The Dangers of Driving with Low Oil Level
When was the last time you checked your car’s oil? Not checking your oil on a regular basis could put you in danger of driving with a low oil level. Do it for long enough and you’ll risk damaging or even destroying your engine, which could cost you a pretty penny to repair or replace, depending on the severity of the damage.
Let’s dive into the dangers of driving your vehicle without the right amount of oil in the engine.
Why Your Engine Needs Oil
With hundreds of moving parts to contend with, your engine needs all the lubrication it can get to cut down on damaging friction. Engine oil makes that happen by adding a thin layer between moving metal parts, allowing them to slide smoothly instead of grinding each other into metal flakes.
Engine oil also helps with keeping your car cool under extreme temperatures or road conditions. As engine oil circulates through the engine, it also absorbs a small amount of engine heat. This latent heat travels toward the oil cooler. Some oil coolers are attached to the radiator while others can move around more freely.
Engine oil also helps make a clean sweep of your engine’s hydrocarbons and other unwanted debris. As it circulates, it also picks up a wide range of contaminants and other microscopic debris. You’ll find much of this debris on your engine oil filter or the small magnet at the bottom of the oil pan.
How Low Oil Levels Happen
Oil leaks are a common reason for low oil levels. Depending on how bad the leak is, it could take days, weeks, or even months to notice if your vehicle seemingly “uses” more oil than usual. Leaks can happen for a variety of reasons, from something as simple as a loose oil drain plug to old and worn-out seals. Oil can also lose its viscosity over time, which means small amounts can seep out no matter how well-sealed your engine is.
Overall neglect can also result in a low oil condition. If you haven’t checked your oil in ages, then there’s a good chance it may be low at least a quart or two.
Depending on your engine’s age, it may also burn a small amount of oil along with its fuel. This is especially the case for worn engines with equally worn-out seals and gaskets allowing oil to seep into the combustion chamber.
What Happens Without It
Knocking and Excessive Wear
Without enough engine oil to provide a protective barrier against wear and tear, your engine’s various moving parts are more likely to wear out. The resulting metal-on-metal contact can widen engine tolerances, resulting in bigger oil leaks and more serious issues like compression loss. The constant grinding also sends metal fragments and shavings into the oil, which will end up circulating through the engine causing even more damage.
Overheating
Run your engine long enough with a low oil level and there’s a good chance your engine will fail due to overheating. Chalk it up to the constant friction between unlubricated parts in your engine, which also generates large amounts of heat.
Overheating can make your engine’s cylinder heads, block, and other valvetrain components a total loss. The excessive heat can easily warp otherwise-flat surfaces on the engine. Without a flat surface to work on, fixing an engine with a blown or warped head gasket becomes nearly impossible.
Engine Failure
When you ignore every single signal and warning that has to do with your vehicle, then sooner or later the engine will take its leave. This usually means a catastrophic failure that stops your engine – and your vehicle – dead in its tracks. In some cases, you may see a failed engine with a “window” where the piston or connecting rod blew loose.
It’s not hard to see the signs of impending engine failure. For one, your engine’s performance may dwindle as you’d normally think. Your engine may also sound noisier than usual or suddenly exhibit a loud tapping or knocking noise.
A blown engine also gives your car sluggish acceleration and poor overall fuel economy. Depending on your budget, you may end up repairing the engine or replacing it with a lightly used version of the same.
Which GMC is Right for You?
Are you shopping for a new GMC vehicle in Douglas, GA? Then come to Anderson Buick GMC where we’ve been serving drivers for over 30 years. Our professional sales team will be happy to answer all your questions and take you on a test ride or two. If you’re not sure yet what to pick from our extensive inventory of cars, check out some suggestions on which GMC is right for you.
Starting Up
If you’re new to the GMC family, a good place to start is with the 2022 GMC Terrain. This small SUV seats up to five or you can fold down the rear seatbacks to increase gear capacity from 29.6 to 63.3 cu. ft. You can count on up to 170 horsepower and 203 lb.-ft. of torque from the 1.5liter Turbo 4-cylinder and 9-speed automatic transmission.
