Oil Immediately if it’s Black

Oxidation is the main reason why your engine oil is turning black. If your engine is exposed to high temperatures, the motor oil darkens rapidly. The motor oil also darkens because it absorbs by product from combustions. The dark colour doesn’t mean that you need to change oil immediately, it is better to have a qualified mechanic to check the vehicle first.

Myth # 3 Synthetic Oil is more slippery and Causes engines to leak

This myth began to circulate when synthetic oil was brought out in the market in the 1970’s due to the misunderstanding of the product. Well, this myth isn’t true.

Myth # 4 Don’t switch between synthetic and conventional motor oil

It is okay to switch back and forth between conventional and synthetic oil. Also, motor oils that are labeled as synthetic blends are already a blend of both conventional and synthetic oil. Check the owner’s manual for your vehicle for recommendations.

It’s always safest to consult your trusted mechanic for advice and check-ups, on oil changes and other vehicle maintenance matters.  N & V Automatics in Seaford, Melbourne can help you keep your vehicle running like a well-oiled machine. We specialise in transmission servicing and transmission preventive maintenance. 

Transmission Repairs Jobs

Transmission Repairs Jobs

Having transmission problems but worried about the cost of repair?  Well don’t, not all transmission repairs are expensive. Today, we’ll be discussing several problems we encounter within our automatic transmission repair shop.

Low Transmission Fluid Levels and Leaks

Transmission leaks will eventually cause your transmission fluid to run low. This, is by far the most common problem we encounter in our shop. Leaks can be caused by several things and a certified transmission mechanic should be consulted in order to determine the exact cause.

Some leaks are minor and require a new seal at the shifting linkage, or a drain plug may be loose and needs to be tightened. Other causes include a loose filter tube, or the coolant line may have sprung a leak and need replacement.

Looking under the car to locate where the leak is coming from is the first step. If you see that the leak is coming from around the pan on the bottom then it’s time to change your filter and gasket. If the fluid comes from the front or the back of the transmission, it is probably leaking from the main seal, which may need to be replaced immediately.  

Transmission Noises

Transmission noises are signs of a problem inside your transmission and calling in some transmission experts to check on your transmission is essential to avoid the possibility of increasing cost of repair. Another sign of an automatic vehicle transmission problems is the delay in the movement when you shift your vehicle.  This should also be investigated immediately.  

Shaking and Grinding

If you start your engine and you feel that your car is shaking or grinding, there might be a problem with your transmission. Grinding and shaking are indicators that your transmission isn’t working well and needs attention right away.

As with many mechanical problems, deferring investigation of transmission issues can lead to much higher repair costs than a repair made early on.  Do you need help from experts? Call N & V automatics today to book an inspection and quote.  We specialise in automatic transmissions and offer professional services that will suit all your transmission needs. 

Changing your Engine Oil

Changing your engine oil is essential to keep our vehicle running smoothly. When that time comes, there are three choices; ignore the problem, change the engine oil yourself or go to your trusted mechanic to do the job. It’s tempting to do it yourself, right? But here’s what experts has to say about changing your oil.

Why is it important for us to change oil?

There are important task your motor oil is doing for your vehicle. First, it lubricates the engine to keep it working smoothly. Second, it acts as a cooling agent keeping the engine at optimal level and keeping it from overheating. Lastly, it prevents harmful substance from accumulating and sludging up your engine.

Changing your motor oil prevents damage and offers additional benefits like fuel economy and convenience.

Professionals are trained to do this 

                                

Changing your engine oil is a dangerous task and can damage your vehicle if not done properly. Improper disposal of the dirty motor oil can also be dangerous to you and the environment. Amateurs are likely to commit mistakes such as using the wrong motor oil, overlooking engine leaks or cross threading the filter.

Changing Engine Oil isn’t Easy

Changing oil can be tricky especially when dealing with an old vehicle. You can avoid the inconvenience and mess by having a professional take care of it.

How often you should change your oil?

The standard recommendation is to change oil about every 3000 miles to 4000 miles. Others recommend every 3 months depending on how you use your vehicle. However you shouldn’t have to undergo change oil frequently because of the advancements in vehicles and motor oil. Technicians will be able to estimate if your oil will need to be changed based on the condition of your vehicle and your engine oil. 

Importance of Transmission Coolers

Transmission overheating is a major problem for vehicle owners. The ideal temperature for a transmission is under 75 degrees and every increase can cause serious problems. To prevent this from happening, vehicle owners may choose to install an auxiliary oil cooler for the transmission fluid.

Most automatic cars comes with a separate heat exchanger for the oil, close to the radiator. Given the temperature of the radiator, a short cycle through this heat exchanger doesn’t reduce the temperature of the automatic transmission fluid.

However, if you are using your vehicle to tow a trailer, boat, caravan, etc. It may be better to install an auxiliary transmission fluid cooler on your vehicle. During the process of towing, the vehicle’s transmission takes extra stress, which raises the temperature of the transmission resulting to overheating. Due to the high temperature, the transmission fluid becomes viscous and doesn’t perform its job of lubricating and cooling the transmission. This can reduce the life span of the other parts of the vehicle.

Installing an auxiliary cooler for your transmission can keep the fluid cool and at optimum temperature. These coolers reduce the temperature by between a third and half the time the fluid enters the cooler to when it goes back inside the transmission.

What kind of transmission cooler do you need?

