= AuT ASK THE EXPERT ASK THE Expert is a weekly column in the North Shore News’ Automotivc section. Each week a reader’s question will be answered hy an expert from the British Columbia oo Automobile Association (BCAA). This week’s question is: rr a My ci: is always black, even a few days after ue I’ve had an oil change. What do you think the a @ probicin is? Fe Evelyn Jacob, , Vancouver os The fact that \our engine oil turns black is really not a problem, us. . e but proof tha: ut is doing its job. Oil is more than just a lubri- cant; it also cools moving parts inside the engine, reduces engine noise, to and stops corrosion. il also has one other very important function. Oi! Ty acts as a cleaner and suspends the engine ‘dirt,’ for want of a better ¥ “ word. The major particles of this ‘‘dirt”’ are trapped in the oil filter as oil ° passes through it, and .he rest are held in the oil until it’s changed. ‘ Changing the engine oil frequently is the best way to make the engine : _ in your car last longer. In city driving conditions, you should change the Bo, oil at least every 5,000 km. You should also change the filter every time a you change the oil. The filter cannister also holds about a litre of oil . black oil! If your engine is very ‘‘dirty’’ inside, a couple of short interval oil and filter changes should make a difference. You might also have your " mechanic check the engine’s crankcase breathing (PVC) system. Bob McHugh, BCAA’: Consumer & Technical Advisory Dept. If you have an auto-related question, write to: ‘‘Ask the Expert,’? North Shore News, 1139 Lonsdale Avenue, North Vancouver, B.C. V7M 2H4. , | Get ready for Summer Tune your Mazda! : SPRING & SUMMER FREE 20 POINT fe TUNE-UP pls SAFETY INSPECTION ° - 1 Batt bk 12. Exhaust system ot Replace engine oil & R connections 13, Steering linkage filters Top up ali fluid 2Cootant strength 14 Oriveshatt & lf universal jomnts levels. Wash & clean AHeater hoses 15. Front & rear car. 5 All oil levels suspension 9 5 Ball fluid levels. 16. Shock absorbers 7 All lights 17. Tiresttread wear 8 Fuel filter 18. Belts Plus 9 Air cleaner fitter 19. Brakes . parts 10 P.C.V. valve 20. Test drive - MOST MAZDA CARS & LIGHT TRUCKS "1 Windshield wiper cornments an | = : Genuine railed Bete ; ~ Marta Parts OVERHAULS es & Accessories |; « ENGINES * TRANSMISSIONS ¢ CLUTCHES e SHOCKS of . B Specialized . Mazda - WE SURROUN . Service | WITH SATISFACTION 7 NORTH SHORE 700 MARINE DRIVE, N.VAN. . "OPEN MON: FRI. 8:90AM - 5:00 PM 987 4458 = = WHY KN2TS? sin LL tO 3 “Learning to te knots, like sheepshanks, bowlines, and grannys, helped prove to my parents [ really wasn’t all fingers and thumbs! They began to respect me!” om of ft 27 ~ Friday, June 8, 1990 - North Shore News Y E— S Smart cars could save lives, energy From page 26 with Highest Efficiency and Un- precedented Safety). The project, the most ambitious and expensive ' in the world, involves 15 European car companies and hundreds of research institutes and electronics firms. West Berlin was the first city to be wired with a system of roadside infra-red and radio beacons as part of a road guidance system. The Prometheus program in- cludes a new idea called a ‘troad- train.’’ where 2 group of vehicles controlled by radio waves travels together at the same speed. Drivers sit behind the wheel but do not ac- tually steer, accelerate or brake. Computer-controlled traffic lights allow the ‘‘road train’’ to proceed uninterrupted. In Osaka, Japan, the National Police Agency and the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications have fitted two police cars, nine taxis, 20 buses and four passenger cars with AMTICS, an Advanced Mobile Traffic Information and Communications System. Infor- mation about traffic conditions within a 12 mile radius of the city centre is beamed from a central traffic information centre to TV monitors in the cars. In conjunction with AMTICs, Toyota, Honda, Nissan and Maz- da are also developing their own in-car navigation systems that use computerized map displays and in- formation on services, gas stations, and hotels stored on a compact ‘| Oil & Filter Change Includes: genuine Suzuki oil filter, drain plug gasket & 10/40 premium motor oil disc. in the United States, General Motors currently has 25 Oldsmobiles testing electronic navigation systems in Southern California. In a more ambitious plan set for 1992, General Motors, together with the U.S. Department of Transportation, the American Automobile Association, and the city of Orlando, Florida, will test 100 Oldsmobile Trofeos with computer navigation systems. At the moment, the cost of these systems is tvo expensive for the average car buyer, but experts foresee navigation systems coming down in price to about the cost of a car radio by the year 2000. ON ALL TOYOTAS NOW! Vanccuver’s *1 Customer Satisfaction Dealership |DOWNTOWN TOYOTA | 1290 Burrard (near Davie) 682-8881 (3) Ege 90 SIDEKICK JX 4 wheel drive, P/S, P/B, deluxe interior, mags, ail season tires, 3 year (80,000 km) factory warranty Beat the Summer Heat a 05 Special cooling system [-TUNE-UP SPECIAL — "40% OFF parts & labour | Book early, and bring this coupon in with you. Prices only in effect until July 13th, 1990 (NG extension on special) includes: check ail hoses, pressure test cooling system, remove old coolant & install new, bleed Cooling System ‘i ew ww te wm ee we mene wee ewe ee ne eee we eee ee a (15 minutes to North Shore) 254-0811