You’ll enjoy plenty of high-tech perks, such as a color infotainment screen that measures 8 inches diagonally. It wirelessly connects to your compatible smartphone, encouraging you to make phone calls or access texting while you’re on the road. You’ll vibe to the seven speakers of the Bose® Premium Audio System, which delivers concert-quality sound throughout the cabin.
Family Ride
At the opposite end of the lifestyle and size scale looms the 2022 GMC Yukon, which holds up to nine passengers and up to 122.9 cu. ft. of cargo. If you need to carry more, the Yukon XL fits up to 144.7 cu. ft. when you drop-down the seats. Moving you ahead is the 6.2-liter V8 that puts out 420 horsepower with the 10-speed automatic transmission.
Your journeys stay protected by numerous driver assists, such as Forward Collision Alert, which warns of frontal hits, and Enhanced Automatic Emergency Braking, which stops the SUV before accidents happen. Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert tells you of other vehicles in your blind spot to make your lane changes safer.
Maximizing Capability
For tough days at work, you need a tough truck like the 2022 Sierra Heavy Duty 3500. It tows up to 36,000 lbs. and offers engine options like the 4701-horsepower 6.6-liter V8 with a 6-speed automatic transmission and the 445-horsepower Duramax® 6.6-liter Turbo-Diesel V8 that generates up to 910 lb.-ft. of torque. You can also opt for Digital Variable Steering Assist, which eases your efforts at low speeds, and adapts its response to different conditions, such as when you’re pulling a heavy load.
To make loading and unloading easier, the Multifunction Tailgate boasts six different functions like an inner gate with a work surface and a full-width step. You can take advantage of up to 15 different camera views to check out what’s behind you, in front of you, or in your trailer.
Driving to the Future
Take a drive to the future in the all-electric GMC Hummer EV Pickup, which is slated to arrive in the Fall of 2022. This all-electric behemoth explodes with up to 1,000 horsepower and up to 11,500 lb.-ft. of torque. On one charge, you can travel over 350 miles and rush from 0 to 60 MPH in 3 seconds. Remove the Modular Sky Panels of the Infinity Roof and you enjoy unlimited access to fresh air and sun.
Activate Super Cruise™ and you can drive virtually hands-free on over 200,000 miles of compatible roads in the USA and Canada. With the available 4-Wheel Steer, your wheels can turn up to 10 degrees in either direction. You can then crabwalk diagonally at low speeds.
Expanding the Business
Take your business products and services to the customer in the 2022 GMC Savana Cargo Van. You’ll have up to 283.6 cu. ft. to hold equipment and deliveries and tow up to 10,000 lbs. Turn on Tow/Haul Mode to minimize excess shifting when you’re pulling a trailer. Pair the rear doors with an available sliding Passenger-Side door to ease your loading and unloading.
You can stick with the standard 276-horsepower 4.3L V6, the available 401-horsepower 6.6L V8, or the available Duramax® 181-horsepower 2.8-liter Duramax® Turbo-Diesel. When you park on a slope, Hill Start Assist holds the brakes, giving you time to move your foot from brake pedal to the accelerator without the van rolling down the slope. Go for the available built-in Wi-Fi Hotspot to maintain communications with the company database.
Winter Maintenance Tips
Preventive maintenance is a must no matter the season, but it’s especially important during the winter. Harsh, cold weather can take a toll on your car, while icy roads and snowy weather pose serious driving challenges. Fortunately, there’s plenty you can do to prepare your vehicle for the winter ahead.
Check Your Fluid Levels
There’s no overstating the importance of having the proper fluids in the right amounts in your vehicle. If possible, make a checklist of the essential fluids your car needs to roll on safely and reliably – engine oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, antifreeze/coolant, etc. Make sure these fluids are present in the correct amounts for your vehicle. Don’t forget to check for leaks, as leaking fluids could indicate a more serious issue.
In addition to checking fluid levels, there are other fluid-related things you should also do:
• Check your oil viscosity. Cold weather thickens oil, making it harder to circulate throughout your engine even when it’s warmed up. Some vehicles recommend switching to a lower-viscosity oil during the winter months for peak performance.
