Today’s Atlantic Car Care post focuses on using the proper fluids for your vehicle. Significant advancements in automotive technology have lead to the development of high-tech fluids to keep modern cars operating at peak performance. This is due to both engineering advances and new high-tech materials used to build sedans automotive systems.

A simple example of this is the cooling system. For decades it was primarily made out of iron, steel and rubber hoses. There was one kind of coolant that protected these components from corrosion.

Now cooling system components are made with various metal alloys and plastics. These materials require different additives to protect them from corrosion. Since the materials used vary among sedans vehicle manufacturers, we now have a number of different kinds of coolant.

It’s essential for Heampstead car owners to use the right coolant. If you pour in the wrong kind, it won’t protect the cooling system and may even void the warranty. Check your sedans owner’s manual. Of course, your Atlantic Car Care automotive advisor will know the proper coolant for your vehicle.

Brake fluid is confusing for some Heampstead drivers. Back when we opened Atlantic Car Care 4.5 years ago, most vehicles used Dot 3 brake fluid. Now we have Dot 4 and Dot 5. Some Wilmington people mistakenly think the higher numbers are an upgrade. You know, if 3 is good then 4 must be better. That’s not how it works. They are different formulations to meet the demands of differences in brake systems. Only one of them is designed for your sedans.

Ditto for transmission fluid. For decades there were two basic types of tranny fluid used at Atlantic Car Care: friction modified or not. With the tremendous engineering advances in sedans automatic transmissions, there have been several new types of fluids developed to protect and lubricate them.

Nowhere are the advances in automotive fluids more evident to Heampstead motorists and Atlantic Car Care professionals than in motor oil. Many new weights and formulations have been created to meet the demands of today’s high-tech sedans engine design. Modern engines have more parts and much tighter tolerances. Every year, engines make more power and (thankfully!) get better gas mileage. And along with all the complexity and sophistication, they still have to be durable.

That’s where the new grades of engine oil come in. They have to be formulated to lubricate, protect and clean all of those sedans engine parts, big and little. The oil has to be thin enough to get into little passages, yet resistant to vaporization.

At Atlantic Car Care in Wilmington, we believe that in some ways modern automotive fluids are just as impressive as the new engines. Because weights of oil and types of coolant and transmission fluid are so carefully matched to the vehicle, make sure you always use the proper fluid if you are topping off at home.

Check your sedans owner’s manual or ask your Heampstead service technician. The wrong fluid can cause damage to your sedans engine. If you drive a car or truck around North Carolina with 75,000 miles or more, consider high mileage formulations. These fluids contain extra detergent to clean dirtier older engines as well as additives to condition seals and gaskets. That’ll help prevent leaks. Always be sure that the high mileage fluid is the same weight or type of fluid recommended for your sedans.

Today Atlantic Car Care is talking about the proper fluids for your vehicle. It’s become more complicated with changes in automotive design and manufacturing. It’s not that people in North Carolina are confused as much as they don’t realize how much things have changed in recent years.

If you have questions about the fluids in your vehicle, please don’t hesitate to stop by Atlantic Car Care. You can find us on 21 New Bern Street in Wilmington, North Carolina 28403.
Just give us a call at 9107941390

Let’s take engine oil. Twenty or thirty years ago, there were just a handful of different weights of oil. The weight of an oil is a scientific measure of its properties, particularly its viscosity or thickness.

It was common in those days to use a lighter weight oil in the winter when it’s cold outside. That way the oil would be able to splash around inside the engine and protect the parts before it was fully warmed up. And a heavier weight oil would be used in the summer. The thicker oil wouldn’t thin out too much in the summer heat and vaporize in the engine.

Modern valve trains have become very complicated with more moving parts and small passages than ever before. The valve train is in the top of the engine, so when the car has been turned off for a while, the oil tends to run down to lower areas and the valve train parts are vulnerable at start-up, before the oil starts circulating.

So new weights of oil have been introduced to meet the engineering specifications of these newer engines.

Manufacturers are recommending specific weights of oil. The recommendation is often printed on the oil fill cap. It’s certainly in the owner’s manual. Of course, your Wilmington North Carolina auto service center can look it up for you.

It’s more important than ever to have the correct weight of oil. The wrong weight could actually harm the engine.

Other fluids are also becoming more sophisticated. In the last few years new types of transmission, power brake fluid and coolant have all been introduced for some of the same reasons as for engine oil.

In addition, vehicle manufacturers are now using a wider variety of materials in these systems. Looking at the cooling system as an example, it used to be that the parts were all made out of steel or iron and the hoses were rubber. Now, some parts are plastic, aluminum or other materials.

So the anti-corrosion additives contained in the coolant, or anti-freeze, need to be different in order to protect the different materials used to make the cooling system. If you use the wrong coolant that wasn’t formulated to protect your plastic cooling system parts, they could become corroded and fail. And if you’re using the wrong coolant, your cooling system won’t be covered under warrantee. So it’s important to use the right coolant and to not mix different types.

Your owner’s manual or your Wilmington North Carolina service advisor at Atlantic Car Care can make sure you’re using the right type. You may have heard of universal coolant. Universal, or global, coolant can be added to other types without harmful reactions. That’s OK for an emergency top off, but following your manufacturer’s recommendation for your sedans or other auto type is always a safe bet.

