36 —

—Weenessay, Aoril 22, 1998 - North Shor 7e News

aS pccoGareGare

‘e 6 ma

a Nearly half the respondents to a survey stated that when they have their
kids in the car for a long ride, bathroom breaks are needed:
(a) every hour’ (b) every. food/gas stop (c) every hour and a half.

Answer all the questions, then fill in this form and drop ‘it off at:

thr

~ By Gerr Gerry Matioy

(9 months

Contributing Writer

CHANCES are, you
don’t personally change
the oil in your vehicle’s
engine. -

With. the proliferation of
fast-lube fra s, and the
increasing difficulty in dispos-
ing of used oil, ‘that is now a

“chore for only the most dedi-

cated do-it- -yourselfer.

north shore

1139 Lonsdale Ave., North Vancouver,
by Wednesday May 6/98.

Name:
“ Address:

Phone #:

will be contacted by Phone before

__*Prizes include tires, tune-ups, road safety courses, first aid kits and more... Limit af-one
entry per person. Winners will be chosen by random draw from all correct entries and
May 15. Winners must also be available for a photo.

(c) 12 months

But thar doesn’t mean you
are off the heok for making
sure the oil is changed when
needed, nor for ensuring thac
the right oil is installed.

When to change oil

There is no single answer as to
how often your engine gil
should be changed. It depends
on. several factors, including:
type of vehicle, oil used, weath-
er conditions, driving patterns,
terrain. covered, load carried,

“your car or truck

1
f

your vehicle Owner's Manual.
Your vehicle’s manufacturer
specitics a minimum change
interval, usually in terms of
both time and distance —
whichever comes __ first.
‘Typically, those recommended
intervals are 8,000 km (5,000
miles) and three months, or
mere, Much more in some
cases.

But, if your dnving involves
frequent. shert trips, cuying
heavy loads, or operation in
dusty conditions, very. hot or
cold weather, or mounrinous
terrain, a more frequent change
interval will be recommended.

Those.’ recommendations

are conservative, It is notin the-

manufacturers’ interest t0 ree:
omiuiad service intervals that
are likely co limit their prod-
ucts’ durability, Tf you follow

them rigorously, using the right .
tind of oil, your engine should

be expected to
169,000 “km. (1,000. miles)
without an oil- related failure.

4s jong as
possible “perhaps ‘doubling
thar life expectancy -— chang-
ing oil more frequently. is an.
inexpensive means to thar end.:
Many maintenance profes-
sionals recominend oi] changes
every 5,000 km (3,000 ‘miles),
and follow that schedule with
their own vehicles. ;
Even if you intend to keep
your car or truck for only a

short ume, and are not inter- --

ested in prolonging its overall
life, you should change oil at
least twice a year — preferably
spring and fai — regardless of
distance travelled.

What oil to use ;

Just as important as when you
change oil is what oil you use.
Even if you don’t specify

the oil yourself, you should at-
the very least check to be sure,

the one recommended satisfies
your requirements.

“Hf the ‘oil presenied to

But how do you know?: ‘Of

manufacturers requirements for

use in their latest” gasolin

cngine vehicles —prominently:

display a “Starburst” logo.
Eaming the right to di

that logo is a long and arguous:

process, involving. a series |

performance tests in actual

ina variety of engines: Keep

the logo is just as tougl

oils displaying it are po

a rigorous and .ongoing:

dom sampling: and

qua

4

doesn’t have one, don't
—— at least not for use. in’
model vehicle, ‘That’s allé
need to know about oil
Viscosity grade

Your only other \¢orce

’ what viscosity grade:to sé

Viscasity is the mast signifi

_ cant ph cal fe erty

uid heney has a high visco
while “that ‘of water’

_ Actual, oi! : viscosity

greater az lows

ity inhibits © the’ ability:
engine. to, crank under.
power, and may prevent it fron
starting. Ir may”al the

Oil's abitiry.to flaw into the.o

pump, resulting in u
damage to costly" engine p

_Athigh temperature; ut
may thin to the point where,
lubricating ,-film )
allowing metal to metal co!
and severe wear.

thercfore, is one: which‘do
thicken too much:
cold nor thin too i

An-engine | ‘oil’ sis
defined "by. its SAE
Grade- (e.g:;SAE!3
refers

all the mysteries you face when “°°

shopping for automotive prod-~ -
ucts, there is perhaps nonc so .

unfathomable as the labé!.on a. i

container of engine oil. Not to:
There. are’ only. owo-
things you need to know about.:
oil: quality and viscosity grade. -

worry.

Quality ee
Since 1994; a new system of.
ensuring engine oil quality has

been is’ effec., developed an
i

highest quality engine

“otis ~- these. which satisfy auto

high temperatul Ev

‘the: first -num!

how. ever, the denial