Shedding Light on The Tire Rotating Process
by Susan Sexton
First of all, let’s clarify what rotating out tires means and why we rotate them at all. By beginning at this point, it will shed light on the necessity of the process. Rotating your tires means simply that you are changing the position of the tires on the vehicle so that the pressure is equally applied to all parts as opposed to being concentrated in one area.
It’s really about how much pressure is put on the tires with every day driving such as sharp turns, parallel parking and general wear and tear. So each time the steering wheel is turned, pressure is put on the front tires. As you can imagine, that causes the front tires to wear a lot quicker than the back ones. As a result of this wear, it is important to change the place of the front and back tires several times during the life of the tires. An easy way to organize your maintenance procedures is to have them rotated every time you change your oil. This makes it easier since the car is already lifted off the ground.
So what happens after we rotate the tires? Several pertinent things: one we maximize the wear and lifetime of the tires, and secondly, we keep them wearing equally otherwise known as equalizing the tread wear. The next logical question would be: how often is rotating required?
The honest answer is it depends on various factors, but the rule of thumb is approximately every 5, 000 to 10,000 miles, or according to the manufacturer’s guidelines. Another simple way to decide how often to perform a rotation is to check out the tread on each one of the tires. If they are wearing unevenly, it is probably time to rotate. Think about this process before taking a long trip, too.
For service in the Sandy Springs area, visit Sandy Springs Toyota Scion at 6475 Roswell Road. Check out their great service specials by giving them a call today at 888-292-1710 schedule your next appointment online today!
Sorting Out Motor Oil Choices
by Susan Sexton
I try to have my motor oil changed regularly, although it’s not my favorite past time. Now, I find I have more choices than ever, and one of the main ones seems to be whether to use synthetic or non-synthetic oil. Luckily the situation appears to be improving, and I am learning I can even switch back and forth.
Synthetic oil initially had some negative perceptions in that the early ones were said to leak.
Reason was the seal-swell characteristics were different from those of the original mineral oils and when the synthetic oil was added; they leaked like an old sports car. The decision to use synthetic versus conventional oil really depends on the age, mileage and manufacturer’s recommendation. For example, on older vehicles with high mileage, it is not recommended to use true synthetic oil. The reason is this oil is thinner and flows more freely often resulting in internal combustion. But, it is important to keep in mind there are semi-synthetics and then oils that are considered full synthetics. So, the best practice is to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for your specific car.
What are the Pros and Cons of Synthetic?
Among the benefits of synthetic oil is that it flows better in cold weather, and the change intervals are longer. You can actually go 5,000- 7,000 miles between changes as opposed to the normal recommendation of 3, 000 miles. However when considering the cost difference, synthetics can be almost twice the price per quart as conventional oil, but since it lasts longer, the difference is closer to a 50-60 % higher cost.
Another little known fact is that synthetic oil can make your engine run longer since it creates less engine wear because it is so slippery. Please note that it is not generally recommended during the initial new car break-in period due to the fact that since it is slippery it limits the wearing of parts. This initial parts wearing is actually what leads to proper engine break – in.
Still confused? If so, here’s the smartest recommendation, check with your local car dealer or manufacturer on the best option for your vehicle. For service questions, visit Sandy Springs Toyota Scion at 6475 Roswell Road. Check out their great service specials by giving them a call today at 888-292-1710 or schedule your next appointment online.