The bigger the better. The larger the cooler, the better in lowering transmission fluid temperature. The plate coolers and the fin offer a large area to cool transmission fluid faster and better.

Aside from having a transmission cooler, a responsible vehicle owner should be able to do preventive maintenance for their vehicle. If you are experiencing signs of transmission slipping or any other transmission problems, don’t hesitate to get your vehicle and your transmission checked by some experts or your trusted mechanic.

How to Save Fuel

The price of petrol and diesel will continue to rise and because of that, we’ve compiled tips for to help you minimize your fuel consumption and save your back pocket.

1.       Avoid Idling

Idling your car for a long period of time and doing stuff like pulling off the road to make a phone call or waiting for someone while the engine is on can consume a lot of fuel. Stopping the engine whenever you stop or held for a period of time can save you.

2.       Eliminate Unnecessary Weight

Vehicles gets better mileage when they are not loaded with unnecessary weight. For some vehicle owners, they store items like golf clubs, sports equipment, luggage, etc. that accumulates weight. We suggest that you clear your vehicle with items that you don’t need for the trip.

3.       Check your tires

If your tire pressure is lower, the vehicle requires more fuel to move. We recommend that your car has the right tire pressure and alignment.

4.       Minimize or Turn Off your Air Conditioning

The air conditioning system of your car uses extra fuel when operating. It drains power from the engine, making the engine work harder, hence more fuel consumption. We recommend that you only use your air conditioner when needed. This can reduce fuel consumption about 5 to 20 percent depending on how the vehicle is driven.

5.       Observe the Speed Limit

Observing the speed limit on the road can save you fuel and even your life. Fuel consumption increases significantly over 90km/h. If your car is fitted with cruise control system, using it during driving in highways can help maintain speed which saves fuel.

6.       Preventive Maintenance

Proper maintenance of your vehicle gives you better fuel economy. For example, check on your wheel alignment, keep the filter clean, change your oil every 3000 to 5000 miles, change your transmission fluid, etc. Get your car checked and maintained as per the user manual of the vehicle recommended.

What is Transmission Flush?

Transmission maintenance is important for a vehicle to work properly. However, owners often neglect the given maintenance routine until serious problems occur. Signs like odd noises and gear shifting issues should be checked immediately by your local transmission shop.

Transmission flushing is a process where the transmission oil is removed through a machine to extract the dirt and sludge before adding new and clean transmission oil. The manufacturer’s recommendation (refer to manual) should be followed to the regularity with which transmission flushes should be performed. It is often performed every 50,000 kilometers but circumstances like towing, overloading, regular challenging terrain or constant stop/start travel needs regular transmission flushing to help extend the life of your transmission.

How does transmission flushing work?

Before the process of transmission flushing works, the technician will test the vehicle to identify other types of problems. They would also check the vehicle for external leaks.

Regulate machine are connected to the cooler lines and this will allow the fluids to flow into the machine. The line out from the machine is connected to the cooler allowing it to transfer the new fluid inside the transmission.

To complete the service, the technician will also remove the pan to inspect the old oil to look for signs and issues that may occur in the future. The old transmission oil and residue will tell you about the condition of your transmission. Transmissions can clog when the residue from the pan is sucked up into the filter. If this continue, the pump will eventual be starved for fluid. This leads to heat and friction build-up due to less lubrication.

Always refer to your manual to determine when to book in for transmission maintenance. Remember to look for qualified technicians that has the right tools and place to handle all your transmission maintenance need. 

What to know About Automatic Transmission

Vehicle problems occurs from time to time and that includes our automatic transmission. Whatever the cause, it creates real pain and causes vehicle owners a lot of stress. These problems are usually the result of poor maintenance and servicing and today, we’ll give you some pointers you can follow about automatic transmission problems.

Common Problems

When vehicles undergo heavy task like towing trailers, “stop and go” during traffic in hot weather, extended long haul drives, etc. the automatic transmission works on “Overdrive”. Overdrive causes heat which deteriorates our transmission overtime. During this process, the lubricant oxidizes, losing its beneficial qualities and leaving residues. If you check the transmission fluid in an overheated transmission, burnt smell and the transmission fluid will be dark and dirty.

Another factor would be flaws in design in transmission parts and lack of maintenance and servicing.

How can I prevent this?

Ignoring the transmission problems can lead into expensive repair or replacement, thus checking your transmission or taking it to an expert mechanic for maintenance can prevent this kind of damage. Remember to check your transmission fluid regularly. If it is low, there’s a chance that your vehicle is leaking the transmission fluid. This should be investigated properly and without delay to prevent overheating and serious damage.

In some vehicles, especially the new models, are very sensitive with the transmission fluid type. Always read the user manual or check with your trusty mechanic in what fluid should be used. Using an incorrect fluid can cause malfunctions and would lead into trouble.

If you are using your vehicle to tow and haul objects, additional transmission fluid is required and be sure to install an auxiliary transmission cooler to help your transmission fluid.

If you are experiencing signs and symptoms like leaky transmission, noises and problems with shifting, it is imperative to take your vehicle to an expert or mechanic to check on the problem.

Taking care of your transmission

Preventive maintenance is the key to a tip-top automatic transmission. Regular servicing should be applied such as changing the oil and filter every 12 months and transmission full flush every two years.

Always remember not to overheat your transmission fluid and this usually happens when your vehicle works too hard. Always consult an expert.