• Switch to a winter-grade windshield washer fluid. The last thing you want is a solid block of ice inside of your windshield washer fluid reservoir. While a few cars have nifty ways of defrosting washer fluid, you’re better off switching to a blend that’s specifically formulated for use in freezing temps.
• Schedule an oil change if you haven’t already done one. Fresh engine oil gives your engine a better chance of holding up throughout the winter months. Consider having your brake fluid, power steering fluid, and engine coolant flushed or changed if needed or according to your normal service schedule.
Check Your Battery
Winter can be harsh on car batteries, but more so when said batteries are past their prime. Before cold weather settles in for good, have a professional take a close look at your battery. Not only do you want a physical inspection for obvious signs of problems, including corrosion and leaks, but also a comprehensive test to ensure it still has enough cold cranking amps to start your vehicle in freezing temps.
Has it been a while since you last replaced your battery? If it’s been four years or more, then replace it with a fresh, new battery before it leaves you stranded in the dead of winter. Most batteries have a three- to five-year lifespan before they’re no longer able to hold a charge.
Check Your Tires
Pay close attention to the current state of your tires. After all, those four strips of rubber wrapped around your wheels are your only contact with the road. Here’s what you can do to keep your tires in excellent shape:
• Check the tread depths. A dedicated depth gauge works, but you can also use the penny method in a pinch. Just insert the penny upside down into the tread groove with Honest Abe’s visage facing you. If you can see the top of his head, then it’s time to replace your tires.
• Check for abnormal wear. Problems like worn shocks and/or bushings, misalignment, or unbalanced wheels can cause tires to wear out in strange ways. If you see signs of unusual tread wear, have a technician look into it soon.
• Check for signs of damage. Look for any cuts, cracks, curb rash, or punctures. If you see any of these, consider replacing that tire as soon as possible.
• Check your tire pressures. Grab a tire pressure gauge and make sure your tires are inflated within your vehicle’s recommended specs. A quick look at the “Tire and Loading Information” placard on the driver’s side door jamb or “B-pillar” will tell you the appropriate PSI for each tire.
• Look out for dry rot. Tires can dry out and crack apart as they age. Replace dry rotted tires as soon as possible, as a blowout could occur otherwise.
• Consider switching to snow tires. Plan on doing a lot of driving in snowy regions? Then you’ll want to swap your summer or all-season tires to winter tires. Winter tires offer better traction on snowy and icy roads, as well as in below-freezing temperatures.
Have Your Brakes Inspected
Bad brakes can lead to worse outcomes on snowy roads, which is why you’ll want them inspected before hitting the road this winter. In addition to checking for brake pad and shoe wear, make sure the brake rotors and drums are properly turned with minimal signs of rust and/or corrosion. These issues can lead to longer stopping distances as well as increased vibration and brake shudder on hard braking.
Make Sure You Can See the Road Ahead
Yes, outward visibility is still a thing, more so when there’s piles of snow on your car with more to come shortly. Needless to say, you’ll need the following if you want to see where you’re headed this winter:
• Check and, if necessary, change your bulbs. Conduct a walkaround of your vehicle with the lights on and make sure every exterior bulb works.
• Replace your windshield wiper blades. If possible, upgrade to winter blades designed to withstand harsh winter conditions.
• Check your windshield for signs of physical damage. If you see any cracks or chips, plan on having your windshield fixed or replaced soon.
• Consider using a headlight restoration kit. You’ll need one of these if your headlight lenses are clouded up and tough to pass light through.
Wash and Wax Your Ride
A complete wash and wax does more than make your vehicle look good. It also removes unwanted contaminants that could go on to damage your vehicle’s paint finish. Don’t forget to add wax after washing your car. Wax adds a protective barrier that keeps road salt and other nasties off of the paint finish.
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How Often Should I Have My Spark Plugs Replaced?
