Have you got a question about your car that you’ve been wanting to ask but you’re afraid you’ll look silly because you presume it should be common knowledge? We’ve got you covered! We rounded up a group of automotive experts and novices to quiz them about some of the most pressing car questions that they’ve been wanting to ask but been too afraid. Here were the four most common questions that we came across.
Why Do My Blinker Light Blink REALLY Fast Sometimes?
This is one of the most common questions that we came across. Even if you haven’t noticed it in your own car, chances are you’ve been behind someone had a set of lights and noticed that one of them because is going really REALLY fast. The answer to this one is simple. When you’re blinker light starts to blink unreasonably fast it means that the voltage load has dropped to the point where it makes it easier for the circuit to do its job. And when it’s easier for it to do its job, it goes faster.
Can I Use Synthetic Oil or a Different Grade of Oil?
When it comes to putting the right oil in your vehicle this is something that you definitely don’t want to get wrong. Consult your vehicle manual once, and then consulted again to find out which oil grade you should be using. Engine oil is one of those things where you don’t want to cut corners, even if your oil is slightly more expensive than the cheaper one it’s not something that can be interchanged. For instance, if your vehicle came with Nulon 5W30 Oil from the factory (as many new turbocharged vehicles do), stick with it. Keeping your oil consistent will ensure longevity and consistent performance.
When it comes to switching between natural and synthetic oil, the same thing goes — consult your vehicle manual. Nearly all new vehicles on the road will use synthetic engine oil, however, that doesn’t mean that it’s going to be better for your particular car. if your car has only ever taken conventional oil, then chances are your best option is to stick with it.
What Do Squealing Brakes Mean?
Contrary to popular belief, squealing brakes may not inherently be a bad thing. Depending on your vehicle make and model, squealing brakes could simply be a by-product of the materials that are used in your brakes. For example, high-performance slotted brakes which use carbon will naturally squeal until they get up to a higher temperature.
On the other hand, the song vehicles are high pitch squealing sound could mean that your brake pads are worn out and they need to be replaced straight away. The noise maybe metal and metal grinding which could be your brake pads damaging your rotors. If this noise is new and your brakes haven’t been replaced in a while but there’s a good chance that this is the issue. The best thing that you can do is consult your mechanic will local technician to have the noise checked.
How Often Do I Need to Change My Oil?
Most view calls, the recommended oil service interval will coincide with the service intervals of your car. when it comes down to it, you should probably be changing your vehicle’s oil a lot more often than you are. Even if you are vehicle service manual advises that you change your oil once a year or every 15,000 kilometres, then you should probably be changing it more frequently. Turbocharged engines have been known to go through oil at a significantly faster rate than naturally aspirated engines and can cause undue wear to expensive engine components. For the price of changing your engine oil and oil filter, you could be saving yourself thousands of dollars in repairs down the line.