Kelowna Auto Repair

Question:What is synthetic oil and should I use it?A Plus Automotive Answer:Regular oil, also called conventional oil, comes from dead dinosaurs. Conventional oil molecules are long hydrocarbon chains of various lengths. Imagine a bunch of pencils – some used and some brand new.Synthetic oil is often more highly refined petroleum-based oil. The molecules are shorter and closer to the same length. Think a bunch of those little golf pencils.Some synthetic oil is man-made. The molecules are rounder and much more uniform. Think marbles.So you can see that as you progress from conventional oil to synthetic blends (a mixture of conventional and synthetic) to full synthetic oil, there will be less friction in your engine. Less friction means less heat – so better lubrication and protection against wear for Kelowna drivers.  Synthetic blends and full synthetics also cost more.Synthetic oil is more resistant to thermal breakdown so less sludge ... read more

Modern vehicles usually have four wheels, a steering wheel, and an engine, just as they have for decades.  But an awful lot has changed since the days of carburetors and drum brakes.  The addition of computers to so many automotive systems has been a game changer, enabling safer braking systems, stability control, and better fuel economy, to name a few. Let’s face it. Vehicles are far more sophisticated than they have ever been.  There was a time when many motorists felt they could take care of some basic maintenance and repair items.  Those days are pretty much gone, and safety is the number one reason you should leave modern vehicle repairs to the pros.Today’s best technicians stay up to date with the latest training and have tens of thousands of dollars in tools and electronic diagnostic equipment at their fingertips. They have the proper lifts and other heavy equipment required for reaching areas that can’t otherwise be reached. They know ... read more

Hey Kelowna drivers, let’s talk about winter tires. We’re not talking about all season tires here, but dedicated winter tires.Modern winter tires do a terrific job for drivers in a wide range of BC winter conditions. First of all, below 7.2 degrees Celsius regular tires become hard and inflexible. That means they don’t provide the road grip you need. Even if you don’t live somewhere in BC with a lot of snow but it still gets below 7.2 degrees in the winter(which is pretty much everywhere) it is vital to understand that you will be safer with winter tires.In addition, they are specifically designed to more effectively move snow and water. That’s the key to traction on ice, packed snow and wet roads. They use a micro-pore compound that allows the tire to bite into ice and snow. They also use wider grooves that run around the circumference of the tread to expel snow from the tire better. The lugs and grooves on winter tires have a specia ... read more

Reports say that the median age for cars on the road is over nine years and that two-thirds have over 120,000 km. In recent years those numbers have continued to rise here in Kelowna and across BC. Many Kelowna folks are keeping their vehicles longer, and the fact that modern cars and trucks are more durable and reliable means that owning a vehicle with a high odometer reading doesn’t have to be a painful experience for drivers.Kelowna drivers with over 160,000kms on their vehicles often ask us about what service intervals they should follow, so let’s start with the special needs of the older vehicle. The reality is that time and distance traveled will take its toll. The engine and transmission will have more sludge. The fuel, steering and brake systems will have gum and varnish built up. There’ll be more dirt and contaminants in the fuel tank. Corrosion and deposits in the cooling system. And seals and gaskets wil ... read more

As engine technology advances, recommended oil change intervals have gotten longer. High quality oil in a well-engineered engine has led to extended intervals.Here’s the problem: With longer oil change intervals, it’s extremely important for Kelowna drivers to follow them closely. Back in the day of 3 months or 5,000 kms, if you went an extra month or an extra thousand kms, your oil was still fresh enough that it didn’t have time to build up much sludge.But if your recommended interval is 12,000 kms and you go over another thousand, you’re getting into heavy sludge territory.Kelowna area motorists absolutely need to follow recommended intervals very closely. And don’t forget your severe service schedule. If you do a lot of stop and go driving, short trips around the Kelowna area, drive in dusty or polluted conditions, hot or cold weather, or haul heavy loads, you’re driving in severe service conditions. Is your dr ... read more