Here is the reason for the change: a vehicle owner can damage a transmission by overfilling or putting the wrong transmission fluid in the car.

Transmission fluid is not a generic item any more. Various manufacturers are installing fluids with specific formulas to match the precision internal components of modern transmissions. Use the wrong fluid and the transmission can fail long before the car’s new car warranty expires.

Manufacturers do not like replacing transmissions under warranty. It is expensive. Owners get upset. And proving the owner damaged the transmission by using the wrong fluid is both difficult to do and often is more expensive than replacing the transmission.

Sadly many of these owners had their transmission fluid changed by a quick change oil and fluid shop. Try getting the quickie lube shop to pay for the blown transmission.  Good luck….

To protect themselves, manufacturers are making it difficult to service transmissions. They are extending recommended service intervals. And in some cases are offering pre-paid maintenance services in the price of a new car.

Transmission fluids still break down. They still get dirty. And they still need to be changed. Failure to maintain a transmission through routine service will shorten the transmission’s life. But from the manufacture’s point of view, a transmission that fails outside the warranty period is not their problem. And since most people who purchase new cars do not keep the vehicles much beyond five years or 100,000 miles, the original purchaser does not much care either.

So what should you do?  Experienced mechanics change the transmission fluid on their own vehicles every 30,000 to 60,000 miles. Why?  They want their vehicles to last. They understand the importance of transmission services. They have special tools and equipment needed to evacuate and replace fluids. And they know how to select the correct fluid for the vehicle.

If you own a newer car – particularly one you want to keep for 200,000 miles – or if you just purchased a used vehicle, visit a qualified independent repair shop that sells high end lubricants such as Amsoil. Let them check your fluids and follow their recommendations for transmission maintenance and service.

The post New Cars Don’t Have Dip Sticks – A Guide to Transmission Maintenance and Service appeared first on Superstition Motors.

So where are the used cars coming from?

About that Used Car

Many used cars – particularly those found on small used car dealer lots – are coming from wrecked vehicle auctions. The lot operator buys the vehicle, makes cosmetic repairs and sells the vehicle as a clean used car.

Some of these cars were so badly damaged they were declared total losses. If the vehicle has a salvaged title, you know it was in a major wreck and should carefully check the vehicle before purchase.

But clean title – even when accompanied by a clear VIN check report from a vehicle history reporting company – is no guarantee you are getting a damage free car.

A Pre-Purchase Inspection Can Save You Money

We recently saw a vehicle a customer purchased and brought to us for service. The car had been rolled, heavily damaged and put back together. The frame was bent. Fenders and body panels had been replaced. The paint color was slightly off. And our customer was shocked when we told him he paid $10,000 too much for this “resurrected” vehicle.

The dealer swore it was a private party car. The car history paperwork was all clear. How did this happen? We don’t know for sure, but we have seen enough of these vehicles (that come from out-of-state sources and somehow manage to get clean California titles) to know it can be done.

Your only insurance against paying too much for a used vehicle – or avoiding outright fraud – is to take the vehicle to a reliable automobile repair shop. This should preferably be a shop experienced with seeing damaged vehicles.

At Superstition Motors Ltd we have an ASE Certified Master Collision Damage Repair Technician on staff. We will gladly perform a pre-purchase inspection and provide you with a written vehicle inspection report. Based on this report you can make an informed decision to purchase the vehicle or walk away.  Or you can use the report to bargain for a fair price.

Don’t get us wrong. Even a total loss vehicle can be repaired to safe, reliable condition. Such vehicles can offer inexpensive transportation when you can’t afford a new car. But you don’t want a lemon. And you don’t want to pay top dollar for a previously junked car.

Come see us.  You will be glad you did.

The post Buying a Used Car and the Pre-Purchase Inspection appeared first on Superstition Motors.

We recently saw a Honda CRV that was barely running. The owner experienced overheating problems and had taken it to a nearby mechanic. A thermostat was replaced. A week later the radiator cracked and it was replaced. The car continued to run hot until the engine began losing power. The mechanic could not find the cause. So the owner brought the car to us.

Our diagnosis?  A burnt valve requiring a major repair to the engine. The repair bill – over $2,500.

The sad part about this story is the cause. Both of the vehicle’s electric radiator fans had failed.

After three trips to the cut-rate mechanic, no one noticed that the cause of the overheating, the blown radiator and ultimately the engine damage was the failure of two fans. Replacing the fans would have cost less than $100 each.

Incompetent mechanics can cost you big bucks!

Diagnosing automotive problems is the hardest part of automobile repair. Changing parts is relatively easy once you know what is wrong.  With a few tools and a little “back yard” experience, many people can replace a battery, change a spark plug or install a starter.

The trick is: knowing what’s wrong.  Knowing what is wrong takes training, expensive diagnostic equipment and experience.

Many automotive service shops do not have qualified repair technicians. An oil change outlet or tire store does not need them. Certain retail chain shops run by franchises or national brand companies employee “service technicians” who can “service” your vehicle, but are not qualified to repair your car.

