Time to winterize your car: how do you choose the right oil?

Well, here goes the weather – a typically unstable fall pattern.  Sunny one afternoon, but chilly and rainy the next; then cloudy and dry, then back to the rain.  I love the title of the new movie, “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs,” and must admit that sometimes fall weather feels that way.  Fall colors are gorgeous in Oregon, though, don’t you think?

Every time we about to head into a strong seasonal change, we have to be checking out our cars.  You can’t take it for granted that things will continue to work just fine during the cold months ahead.  Usually, a lower-viscosity oil is recommended in extremely cold weather.  Here’s the oil guide from the American Petroleum Institute (API):  http://www.burkeoil.com/pdf/oilguide.pdf  – And as you’ll see, the advice is to check your car’s owner’s manual to be sure which is the right oil for you.  And – here are tips for winterizing your car:  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15940164/ 

When you bring your car into Pit Stop, we handle a lot of that for you:

• we check your belts and hoses, and will recommend replacements if there is too much wear and tear or a crack or leak someplace;
• we check and replace all of the fluids in your car;
• we check your tire pressure;
• we’ll make sure you have the right kind of anti-freeze;
• and we’ll replace your windshield wipers. 
• Oh -and of course, we’ll make sure you have the right kind of oil for your vehicle, for winter driving.

Speaking of that, there is apparently no small amount of confusion over types and quality of oil and other automotive fluids, both on the part of customers as well as on the part of dealers and distributors in the industry.  I pulled these comments this morning from this web site: 

“Another area of high concern is customers tacitly accepting lower quality lubricant for a lower price. This issue is reportedly a growing concern in today’s economy in that price tends to be a stronger driver when economy is down. As a result, respondents to the survey say some buyers are less willing to challenge quality if they can get a better price.

 “The third area of high concern is uneducated customers. Whereas most in the lubricants industry know what SM GF ‐4, CJ‐4, and other specifications mean, respondents to the survey say customers remain relatively uneducated about these specifications. And rather than asking questions, they assume those who change their oil are doing what is right and best for their vehicles.”

 

At Pit Stop, we want you to ask questions.  We want our customers to be educated about what’s happening with their vehicles.  So if you have any concerns whatsoever about the fluids we are using in your car – or the best way to completely prepare your car for winter – just ask.  Call us at 541-686-2507, or, as always, just drive on in.