Motor Oil - Which one is right for you?

    The simple truth is that the world is getting more complex. With that has come more options for motor oil for your vehicle. But which one is right for your vehicle? For the most part, you select the motor oil that the manufacturer recommends for your vehicle. But to meet the needs of the modern day motorist, most motor oil companies offer four major types of passenger car engine oil: conventional, synthetic-blend, full synthetic, and high mileage. Which one is right for you? Let's take the following quiz to find out.

 A) I drive a regular mid-sized sedan in generally normal weather conditions in generally normal traffic.

B) I drive a pickup or minivan that occasionally sees duty hauling the kids to soccer practice or towing the boat to the lake.

C) I drive a high-performance or sports car that I like to work out from time to time - maintaining the posted speed limit ato all times, of course.

D) I drive a luxury car that is my baby. I don't care what it cost to keep it in perfect condition.

E) I drive an older car. Its got more than a few miles on the odometer, but it's like a member of the family.


    IF YOU ANSWERED A OR B - CONVENTIONAL MOTOR OIL

         For most drivers, conventional motor oil will do the trick as far as meeting the needs of their vehicle and driving style. Formulators do a great job creating motor oils that work well in many applications. They use additives to keep the oil viscous at low temperatures, keep contaminants held in suspension until they can be filtered out or drained out with the old oil, and keep engine parts clean and cool. Most high-quality conventional motor oils are very good products. However, there are certain driving styles that will put extra stress on motor oil, which is where the next products on our list come in handy.

   IF YOU ANSWERED B - SYNTHETIC BLEND MOTOR OIL

            Synthetic-blend motor oil is a mixture of conventional oil and a synthetic based oil that is specially formulated to achieve certain characteristics.
            The synthetic base improves the oil's ability to protect at temperature extremes. Synthetic-blend motor oil may have better pumpability in cold temperatures and do a better job of protecting the engines "hot spots". If you regularly pull a trailer, or you load down the SUV with passengers, Synthetic-blend motor oil may be the right product for you.

     IF YOU ANSWERED C OR D - FULL SYNTHETIC MOTOR OIL

             Like synthetic-blends, full synthetic motor oil features a highly modified synthetic based oil. Full synthetic motor oil is not blended with conventional oil but is formulated with full synthetic based oil. The benefits of synthetic motor oil is its ability to protect engines at temperature extremes. High-quality synthetic motor oil has very good low temperature flow, and it's very good in its ability to protect hot spots in an engine. For drivers wanting the absolute best in durability, cleanliness, and protection from their motor oil, or for drivers who tend to work their vehicles full snythetic motor oil is the way to go. So, if you answered C or D, you are a good candidate for synthetic motor oil.

     IF YOU ANSWERED E - HIGH MILEAGE MOTOR OIL

              What about older vehicles? Should they feel left out? Absolutely not! Motor oil companies have a formulation for high-mileage engines (over 75,000 miles). High-mileage motor oils are manufactured with seal conditioning additive that can recondition old seals to help with both internal and external oil leaks. They are formulated to make the oil more resistant to hot spots so the oil is less likely to evaporate. These oils formulated for high mileage engines work a little harder than conventional oil which is reason enough to opt to use them if you drive an older vehicle.

               Selecting the right motor oil for you and your vehicle isn't as complicated as you think. Though there are many unique drivers and vehicles, these days motor oil companies are doing a good job of creating a motor oil specially formulated to meet your needs.


               Hot Hot Hot, that is all you can say about the weather. Stay cool and stop by to check out the deals here at Black Motor Company.

                                                                                  Sweating like an oldie

                                                                                  The BLACKMOTORWAY BLOGGER

The dirt on all those filters

    Welcome back to the Blackmotorway Blog. It has been awhile since a new blog has been posted. Let's put some informational blogs up to help with maintaining your vehicle.

     In this blog we will talk about the filters in your vehicle. Let's look at what they do and what tasks each one preforms. One of the major causes of damage to a vehicle and its engine is DIRT. We may not see it but dirt is everywhere in Mother Nature. We use filters to screen out that dirt. The three filters include air, oil, and fuel. Read on to find out what these filters do for our wonderful four wheel driving machines.

   ENGINE AIR FILTER:
      The engine in your car works like a giant air pump. It takes in air, mixes it with fuel, to provide the mixture to power the engine. and that air has dust and dirt particles in it. That dirt can cause great damage to the engine.
The air filter is one of the parts and components of your car that you do need to change regularly. After all, it is one of those parts that really do a messy kind of work. Remember that one of its main functions is to actually prevent particulate matter from entering important parts of your engine.
What is important is that you should be able to keep in mind that air filters need to be changed regularly. Automobile experts suggest that you should at least replace an air filter annually. However, there are exemptions to this rule and these exemptions depend on the kind of performance that your car has along with its frequency of use. If air filters are new, they actually increase your cars efficiency. So it means that if you have old or dirty air filters, you would have higher chances of receiving a lowered efficiency.

