Your vehicle's coolant, transmission fluid and engine oil all require periodic attention from time to time. Many mechanics will tell you that such fluids are the life-blood of your vehicle. They'll also tell you that if you neglect them, you can count on your car letting you down in terms of reliability and longevity.
The most obvious fluid to take care of is the engine oil- as it's changed the most frequently. Your engine's oil lubricates, cools and conditions a plethora of highly-precise internal parts, though it gets dirty and wears down in the process. This generally takes about 5,000 kilometres, though it varies from vehicle to vehicle. Check your owner's manual if in doubt.
Is your car's engine overdue for an oil change? Don't wait any longer. If you do, you'll experience symptoms like accelerated internal wear, lowered compression and lost power, and the buildup of sludge. The latter is a solid material which adheres to the inside of tight oil passageways, much like cholesterol does to the lining of arteries. This can starve vital parts of oil altogether, resulting in catastrophic engine failure which costs thousands to repair. It's the automotive equivalent of a heart attack.
When you go for an oil change, you'll be presented with the option to use regular or synthetic oil- with a significant price difference between the two. Synthetic claims to offer better protection, power and mileage, but it's generally only required in high-performance engines and not your Honda Civic. Synthetic oil is really more about added protection for severe use.
Shawn Callahan owns a 'Just Lubes' shop and explains. "It definitely is better oil. Its suspension properties keep dirt particles away from vital engine parts better than regular oil does, and it resists thermal breakdown as well- meaning that protection is superior in extreme temperatures and dry starts. With people expecting more and more of their vehicles, such extra protection can be very important. It's a real plus if you're towing, or trailering."
Engine coolant is important here too. Not only does it help keep your engine running at the optimal temperature, but it contains conditioners and lubricants that keep cooling-system parts protected. Not changing your coolant on time may lead to overheating and the reduced life of your radiator, water pump and the engine itself. For the sake of a fluid change, you'll benefit from peace of mind and the extended life of your engine's cooling-system parts.
Changing your transmission fluid carries many of the same benefits. The insides of an automatic transmission are exposed to tremendous heat and pressure that can break down a fluid in a real hurry- especially when towing or driving in severe temperatures.
If your transmission fluid is old, it won't protect or cool the internals- meaning they'll wear down more quickly and fail. If you don't remember the last time it was changed, it's probably overdue.
A fluid change will run about $80 to $100, with a transmission costing somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 times that much. Simple decision, really.
If you've got a truck or an all-wheel-drive, you have differentials that contain fluid as well. These generally don't require a fluid change as frequently as other vehicle components, though severe use or off-road driving may shorten the interval. Once again, the answer is in your owner's manual or your dealership's service department.
A quick trip to your favorite technician is all your vehicle needs to operate with confidence throughout the warm weather travelling season. You didn't really want to break down en-route to the family weekend getaway anyhow.
The most obvious fluid to take care of is the engine oil- as it's changed the most frequently. Your engine's oil lubricates, cools and conditions a plethora of highly-precise internal parts, though it gets dirty and wears down in the process. This generally takes about 5,000 kilometres, though it varies from vehicle to vehicle. Check your owner's manual if in doubt.
Is your car's engine overdue for an oil change? Don't wait any longer. If you do, you'll experience symptoms like accelerated internal wear, lowered compression and lost power, and the buildup of sludge. The latter is a solid material which adheres to the inside of tight oil passageways, much like cholesterol does to the lining of arteries. This can starve vital parts of oil altogether, resulting in catastrophic engine failure which costs thousands to repair. It's the automotive equivalent of a heart attack.
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When you go for an oil change, you'll be presented with the option to use regular or synthetic oil- with a significant price difference between the two. Synthetic claims to offer better protection, power and mileage, but it's generally only required in high-performance engines and not your Honda Civic. Synthetic oil is really more about added protection for severe use.
Shawn Callahan owns a 'Just Lubes' shop and explains. "It definitely is better oil. Its suspension properties keep dirt particles away from vital engine parts better than regular oil does, and it resists thermal breakdown as well- meaning that protection is superior in extreme temperatures and dry starts. With people expecting more and more of their vehicles, such extra protection can be very important. It's a real plus if you're towing, or trailering."
Engine coolant is important here too. Not only does it help keep your engine running at the optimal temperature, but it contains conditioners and lubricants that keep cooling-system parts protected. Not changing your coolant on time may lead to overheating and the reduced life of your radiator, water pump and the engine itself. For the sake of a fluid change, you'll benefit from peace of mind and the extended life of your engine's cooling-system parts.
Changing your transmission fluid carries many of the same benefits. The insides of an automatic transmission are exposed to tremendous heat and pressure that can break down a fluid in a real hurry- especially when towing or driving in severe temperatures.
If your transmission fluid is old, it won't protect or cool the internals- meaning they'll wear down more quickly and fail. If you don't remember the last time it was changed, it's probably overdue.
A fluid change will run about $80 to $100, with a transmission costing somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 times that much. Simple decision, really.
If you've got a truck or an all-wheel-drive, you have differentials that contain fluid as well. These generally don't require a fluid change as frequently as other vehicle components, though severe use or off-road driving may shorten the interval. Once again, the answer is in your owner's manual or your dealership's service department.
A quick trip to your favorite technician is all your vehicle needs to operate with confidence throughout the warm weather travelling season. You didn't really want to break down en-route to the family weekend getaway anyhow.