Grand Rapids Auto Repair

So how do you like your drinking water – Clean or mixed with dirt and metal shavings? Clean, right? Your vehicle engine would answer the EXACT same way about its oil. Similar to your home water filter, an oil filter’s job is to remove oil contaminants. It sifts out the solid particles while allowing the oil to flow unrestricted through the engine. Likewise, over time the oil filter can become full or “clogged,” and the oil and contaminants will flow around the filter. As a safety mechanism, the bypass is allowed because as far as your engine is concerned, dirty oil is better than none at all. However, when this occurs, the contaminants (dirt and metal shavings) head straight for the engine where they can eventually cause permanent damage. Studies also show that fuel economy and emissions are adversely affected during by-passing. Ok, so then which do you prefer to breathe – fresh or stale, polluted air? Similar to the oil filter, your engine’s air filter cap ... read more

So what’s all this about filters? A new oil filter keeps contaminants out of your expensive engine. A new air filter can help improve your vehicle’s performance. And a new cabin air filter protects you and your passengers from mildew, allergens and more. Let’s look at each type of filter and when it makes sense to change them. OIL:Most vehicle manufacturers recommend changing the oil once a year or every 7,500 miles in passenger car and light truck gasoline engines. For diesel engines and turbocharged gasoline engines, the usual recommendation is every 3,000 miles or six months. However, when you read the fine print, you’ll find those recommendations are for vehicles that are driven under ‘ideal’ circumstances. Unfortunately, what most of us think of as ‘normal’ driving is actually ‘severe service’ driving, which include frequent short trips, stop-and-go city traffic driving, driving in dusty conditions (gravel roads, etc.), and/or driving at sustained highway spee ... read more