Page 20 - AAA Central Penn – AAA Now! – September/October 2019

AAA
TM
AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES
ASK THE TECH
QUESTION:
I was always under the impression that oil changes should be every 3,000 miles. Now, with the new car I bought, the dealer is telling me to follow the service recommendation
in the owner’s manual of 5,000 miles to as much as 10,000 miles. What is correct
and what schedule should I follow?
ANSWER:
By Troy McComsey,
Owner of Robert’s Automotive in Mountville, PA
Only three conditions determine how often oil should be changed in your engine – how long the engine is on, the quality of the oil, and your geographic location. The longer the engine is on, the easier it is for the oil to do its job and handle all the requirements asked of it.
The quality of the oil affects its service life. If a better base oil is selected, then it will last longer, but the Northeast and Mid- Atlantic states are
a killer to oil. Cold starts and low temperature operation use up the additive package
quickly and put the engine at risk. Damage
can occur within 500 miles or less. Synthetics and synthetic blends do not necessarily offer better protection. What is critical is that the oil meets or exceeds the specifications listed in the owner's manual of your car or truck.
VW, Audi, BMW and Mercedes owners do not have the option of using anything but oil that meets or exceeds ACEA oil specification. Some oils meeting ACEA oil specification can be used as long-life oils in Asian and American-made cars. However, a blanket statement cannot be made about service intervals due to geographic location. Someone who lives in the South has different service requirements than someone living in the Northeast.
The 3-month/3,000-mile oil change is a myth, a blanket statement that does not take into account the quality of the oil. In some cases, depending on the three factors mentioned above, oil changes can be performed at 10,000 miles or 12 months.
Troy McComsey is the owner and General Manager of Robert’s Automotive in Mountville, PA. They specialize in VW, Audi, BMW & Mercedes, but also work on most import and domestic vehicles. They have been in business for over 29 years, providing great customer service to generations of customers.
They can be contacted at 717-285-3738 or at troy@roberts-automotive.com.
SPARE ME!
In an effort to reduce weight and improve fuel economy, automakers continue to eliminate spare tires from new vehicles. According to new research from AAA, nearly one third (28 percent) of 2017 model year vehicles do not come with a spare tire as standard equipment, creating an unnecessary hassle and expense for drivers. Last year alone, AAA came
to the rescue to more than 450,000 members faced with a flat tire whose cars did not have a spare tire. To avoid a roadside surprise, AAA urges drivers to check their trunk for a spare tire before trouble strikes. “Having a flat tire can be a nuisance for drivers,
but not having a spare could put them in an even more aggravating situation,” said John Nielsen, AAA’s managing director of Automotive Engineering and Repair. “This can turn the relatively routine process of changing a tire at the roadside into an inconvenient and costly situation that requires a tow to a repair facility.”
While new vehicles are equipped with tire pressure monitoring systems that alert drivers to low tire pressure, AAA’s roadside assistance data shows that tire-related problems continue to be one of the top reasons why members call for assistance. Even if drivers do have a spare tire, they are often reaching for their cell phones to call for roadside assistance rather than changing the tire themselves. According to a previous AAA survey, nearly 20 percent (39 million) of U.S. drivers do not know how to change a flat tire.
As a replacement for a spare tire, some automakers are including tire-inflator kits that can temporarily repair small punctures in flat tires. However, a 2015 AAA study found that tire-inflator kits have limited functionality and cannot provide even a temporary fix for many tire-related problems, including sidewall damage or blowouts. Not only are tire-inflator kits not a good substitute for a spare tire, they can cost up to 10 times more than a tire repair and have a shelf life of only four to eight years.
“With low-profile tires and the elimination of a spare tire, many newer vehicles are especially vulnerable to roadside tire trouble,” Nielsen said. “AAA urges drivers to make it a priority to check their vehicle’s equipment and know what to do if faced with a flat tire.”
AAA Finds Nearly One-Third of New Vehicles Are Missing a Spare Tire
To prevent drivers from being stranded in the event of a flat tire, AAA offers these precautionary tips:
• Do not assume there’s a spare. When purchasing a new vehicle, always ask for a detailed list of equipment and whether a spare tire can be purchased.
• Inspect all five tires. Check tire pressures monthly and have all tires inspected as part of routine maintenance. If your vehicle has a spare tire, be sure that it’s properly inflated.
• Read ahead. If your vehicle is equipped with a tire- inflator kit, read the owner’s manual and understand how it works and its limitations.
• Check expiration dates. If your vehicle is equipped with a tire-inflator kit, check its expiration date. Most need to be replaced every four to eight years.
• Consider roadside assistance coverage. Roadside assistance coverage can offer peace of mind when faced with roadside trouble, including a flat tire. To become a AAA member, visit AAA.com/join.
In addition, drivers should identify a repair
shop they trust to help keep their vehicle tires
in good shape. AAA’s Approved Auto Repair
network consists of nearly 7,000 facilities that have met AAA’s high standards, including technician certifications, ongoing training, financial stability, facility cleanliness, insurance requirements, rigorous inspections and customer satisfaction. AAA members have saved a total of more than $3 million dollars by visiting AAR facilities in the last year. Visit AAA.com/ AutoRepair to find a nearby facility.
Before hitting the road, download the free AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad, Android and Apple Watch. Travelers can use the app to request AAA roadside assistance, route a trip, find the lowest gas prices, access exclusive member discounts, book a hotel and more. Learn more at AAA.com/mobile.
As North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 58 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA
has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers.
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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019
Now!