Repair shops often have one qualified mechanic to oversee the work of other workers. This mechanic will often hold a certification in one or more automotive repair categories. The true quality shops employ Master Certified Automotive Technicians with credentials from an industry organization such the Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE).

The value of going to a true repair shop for your automotive needs is that Master Certified Technicians spot small problems before they become major repairs. They use their expertise to save you money and to keep your car or light truck running for years.

Surprisingly, using high quality independent repair shops do not cost more money. They beat dealership prices. They usually beat chain store prices. And they save you in costly mistakes caused by incompetence.

Find a Great Auto Repair Shop

Our advice? Find a competent vehicle auto repair facility. Look for shops with certified technicians on staff.  Try them out with a minor service and ask them to check your vehicle for overall condition. Like your dentist, get to know them before you need them. If you are not comfortable with the shop, look around and try again. You will be glad you did.

The post Auto Repair Horror Stories – How to Avoid Them appeared first on Superstition Motors.

Oil is the life blood of your car’s engine. Without it, internal movement of engine parts would create excessive heat and friction. Metal parts would expand and warp and dig into each other, quickly causing the engine to fail. Automotive motor oil forms a thin barrier between metal parts allowing them to slip past each other without touching.

Modern oils contain additives. These additives include rust and corrosion inhibitors, detergents, oxidation inhibitors, anti-foaming agents, friction reducing and anti-wear chemicals, and depressants which allow the fluid to flow at very cold temperatures.

Oils come in a variety of types with many variations, tailored to different engines. The types are divided into a standard set of “viscosity” (a measure of the fluid’s resistance to flow) and “service” ratings which identify, for example, whether the product is to be used in a gasoline or a diesel engine, or whether it is designed for “energy conservation.”

Automobile engines for many years used single viscosity oils. These were designed to flow freely when the engine reached its operating temperature. They did not flow as easily when the engines were first started. To reduce engine wear in “cold start” conditions, multi-viscosity products were developed.

As engines became more sophisticated they increasingly called for more sophisticated oils. Once the oil of aircraft engines, synthetics are now commonly recommended by manufacturers for high efficiency passenger vehicle engines.

Synthetic oils are clearly superior to conventional oils. They reduce friction and heat in engines due to the consistent size of the oil molecules they contain. They do not break down as readily under load. They increase engine power, lower oil consumption and increase fuel economy.

Synthetics do not have to be changed as frequently as conventional oils. Typically synthetics are changed at 7,500 to 12,000 mile intervals. Yet engines stay cleaner and last longer.

Using the wrong oil can seriously damage your car.

Using the wrong oil in newer cars can cause varnish or excessive sludge to accumulate and block oil passages. A blocked oil passage can cause overheating and friction, damaging engine components. Using oil with a high zinc phosphate level can damage catalytic converters. Using oil without zinc phosphate additives in an older car without a catalytic converter, can cause dramatically increased cam shaft and lifter wear.

So how do you know which oil to choose for your car or truck?

The best answer is: consult your vehicle owner’s manual. The engine in your car was designed to operate on a specific type of oil. The next answer is to consult an experienced mechanic whose principal business is not selling oil changes.

For our customers, we will look up the manufacture’s recommendations for your vehicle. We will review the vehicle’s mileage and service history to see what modification to the manufacturer’s recommendation is appropriate, and we will offer options to the customer.

Why should you change your oil?

Because additives diminish in potency over time;

Because small particles accumulate and are removed with an fluid change;

Because sludge and other contaminants are removed, and

Because moisture that builds up (creating the potential for rust and electrolysis damage) is removed.

At Superstition Motors Ltd we don’t make much money on oil changes. We do it for our customers to keep their vehicles from breaking down and to extend the life of their engines.

We do not compete with the quickie lube type business attached to a car wash. These businesses can offer you a $15 oil change because they purchase in bulk, use cheap oil, use cheap filters and hire low paid, inexperienced labor. Once they get you to “bite” on the low price, you will be subjected to a high pressure sales pitch to “upgrade service” or pay for items – like a transmission or coolant flush – that you do not need.  And you will likely drive away with the wrong oil for your car.

Another thing to watch out for is the partial synthetic or synthetic blend. Synthetics are more expensive than conventional oils. Synthetics are popular right now and using the work “synthetic” on the label is a good way to sell oil at the auto parts store.

Synthetic oils are differentiated by the materials from which they are made. Those made from a polyalphaolifin (PAO)(API Group IV) or synthetic esters (API group V) are fully synthetic. These are truly “man –made” products. Oils made from hydrocracked/hydroisomerized mineral oil (API group III) are marketed as synthetic in the U.S. but not in other countries (e.g. Germany). Semi-synthetic oils are mineral oils containing up to 30% synthetic oil blended in.

We recommend and carry fully synthetic products made by Amsoil. We believe these are simply the best products on the market for modern high performance engines. We also carry conventional oils which we recommend for older vehicles and vehicles with high mileage that have not previously used synthetic lubricants.

Amsoil products are available for transmission, transaxle, differential, gear and specialty lubricant applications.

The post Your Motor Needs Oil appeared first on Superstition Motors.