Spark plugs are relatively small engine components that sit above each cylinder at the end of spark plug wires. Depending on the design of your vehicle’s engine, the engine may have one spark plug for each of its cylinders or two. Spark plugs serve very important roles in engines and wear out over time as a result of their usage. Therefore, you will need to replace the spark plugs that are in your vehicle’s engine routinely so that the engine can continue to perform to the best of its ability.
The Purpose of Spark Plugs
Spark plugs sit on top of the cylinders of engines so that they can ignite the air-fuel mixtures that are injected into the cylinders during the engines’ combustion processes. As an engine runs, both air and fuel are constantly being injected into its cylinders so that the engine can produce power to drive the vehicle’s wheels. However, the air and fuel need to be ignited so that the power can actually be produced. Spark plugs continually produce the sparks that ignite these mixtures as the engine runs, producing thousands of sparks within each minute that the engine is running.
Faulty Spark Plug Problems
One of the most noticeable signs that the spark plugs of an engine are wearing out is misfiring. Misfiring can be both heard and felt by a driver. Misfiring is caused by faulty spark plugs, because the plugs will either fire at the wrong times or will fail to fire at all, causing fuel to be left unburned in an engine. Pinging or rattling sounds in an engine are signs that the engine is misfiring. An engine will also run roughly and vibrate more violently when it is misfiring.
When the spark plugs of your vehicle’s engine are going bad, you may notice a decrease in your vehicle’s fuel economy. The vehicle’s engine will need to inject more fuel into its cylinders to produce power for the vehicle, due to the inefficiency of its spark plugs. Additionally, the fuel that is left unburned in the cylinders of the vehicle’s engine will begin to coat the spark plugs, worsening the issue by preventing the spark plugs from igniting.
A vehicle will not have the same performance when its spark plugs are faulty, and a driver may notice that the vehicle accelerates slower. The reason for the performance decrease is due to the fact that an engine’s spark plugs will not be efficiently igniting the air and fuel that is injected into the engine’s cylinders, preventing the engine from producing its normal power.
Your vehicle’s check engine light may come on if the spark plugs that are in its engine need to be changed. Vehicles, especially newer vehicles, are very effective at identifying issues with their systems. When an issue is detected, an alert is usually provided to a driver through the form of a dashboard light. If your vehicle’s check engine light comes on, you will need to do a scan of the engine’s computer and run the code that is provided by the scan.
Spark Plug Maintenance Routine
It is generally recommended that drivers replace the spark plugs that are in their vehicles’ engines at least once every 30,000 miles. This ensures that drivers will not experience the problems that are caused by bad spark plugs. However, the lifespan of the spark plugs that are in your vehicle’s engine depends on the design of the engine and the spark plugs that the engine is using. To find the best maintenance schedule for your vehicle, you should refer to your vehicle’s owner’s manual, where the vehicle’s manufacturer provides various maintenance routines and maintenance tips for your specific vehicle.
Conclusion
It is important for you to replace the spark plugs that are in your vehicle’s engine routinely so that the engine can operate as you expect it to. Replacing your vehicle’s spark plugs routinely will also allow you to save money on fuel by optimizing the performance of your vehicle’s engine. Visit us at Anderson Buick GMC if you would like to learn more about the spark plugs that are in your vehicle’s engine or would like us to inspect your vehicle. We provide dependable services at our dealership that will help you maintain and improve the condition of your vehicle.
Importance of Tire Maintenance
Your tires are the only thing connecting your vehicle to the road below. Without the traction they offer, you wouldn’t be able to safely control your vehicle or bring it to a safe stop. Unfortunately, most people don’t think about the tires until something catastrophic happens, whether it’s a flat or something far more severe like a blowout or tread separation.
Simply put, tire maintenance is a must for keeping your Buick or GMC vehicle safely on the road. Frequent checks and careful maintenance help you avoid the many dangers associated with tire neglect.
How Tire Maintenance Benefits Your Vehicle
As Americans, we love to get out on the open road at any given opportunity. On average, we drive 13,476 miles per year, according to the most recent statistics. That figure outpaces other car-dependent nations by at least 30 percent. That alone highlights the importance of tire maintenance.
