Grand Prix Performance - Costa Mesa, CA

 

Changing your vehicle's oil is one of the most important things you can do to avoid spending loads of money of problems in the future that sprung from not changing your oil.

There are many factors at work that dictate how often you should be changing your oil like how you drive, the condition and age of the engine, the external environment you drive in, and stop-and-go versus highway driving. Owner's manual recommendations for oil and filter changes vary from 3,000 to 10,000 miles.

We recommend that you change your oil and filter every 5,000 miles. That's our best estimate. For the vast majority, 5,000-mile oil changes will help your engine last to a ripe, old age.

You may want to consider changing your oil more frequently if:

• -You drive like a knucklehead: jackrabbit starts, heavy acceleration or high-speed driving
• -You live where the climate is extremely hot or cold
• -You often drive on dirt roads
• -Your engine is old and burns oil
• -You frequently carry heavy loads (several mothers-in-law or other cargo)

Oil undergoes thermal breakdown due to high operating temperature. When this occurs, the oil becomes less effective as a lubricant. And without a good lubricant, parts of the engine rub together and wear each other out. If you don't change your oil frequently, your engine won't last as long as it could. Oil serves many crucial functions, and clean oil performs those functions better than dirty oil. Oil is relatively cheap, and changing your oil every 5,000 miles is a very cheap insurance policy against major repairs down the road.

Grand Prix is your one stop shop for all of your maintenance needs.

Place your car at the level spot. Stop the engine. Wait for a while to let the engine oil to pour down to the oil pan. Pull the engine oil dipstick. If you don't know where is the engine oil dipstick, check your owner's manual, usually it has a bright handle saying "engine oil".

Wipe it off with a clean rag or tissue. Then insert it back all the way down into its place.

Now, pull the dipstick again and check the oil level. Normally it should be at "FULL" mark. For example, here you can see that it's a bit lower. It's not a big problem yet, but it's better to top it up. Check the oil condition: If it's way too black, it's definitely time to change it. If it's slightly-brown, it's O.K. If it's dark-brown, but still transparent, it's admissible but it's better to change it soon.  If it's white (coffee with milk color) it means the engine coolant mixes with the engine oil because of some internal engine problem, for example, blown head gasket - have your car inspected.

How to top up the engine oil:  It would be better to add the same type and brand of the engine oil as you already have in the engine. Add a little amount of the oil as it's shown in the image. Wait for a minute to let the oil to pour down. Check the oil level again with the dipstick. If it's still low, add some more. But don't overfill it. Don't forget to install the dipstick back and close the oil filler cap when you finished.

Michelin is currently working on their fifth generation of green tires and they have proved an improvement of at least 2 percent in improved fuel economy and reduced CO2 emissions with each successive generation. This has been, in their own way a silent revolution, reducing global fuel consumption by more than 3 billion gallons and avoiding 30 million metric tons in CO2 emissions since 1992.

The lesson learned from the past decade and more critically the last 15 months is that together, we as an industry must commit to a new, more sustainable road mobility focused on new realities:

 * Must increase fuel efficiency and thereby reduce CO2 emissions.  The transportation industry is no exception and will not escape this necessity.
*We must improve road safety. This past November, the United Nations hosted the first global ministerial conference on road safety in Moscow. Michel Rollier, the CEO of the Michelin Group, was the only tire executive to participate. Michelin fully supports the roadmap that resulted from this global conference, which aims to curb the number of road fatalities (1.3 million today) and serious injuries (50 million today) by 2020. We know the crucial role that tires play in this fight, particularly in reducing stopping distances and improving vehicle handling.

 

Today we're going to go over a few MUST KNOW "How To's" for every savvy gal on the road.  As a matter of fact, this guide is good for anyone who has a set of wheels...

1.  How to Check the Oil

The first thing you need to know is where to find the oil. The cap on the oil tank may be a little tricky, it is more pull than twist, but you can get it off. It is also important to know which type of oil your car takes, and how to add some oil if you needed to do that on your own.