     OIL FILTER:

Your engine needs constant lubrication to prevent friction and heat from climbing past tolerable levels. That lubrication comes in the form of motor oil. Over time, the oil in your car's engine will accumulate dirt, debris, and particles. If these elements gain access to your engine, they can cause damage and early wear and tear. The obstacle that stands in their way is your oil filter. The oil and oil filter needs to be changed every 3 months or 3000 miles. Black Motor Co. can change and help you maintain your vehicle's oil and other fluids and maintainance needs.

      FUEL FILTER:

            Ever bought cheap gas that left your car sputtering and spitting. Without the fuel filter, it may not have started and ran at all. Even though gas and diesel are fairly pure from the refinery, after the hauling, storing, and pumping, the fuel tends to soak up impurities like dirt, rust, and water. The fuel filter screens out this debris making sure that the fuel will keep the engine running at peak performance.

       There are other filters which may be located in your vehicle. They include a cabin air filter or seat ventilation filter. Black Motor Co. can replace and maintain all of your filters needs or any other maintainance needs for your vehicle.

     It is that time or year---KEEP AN EYE TO THE SKY!!!!

                                                                Here's looking at you kid

                                                                The BLACKMOTORWAY BLOGGER

     

Pentastar Engine - More Power and Better MPG

    Good day and welcome to our blog page Blackmotorway Blog. We hope that our readers get some good info from our blogs and have some fun along the way. The temperature has risen and so have the winds. The one thing the weatherman never misses is if the wind is going to blow - it will blow - that is a given. So hang on to your hats, if your weatherman says wind it will be windy.
    I am going to post an article from Autoweek about the new Pentastar engine that is in many of the new Dodge, Chrysler, and Jeep models. It is a 3.6L V-6 24 valve dual overhead cam engine. Hope the following article is informative about our new engine.

   

            I have to say sorry for the way the article came up on the blog page. My computer skills are very limited (bad for a blogger). I hope you could move the page around to read. I will try a different idea when I post another article. As you can see the new Pentastar engine is a significant improvement to the Dodge, Chrysler, and Jeep lineup. The article is from Autoweek.com magazine. There are many more articles about our new lineup. Check them out or contact us at Black Motor Co. for more information on any of our vehicles.

           We want to wish best our luck to all the 2011 graduates. Good Luck in all your future endeavours.

                                                          Summer is upon us

                                                          The BLACKMOTORWAY BLOGGER

Blackie's 90th birthday!!!

      Welcome to the Blackmotorway Blog. Hope that everyone's spring is going good. The weather has become somewhat better for outdoor activities in the past week or so which is a welcome site. I am sure that the farmers are thankful for the nice weather. It also does not hurt Brad, Denise, or my feelings since we like the golf game.
       I want to let all the readers know about the celebration taking place this week here at Black Motor Co. We are having a party for Blackie's 90th birthday. We will have Coffee AM here at the business on Friday May 6. Stop by and wish Blackie (Wilber) a happy birthday.
       The birthday sale will be going on all week here at Black Motor Co. Stop by to see the new inventory of Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep. We have a good selection of Dodge Ram trucks, Chrysler Town & Country vans, a Jeep Compass, and 300M Sedan along with the flashy Dodge Charger. We also have the slogan at Black Motor Co. "If you don't see it, ask and we can get it for you!" We also have a large selection of pre-owned vehicles. Let Brad get you into a new ride for your summer travels.
        May is always a busy month with graduations, school wrapping up, and spring sports winding down. We want to wish all the graduates best of luck in their future plans and the area athletes good luck in districts and states meets. GOOD LUCK from Black Motor Co.


                                                           Many more Happy Birthday's

                                                           The BLACKMOTORWAY BLOGGER

Ladies Day Out!!!

     Welcome to the Blackmotorway blog. Just wanted to let you all know about Ladies Day Out. The day is Saturday April 23 from 10:00 to 3:00. There will be over 30 vendors showing their wares. Stop by and see what is new in our Dodge, Chrysler, and Jeep lineup also. This is a great opportunity to get some new items for spring around the house or for you personally. Check out all the fun on Saturday April 23 from 10:00 to 3:00. See you then.