While other car components see their fair share of wear and tear, it’s your tires that face the full brunt of our nation’s roads. Each pothole, rut, and bump adds wear and tear to a typical tire. Aggressive driving habits, whether its hard cornering or panic stops, also adds further wear on our rubber. Constant exposure to the outdoors also does a number on tires over time, resulting in age-related wear and tear over time.
Even the things you’d probably dismiss as minor issues, like tire inflation, can play a big role in how long your tires last. All of these issues can add up to an unsafe tire that, without proper maintenance, could fail sooner or later. Tire failure causes an estimated 11,000 crashes each year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Caring for your tires not only makes your vehicle safer to drive, but it also ensures your vehicle performs to its intended specs. Tire maintenance also helps maintain good fuel efficiency by eliminating factors that could make your vehicle use more fuel.
Tire Maintenance Basics
If you’re not familiar with tire maintenance or just need a quick refresher, then read on and learn more about these easy tire maintenance basics.
Visual Inspection
A visual inspection is the easiest thing you can do when it comes to tire maintenance. However, a successful visual inspection involves knowing exactly what to look for as you check your tires. That means checking for tire issues that could make your vehicle too dangerous to drive.
Cracks and missing chunks are the most obvious of these tire issues. Years of constant UV radiation exposure and the natural aging of rubber compounds within the tire can lead to cracks and missing fragments. That explains why most experts recommend replacing tires after five or six years of use, regardless of remaining tread.
Tire bubbles are less common, but more severe. These bubbles can form after any type of severe damage, whether it’s a run-in with a piece of road debris, hard impacts with curbs, or even driving on a flat tire for a short distance. If you see bubble-like bulges on the sidewall or in the tread, then it’s time to replace that tire before a blowout occurs.
Tread Inspection
Tire maintenance also includes keeping a close eye on tread depth and overall wear. Every tire relies on its tread to grip the surface below for better traction, thereby providing better traction in the wet and sharper cornering on dry roads. The right tread pattern can even help your vehicle save fuel.
Tire treads do wear out over time, which makes frequent tread depth checks all the more important. Tread depth is usually measured in 32nds of an inch and most new tires come with at least 10/32 inch of tread. Most states legally require car owners to change their tires once tread depths dwindle to 2/32 inch.
The quickest way to check tread depth is by looking at the built-in tread wear indicator on the tire. The more the tread wears down, the more visible the indicator becomes. Once the tread becomes level with the indicator, the tire is no longer safe to use.
Another way to check tread depth is with the penny test. Simply insert a penny into the tread with Lincoln’s head upside-down. If you can see the top of Honest Abe’s head, then it’s time for new tires.
Balancing and Rotation
Each corner of your vehicle has slight differences in suspension geometry along with different levels of component wear and tear. The end result is tires that wear differently depending on where they’re mounted. In order for your tires to experience uniform wear, they must be rotated to a different corner of your vehicle. That’s what a certified technician does as a part of your vehicle’s tire rotation service.
Your technician will also balance the tires in order to prevent unwanted vibrations and promote even tire wear. This is done using a special tire balancing machine that measures the tire’s natural balance, allowing the technician to balance out any vibrations by adding or removing wheel weights.
Tire Pressure Monitoring
Overinflation and underinflation are the dynamic duo of premature tire wear. Too much tire pressure not only shrinks your tires’ contact patch, which in turn makes your car more difficult to handle, but it also increases the likelihood of a blowout. Too little tire pressure puts more drag on your vehicle, resulting in poor fuel economy. Underinflated tires also wear out sooner and suffer degraded ride quality.
Keeping an eye on tire pressures is crucial if you want your tires to last. Fortunately, that’s made easier with the advent of tire pressure monitoring systems. Mandated for all U.S. vehicles back in 2007, TPMS alerts drivers whenever tire pressures rise or drop to unacceptable levels. Nevertheless, it doesn’t hurt to manually check tire pressures on all four wheels with a reliable tire gauge.
Don’t forget that the experts at Anderson Buick GMC can perform all types of tire maintenance. If you need new tires, we also carry an extensive stock with the right types and sizes your vehicle needs. Schedule your next appointment or drop by our service center today.