In the area of brake fluid, there are a couple of new formulations. It’s important to remember that the new ones aren’t better than the old ones. They’re just different formulations for different vehicles. So if your vehicle calls for DOT 3, using DOT 4 or DOT 5 is not an upgrade. Use the recommended formula.

There are fluid formulations for vehicles with higher mileage. These are special engine oil, transmission fluid, and so on that contain additives to condition and restore seals and gaskets in older engines.

They’re fine to use as long as they’re a variant of the proper fluid. In other words you can use a high mileage engine oil as long as it’s also the correct weight recommended by the manufacturer. Same goes for transmission fluid; as long as it’s the right type for your transmission.

Suzuki auto repair requires complex knowledge and some very specialized equipment.

That is why our Suzuki car repair shop technicians are ASE certified and experts in the field. Our technicians have been factory training and we use the latest computer diagnostic equipment. This high level training and equipment is just one of the ways we ensure your complete satisfaction.

Wilmington N.C. Suzuki Auto Service
Here are some of the reasons to choose us:

• Quality Service & Repairs

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• 24 Month 24,000 Mile Warranty on All Repairs*

• 25+ Years of Experience

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• Good Advice

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• No Warranty “Gotchas”

Suzuki Services We Perform

• Engine

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• Heating/Cooling

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• Alignment

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• Air Conditioning

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• Battery

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• Shuttle Service and Rental Vehicles

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The holidays are upon us, which means its time for people to start traveling on trips to see friends and family. Whether you’re traveling North to harsh weather conditions or even staying close by, winter-time can create challenges for your automobile.  It can’t hurt to give your car a thorough check up and be prepared for any issues that may arise.

Start off with a self-exam of your vehicle by looking at the following and if you run into problems along the way, be sure to take your car in for further maintenance before travel.

Defroster - You’ll be sorry if you haven’t checked out the defroster and realized that it isn’t working when you’re halfway to your destination and your windshield starts fogging up. Have it repaired before venturing on your road trip if there are any problems.

Check Your Wipers – Replace them if they seem worn and check them periodically throughout the winter. Cold temperatures could cause them to become brittle and you could get ice stuck to the windshield which can cause chips in the glass.

Heater – This is another issue you’ll want to make sure works! If you’re stranded on the side of the road for any length of time or even on a trip that lasts more than 15 minutes in the cold, you’ll need a working heater.

Battery – If your battery is old, it may not be able to provide enough energy to start the car if temperatures dip low. Have your mechanic check it out for you and replace it now rather than at another more inconvenient time.

Antifreeze and Oil – These fluids are crutial during the winter. Antifreeze keeps your car’s fluids flowing, rather than frozen. Make sure the well is filled with fresh antifreeze. Some cars require less viscous oil in colder temperatures. Check your owner’s manual for details.

Lights – Check your head and tail lights as well as blinkers and hazards to be sure everything is working properly. These can be critical in low visibility situations. Make sure all the bulbs are working.

Exhaust System – In the winter, we tend to keep our windows closed. The air in the car is re-circulated. If the exhaust system malfunctions, poisonous fumes can make their way into the interior of the car. Have the system checked if you smell gas or fumes while inside the vehicle.

Brakes – Hopefully you keep your brakes in good repair year round. Ample brake pads and brake fluid are even more critical on slippery roads. If it has been a while since you checked your brakes, do so now. They should be checked every 5000 miles.

Tires – Your tires are an especially critical component of your car. Cold temperatures can cause tires to lose pressure. Check your tire pressure regularly. Also check the treads. Worn or bald tires have little if any traction, particularly on wet or icy surfaces. Good treads could mean the difference in being able to stop or not.

We would like to give you an update on some of the things happening in automotive fluids. You know, cars are becoming more sophisticated everyday – and fluids such as, oil, coolant and transmission fluid are becoming more specialized at about the same pace.

The do-it-yourselfer has to be pretty careful so that they do not actually harm their vehicle with the wrong type of fluid. That is why so many North Carolina car owners rely on the advice of their service consultant to not only get the correct family of fluids, but to suggest the formulation that is best for their car and the way they drive.

Let’s start with engine oil. If you have been paying attention, you will have noticed a number of new oil weights on the scene in the last several years. Modern engines are built to much tighter tolerances and have very complicated valve trains. The oil must be thin enough to lubricate complicated parts when the engine is cold. The weight of an oil is expressed in terms like 20-W-50 or 5-W-30. Manufacturers recommend the weight of oil for each vehicle they make. The recommendation is based on engine design. Your Wilmington service center will know what weight your manufacturer recommends – and it’s important to follow those recommendations. A service adviser at Atlantic Car Care can also offer suggestions for special formulations and can explain conventional and synthetic oils.

Antifreeze, or engine coolant, is another area that has become more complicated. For a long time, manufacturers only called for a couple of different types of coolant. Now there are several different formulations that are needed because of the different materials that manufacturers are using to build the cooling system. Using the wrong type of coolant can actually void your warranty, so you want to get that right.

Transmission fluid is beginning to be specialized as well. New transmission designs have particular requirements that mandate the use of specific formulations. Recently, new, somewhat confusing, standards for brake fluid have also been released.

Not too long ago, there was a good chance that all of the vehicles at your house would use many of the same fluids. However, as automotive technology advances, the array of basic automotive fluids you need will grow. And, some of the formulations will cost a little more. Fortunately, your Wilmington service center will continue to update their training to keep pace with technology so that you’ll get the right fluids your car needs. It’s all part of the commitment your service center makes to your driving peace of mind.