                                                                       Spring will be poppin soon
        
                                                                       The BLACKMOTORWAY BLOGGER

Cleaning the Wheels - The culprit-brake dust

      Once again a warm welcome to The Blackmotorway Blog. I am watching it rain as I write this blog. The rain is a welcome site since it is pretty dry. It is hard to turn down rain because it can get so dry in the summer months. April showers bring may flowers!!! Today let's continue more of the detailing of your vehicle with the wheels and tires.
       
     WHEELS:
Wheels can be divided into two categories: painted and non painted. Both have one thing in common: brake dust. Brake dust is the grayish material that coats the exterior of a wheel and goes a long way towards detracting from their appearance. The source of brake dust is is the brake pads; as they wear, they turn into brake dust. Special wheel cleaners are available that are designed to remove the brake dust and can be purchased to accommodate painted and not painted wheels. If you are not sure if you have painted wheels, take some light polish and put it on a white towel (or another color if the wheel is white). If the surface of the rag is black you have a non painted (metal surface) wheel. If the towel is the color of the wheel, you have a painted wheel. If the towel is not black but the wheel appears to have a metal surface, you most likely have a clear coated wheel. Clear coated wheels can be treated just like painted wheels. If you do have a non painted wheel, it is important to determine the material that the wheel is made of so you'll use the proper cleaner. The surface and how it is treated can make a difference.
          For example chromed, brushed, machined, anodized or polished aluminum wheels have different requirements. Consult the owners manual if the wheels are factory supplied for the proper cleaner to use. If the wheels are aftermarket, ask the wheel manufacturer. It is best to separate wheel cleaning from the washing of the surface of the car. There are three reasons for this:

Avoiding scratches. The wheels and tires are likely to contain large dirt particles. If you use the same wash mit or sponge, the dirt particles could transfer from the wheels to the paint surface, causing scratches.

Wheels are generally dirtier than your paint surface, and so they may require more aggressive cleaning.

Cleaning your wheels separately allows you to use a higher concentration of detergent; you can also use dish detergent which you would not use on the paint surface because it will remove the wax. We recommend that you wash, rinse and dry each wheel separately. Although it may seem inefficient, water spots will not have a chance to appear and you'll be able to quickly tend to the adjacent paint surfaces of the car which will be affected with the wheel washing. Remove hubcaps or any other part of the wheel that is removable and wash them separately. Wash the inside of the hubcap too as any dirt, brake dust etc. inside can rinse out and appear on the wheel as you rinse the car or wheel. If you are looking to do a high level detail job (for example if you are entering a car show) consider removing the wheels for cleaning. This will enable you to clean the back of the wheel and other areas that although they are hard to reach otherwise, they are still visible.

      
         TIRES:
It is easiest to wash the tire along with the wheel. There are a number of good tire treatment products available which will do a fine job. Apply according to the manufacturers directions. Wipe the tire with a light colored towel. If the towel has black residue, give it another treatment. You could end up doing this several times as layers of brake dust and dead rubber come off.
      Do not attempt to treat the tread surface of a tire. It won't do much good as it will soon degrade when the car is driven. It could also affect the performance of the tire.

     Here's hoping that your cleaning and detailing of your vehicle will go a little better with some of the tips given on this blog. If you have any specific questions, feel free to contact us here at Black Motor Co. and we can get answers to your questions. We also want to let the ladies know of our annual "Ladies Day Out" on April 23rd. Come out and see the many vendors. More on the day will be in the next blog so check it out when the blog posts in a week or so.

                                                       Happy trails

                                                       The BLACKMOTORWAY BLOGGER
                  

Detailing 101 - The glass and interior

     Hello, and welcome to a little thing we call The Blackmotorway Blog. Spring has not sprung yet, but soon enough it will be in the 90's. Then we will be begging for some of God's air conditioning. Until then, we are hearty Nebraskan's and can put up with some " cool " temps. Continuing the theme of Spring, Let's look at some more detailing tips to make your vehicle look at it's best both inside and out.
    GLASS:
                       A friend once said: "Glass cleaning is an art", which puts it all into perspective. Clean glass is important if only because dirt and other problems are more obvious on window glass. There are any number of glass cleaners available, most of which contain ammonia, that do a good job of cleaning glass.  A thorough glass cleaning is actually a three part process. First, wash the glass with soap and water along with the rest of the car. Then use your chosen cleaner to clean both the inside and outside of the glass. Cleaning the inside is particularly important for newer cars, as interior plastics release gaseous materials (popularly known as "that new car smell") that leave a film. Microfiber towels can work wonders when it comes to glass cleaning techniques. The last step should be a dry pass, again on both the inside and out. Use a clean cotton cloth or paper towel without any cleaner. If you use paper towels, stay away from any that have a design printed on them. While doing the dry clean step, inspect the glass carefully from various angles for residue and other imperfections. Done properly, you should be able to eliminate all streaking. Bob, our detailer, has a tip to use old newspapers to dry clean vehicle glass which will give it a polishing effect.
      Here's a product that we've used and have learned to like. Rain X can be thought of as a wax specifically designed for your windshield. If you live in areas where it rains a lot or there is a rainy season, this is the stuff to get. Water will bead up just like the wax on your car's finish. Depending on the amount of rain and your speed, you might not need your windshield wipers at all. When you do turn them on, Rain X will help your wipers to do a better job. Your glass will be easier to clean. There are down sides however. It does wear off, so if you want to constantly enjoy the benefits, you'll find yourself reapplying it often, depending on your driving habits. It also takes some effort to apply; be sure to follow the directions and be prepared to cough up some elbow grease when you treat your glass.