How-to-Prepare-Your-Car-to-Trade-In
Gather Important Documents
Before you bring your vehicle to a dealership, you will need to locate the documents that prove that you are the owner of your vehicle. Most importantly, you will need the title of your vehicle. While you can also bring your vehicle’s registration with you as additional proof of ownership, the dealership will need your vehicle’s title to be able to accept the vehicle from you. Once you have agreed on a deal with the dealership, you will sign the vehicle’s title over to the dealership, making them the new owners of your vehicle.
Your name will need to be on your vehicle’s title for the dealership to accept the vehicle. If your name is on the vehicle’s title with another person’s name, then you will need to bring that other person with you to the transaction so that they can sign the title as well. If the vehicle’s title has a lien on it, then you will need to contact the lender beforehand so that they can approve the trade-in or sign the title over to you.
Research the Value of Your Vehicle
You will need to know how much your vehicle is worth before you trade it in. Not only will this provide you with negotiating power, but it will also allow you to determine how much money you will need to bring to your next purchase.
There are several ways that you can go about determining the value of your trade-in. You can choose to use online valuation tools, which will provide you with estimates that are based on several factors, like your vehicle’s condition, the mileage of the vehicle, where the vehicle has been driven, and more. You can also visit various dealerships and have them appraise your car. Online valuation tools will provide estimates for you to keep in mind, but dealership appraisals will provide you with real values based on the current market.
Fix Minor Issues
Fixing minor issues on your vehicle, like scratched paint or broken trim pieces, will help you to get more for your vehicle when you trade it in. You should present your vehicle to a dealership in the best condition possible, as this will allow them to easily place the vehicle on their lot without needing to complete their own repairs on the vehicle. However, you don’t need to spend too much when repairing your vehicle, because you will not be reimbursed for the repairs that you make. In some cases, the repairs that need to be done can be more costly than the vehicle is worth. Determine how much you can get for your vehicle before you begin making any repairs on it.
Clean Your Vehicle
One of the last things that you should do before bringing your vehicle to a dealership as a trade-in is cleaning the vehicle. Clean your vehicle from its inside to its outside before you present it to a dealer, especially making sure to remove items that are important to you from the vehicle. A dealership is more likely to give you more for your vehicle when it looks its best.
Shop Around
You don’t have to accept the first trade-in offer that you get for your vehicle. Shop around at different dealerships to view their inventories and to see what offers they are willing to make on your vehicle. If you have a specific dealership that you would like to purchase a car from, you can use any other offers that you receive for your vehicle as a tool for negotiating.
Conclusion
Take the first step towards owning your new vehicle by preparing to trade in your current vehicle. Properly preparing your vehicle as a trade-in will allow you to receive the most for it and enter into your new car purchase with as much as possible. At Anderson Buick GMC, we can help you get into your new vehicle. Visit us so that we can provide all of the information that you will need to make a well-informed purchasing decision.
Include the Extras
Make sure you include every set of keys for the vehicle, including any extra keys, key fobs, or remotes. If your car comes equipped with an aftermarket radio, make sure the faceplate is attached and the remote included if it came with one. Cars with built-in navigation systems should have their DVDs or SD cards installed or at least included with the car. This way, the dealer won’t ding you for having any of these accessories missing.
Have Your Documents Ready
Your car title isnt the only document to bring with you on trade-in day. You should also have your vehicles comprehensive service history on hand. Having a complete set of service records will help boost your vehicles value at trade-in, as it shows just how well your car was maintained throughout your ownership.
Dont worry about including a vehicle history report with your trade-in thats something your dealer can grab on their own at little to no cost.
Make Sure Everything Works
Unpleasant surprises are the last thing you need during your vehicle trade-in. So, it pays to ensure everything in your vehicle is in proper, working order. Heres a brief list of things to check before trade-in day:
Air conditioning/heating systemHeadlights and tail lightsWindshield wipersTurn signalsPower windows and door locksRadio unit and/or navigation systemSpeakersControls for power seats and power mirrorsControls for heated seats, if equipped