 

Also find out where the air filter is, if it is accessible. It is cheaper to change your own air filter before a serviced oil change than it is to purchase an air filter

 

2.  How to Check the Transmission Fluid

One important car maintenance task that women should definitely know how to do is to check their transmission fluid. Unless there is a problem, or your car is older, you may not actually have to ever add your own transmission fluid. It is still important to know where it is under the hood, and how to add transmission fluid. Also know which type of transmission fluid to use.

 

3. How to Check the Brake Fluid

Brake fluid is another one of those things we never think about. Have someone show you where it is and how to check it.

 

4. How to Change a Tire

Do you know how to change a tire? While you may never actually have to change your own tire, especially if you have Triple A or don't travel too far off the beaten path, it is still nice to know how to change a tire. Also find out the correct tire pressure for your tires, and how to check the pressure, and add air when needed.

Come by the shop and we'd be happy to show you how to do all of the above...
Knowing how to do basic tasks and car maintenance can make women feel more empowered, and secure when driving.

 

Ok, not every girl needs to know how to tune up her car's engine. Heck, some of us don't even know that we need to tune our car's engine. Nonetheless, here are three basic components of car maintenance that every girl SHOULD know before she hits the road.

This guide will help you know what things to keep an eye on. You won't be able to fix everything that can go wrong, but at least you'll know that something is wrong and will know when you need to seek help.  At Grand Prix, we're committed to being a place that a girl feels comfortable walking into.  You will be treated just as we would want our own mothers, sisters, daughters and wives to be treated- with respect!  Ok, now onto the good stuff...

1) First things first, a girl should know how to check her tire pressure. It's one of the easiest parts of car maintenance but can make a huge difference in how your car performs. Your tires will last longer, and function to their maximum potential, you will save gas and therefore help the environment, you will have less wear and tear on your engine (saving you money long term) and just be all around safer if your tires are aired up correctly.  Believe me; no girl wants to experience a tire blow out on a major interstate just because she drove on over or under inflated tires.

For a few dollars you can buy a basic tire pressure gauge.  Once you have your tire gauge in hand, unscrew the valve stem cap on your tire (it's the little short thing that sticks out by the wheel). Now press the end of the gauge over the end of your valve stem. As you do, you'll hear a little air escaping the tire. It's ok as long as you move quickly. When you have the gauge positioned right, the stick inside it will pop out indicating your tire pressure. The last number visible (the one closest to being hidden) is your pressure. Most car manufacturers have the recommended psi on the inside of the driver's side door jamb.  If you are having trouble, come by Grand Prix, and we'd be happy to do it for you.


2) Another important part of car maintenance every girl should know about is engine temperature. Some cars have a gauge in the dashboard. If your car does, look at it occasionally while you're driving around. Now you'll have an idea what the gauge normally shows. If it goes a lot closer to the hot side than normal, give us a call or just come by the shop so we can take a look for you.

If you don't have that temperature gauge, don't panic. Some cars have a light in the dash that only lights up when the temperature has gone too high. If that light comes on and doesn't turn off, you'll know that it's time to look for help. Don't drive an overheated car. It can cause expensive damage. Under no circumstance, should you raise the hood on a car that has overheated and has steam pouring out of it! That's just asking to get burned.

3) Finally, this would be a very sorry guide to car maintenance if we didn't tell you that every girl should know to take care of her normally scheduled car maintenance. That means, every 5,000 miles or so (every car is different so check your owner’s manual and follow the manufacturer’s recommendation), you should plan on taking your car in for an oil change.  Did you know that we can do that for you at Grand Prix?  Anywho...Once you're in the shop, we can do a once over to make sure everything is in tip-top shape.

Following this guide won't guarantee that nothing ever goes wrong with your car. No one can make that promise. Taking care of these basic car maintenance issues will, however, go a long way towards guarding against surprise breakdowns. And every girl likes that!

Stay tuned for more helpful tips...

Getting your car serviced regularly is one of the most important things you can do to minimize emissions and maximize fuel efficiency.

Regular service can spot lots of problems that reduce gas mileage and increase pollution, such as a broken thermostat, low transmission fluid, sticky brake calipers--or even something as simple as a dirty air filter.

If you can't remember when the last time was you had your car serviced, take it in. In extreme situations, you might increase your mileage by up to 10 percent. So what? Well, if you drove 20,000 miles a year, you would save $145--enough to cover the cost of the service and then some!