    THE INTERIOR:
          We spend all these hours working on our cars as a present to ourselves. That is why many enthusiasts feel that detailing the interior is more important than the body, because that is where we spend most of our time. It would therefore make sense that we take special care that the inside of a car is not neglected. Interior surfaces can be divided into two basic categories. There is the hard vinyl surfaces (such as the dashboard) and breathable surfaces such as cloth seats.

           Vacuuming should be the first step. Use a strong shop or home vacuum. The small ones that plug into a cigar lighter or operate on rechargeable batteries just don't have the power to do the job. Remove the floor mats and do them separately. Vacuum all areas, including those that you will soon be cleaning with a liquid cleaner. Use a brush attachment for areas that could be marred with an impact from a hard edged attachment.

             The hard vinyl surfaces are easy. We use Simple Green, commonly available at department stores, etc. Dilute  with one part concentrate to eight parts water; go heavier (up to one part concentrate to two parts water) for stubborn stains. Drench a cloth in the mixture and then apply liberally to a section about 1' x 2' or less. Quickly follow up by wiping down with a microfiber towel. Note: Do not use Simple Green on metal surfaces.

              Floor mats are easy. Just remove them and whale away at them with the hose as part of the exterior wash job. In most cases you'll get all of the dirt out. If not, apply carpet cleaner and work it with a brush. Clean the vinyl part of the drivers mat with Simple Green or your chosen equivalent. Do not treat that area with a dressing! It could be picked up by the driver's shoes and cause slipping problems when they work the pedals.

               Next apply a good grade foam carpet cleaner to the cloth and carpet areas. Vacuuming first is necessary as that will pick up the loose dirt, which is probably most of the job. Next work in the foam with a brush, using being careful not to be so aggressive as to ruin the surface. Pick up the foam residue with a wet/dry vacuum (best) or a cloth. Serious stains and other problems can be treated with a household carpet cleaner such as Resolve. First try the procedure on a hidden area to be sure that the color is not affected.

               Leather conditioner and cleaner is recommended for leather interiors. Keep in mind that most cars with "Leather" are really only "Leather seating surfaces", which means that there is little real leather. Most of the interior, especially consoles, arm rests, seat backs and door panels are vinyl made to simulate leather
Leather requires essential oils to keep its luster. Start with the cleaner and work it in gently with minimal water on the applicator. After applying the cleaner, rinse your applicator and wipe down again, then towel dry. Use the same procedure to apply the conditioner. Do several applications of conditioner (as opposed to one heavy one) if you feel that the leather needs more work. Leather might add that extra touch of class to a cars interior, but it does require more maintenance than vinyl or cloth. A car with a leather interior should be garaged or covered when not in use for maximum longevity.
      
         There is a reason they call it detailing. Work a q-tip into the HVAC vents with some of the Simple Green solution applied followed with a pass with a dry q-tip. It may seem like a detailing cliche, but it works. It's the sort of thing that will go a long way towards making your interior look "right", although it might not be obvious until after the job is done.

        Don't leave coins on the seat. They can cause premature wear of the material.

               There are so many tips to cleaning and detailing a vehicle, we could not mention them all. If you have any specific problems or questions, feel free to contact us here at Black Motor Co. If we don't have an answer we will get one for you. Our toll free number is 1-888-966-0572.

               Being the sports nut that I am, March Madness is a great time of year. My bracket is blown up but the games are always exciting. Baseball is right around the corner, so My team the KC Royals can be close to 1st place for a while. Maybe they will find the Old Magic one of these years. Always optimistic!!! Have a good end of March as we close in on April.

                                                                From the Old Rusty Golf Swing

                                                                The BLACKMOTORWAY BLOGGER