Tag Archives: oil change

Seasonal Auto Inspection at Global Auto Solutions

Good vehicle care for us Lawrenceville residents has always meant taking our vehicles in every spring and fall for a check-up. Vehicles needed routine maintenance to prepare them for the changes in weather. You can imagine, after the harsh winter period chances are your vehicle has taken some level of battering. Today’s vehicles aren’t quite as sensitive to seasonal changes. Older vehicles required different weights of oil for summer and winter. But today’s engines can run on the same oil all year. Both the engines and the oils have been improved.

Antifreeze—or coolant as it’s also called—protects the engine from both freezing and hot temperatures and thus is required by the engine year-round. Modern coolants don’t have to be changed as often as they did in the past, but your owner’s manual has a recommendation for when it should be replaced to extend cooling system life.

Getting a spring and fall checkup at Global Auto Solutions in Lawrenceville for your vehicle is still good auto advice.

First of all, there is a lot of preventive auto maintenance involved in properly caring for a vehicle. Dropping your vehicle off twice a year at Global Auto Solutions for a quick inspection and routine maintenance is still part of good vehicle care. The changes in the GA seasons can provide a good reminder that it’s time to get the vehicle serviced, just as they remind us that it’s time to take care of the furnace or air conditioner, purchase school clothes or bathing suits, drag out or put away the coats and boots.

There are other advantages to spring and fall maintenance for Lawrenceville residents. Springtime signals the advent of warmer weather. Although modern coolant is designed to last longer than one season, it’s a good idea to check it regularly to ensure you have enough. While you’re at it, your vehicle should also be checked for leaks and worn hoses in the cooling system.

Summer is the time when most of us Lawrenceville residents take vacations or go on road trips. So a spring check-up for our vehicles can lead to a stress-free summer and better memories on the road.

Fall, of course, signals the advent of colder weather in the Lawrenceville area. This is a good time for a routine battery check. The hot weather of summer takes a toll on battery life – then comes winter. Cranking up a cold engine takes a lot more battery power than starting a warm one. So before that cold weather hits, it’s a good idea to check your battery and replace it if necessary. But your tires aren’t completely adapted to changing weather conditions. If you live where temperatures drop below 45°F (7°C) in the winter, or if your commute frequently takes you through snow or ice, you may want to consider changing to winter tires in the fall.

A fall check-up at Global Auto Solutions, just like a spring check-up, can keep you on the road no matter what GA weather brings. Consider how much a worry-free summer vacation and a less stressful Lawrenceville winter commute are worth to you. Then, spring and fall, reset your clocks, change the batteries in your smoke detectors and take your vehicle in for a check-up.

Global Auto Solutions
2710 Lawrenceville Highway
Lawrenceville, GA 30044
770.931.0222

Better Technology, Better Engines-When to Service My Car For an Change Oil?

Oil changes are probably the most recognized service on a vehicle. Almost all Lawrenceville residents know about them. But do we know enough?

Several decades ago, oil changes were fairly standard: every three months or 3,000 miles or 5,000 kilometers. But recent advances in both engine technology and oil quality have led to longer oil change intervals.

Delayed or skipped oil changes are a problem for Lawrenceville residents because they lead to the build-up of oil sludge in your engine. Oil sludge forms when engine oil breaks down, which happens with both time and miles. Obviously, driving will take its toll on engine oil, but the oil also breaks down even as the vehicle just sits in the garage. This is why oil change intervals are listed in both time and distance traveled, and the phrase “whichever comes first” is applicable.

Oil sludge is essentially petroleum jelly. Imagine this stuff squishing around in your vehicle engine, pushing into small engine passageways and blocking passage of oil to vital engine parts, shortening your engine’s life expectancy.

To prevent sludge, you have to get your oil changed regularly, as often as the manufacturer recommends. Check your owner’s manual for every vehicle you own to know the interval for each one. Don’t assume they will be the same.

If you tow a trailer, haul heavy loads, make a lot of short trips around Lawrenceville, usually engage in stop-and-go (or around-the-town) driving, drive in cold or hot GA weather, or drive in polluted or dusty conditions, you may need to change your oil more frequently. Check your vehicle’s owner’s manual for a “severe service” recommendation.

If the manual doesn’t give you the advice you need, talk to your friendly and knowledgeable Global Auto Solutions service advisor. He will be able to answer any questions about preventive maintenance or vehicle care that you may have, including how often to change your oil.

Lawrenceville residents need to get the right weight and type of oil recommended for their vehicles. More and more are using synthetic oil in their vehicles. Synthetic oil typically lasts longer and is more resistant to sludge formation than conventional motor oil. But it is also more expensive. So it can be tempting for Lawrenceville residents to ask for conventional oil, but if you replace synthetic oil with conventional oil, you will have to change your oil more often to prevent sludge build-up. In the end, you’re probably not saving money at all.

Also, your engine may not be designed for the conventional oil. Check your owner’s manual before replacing synthetic oil with conventional.

Talk to your Global Auto Solutions service advisor for more information.

Global Auto Solutions
2710 Lawrenceville Highway
Lawrenceville, GA 30044
770.931.0222