How Filters Keep Your Car Clean Under the Hood

Your car has three different types of filters that work to keep the contaminants, debris, and impurities out of the fuel system, engine air supply system and car cabin air supply. They are the oil filter, air filter, and cabin air filter, respectively. If any of these filters is not functioning optimally, you will soon see that your car is not running, as it should. Thus, it is advisable to have your mechanic check them at regular intervals as recommended by the car manufacturer. Also, make sure you have them cleaned or replaced when they show clogging.

Air filter
What the air filter does: The air filter protects your engine from organic and inorganic debris that may enter it. These can be bugs, dirt, road debris, water or any other impurities the car might pick up on the road. The air filter also ensures that your engine gets the oxygen-rich air supply it needs to efficiently burn fuel and give you the maximum mileage per gallon of gasoline.

Symptoms of wear or clogging: If the air filter does not clean effectively, the engine has to work harder to burn fuel. Not only does it consume more fuel, but it also does not burn it completely. As a result, unburnt fuel makes its way out of the exhaust resulting in a black sooty smoke and even flames. You’ll also notice lower horsepower and acceleration, and lower fuel efficiency along with coughing sounds from the car engine. You might also have trouble starting up the engine because of sooty deposits on the spark plug.

When to change the air filter: It is advisable to replace the air filter every 10,000 to 15,000 miles or once in 12 months. However, if you live in a rural area or drive in dusty roads frequently, you might want to have it replaced every 6,000 miles.

Cabin air filter
What the cabin air filter does: The cabin air filter keeps the air inside the car cabin clean. It filters out dirt, dust, pollen, allergens, smoke, soot, mold spores, and other contaminants and prevents them from entering through the air-conditioning and heating vents.

Symptoms of wear or clogging: If the cabin air filter is not performing properly, you’ll notice a musty odor in the car and low pressure air flow from the car cabin vents. This is because of unfiltered air circulating in the cabin. You might also notice that the air-conditioning or heating is not very effective. A clogged car cabin air filter will result in your engine diverting power towards it and you’ll notice a lower horsepower.

When to change the cabin air filter: Consult the owner’s manual for directions on when to change the cabin air filter. Most manufacturers recommend that you change it every 12,000 to 15,000 miles or once in 12 months. Depending on the conditions in which you typically drive, you could have your mechanic check the cabin air filter every six months.

Fuel filter
What the fuel filter does: Essentially, the fuel filter works to protect your engine and keep it working. It cleans and filters the motor oil to remove the contaminants and metal shavings it gathers while circulating around the engine. An efficient fuel air filter can help prolong the time frame between motor oil changes. Most fuel filters come with a bypass valve that allows the motor oil to flow around the filter if it is too clogged and does not allow the free flow of oil.

Symptoms of wear or clogging: A worn out or clogged fuel filter will cause the engine to work harder to pump oil. This will result in lower fuel economy and slower acceleration. An insufficient motor oil supply can also cause friction in the engine’s vital parts, and overheating. Thus, your engine could stop functioning and the car could come to a complete halt.

When to change the fuel filter: The frequency with which you need to have the fuel filter replaced can depend on the conditions in which you drive and the kind of filter media or the membranes inside the fuel filter. Oil filters with cellulose media need replacing every 3,000 miles while those with synthetic media could need a change at every 5,000 to 7,000 miles. Oil filters with microglass media remain effective up to 10,000 miles. As an added precaution, have your mechanic check the fuel filter for clogging every time you take the car for maintenance.

10 Signs Your Car Needs an Oil Change and Tune-up

Engine oil is like the blood of every car. The engine needs oil to lubricate its moving components and keep them operating smoothly. In fact, engines of all kinds need oil in order to function. It doesn’t matter if you’re using a motorcycle, generator, or even a lawnmower. If it’s got an engine, then it needs to be lubricated with oil.

An engine is filled with parts that are constantly moving and rubbing together. This constant rubbing creates heat from all the friction. You need oil to flow through these moving parts so that it can absorb the heat and prevent overheating.

The Top 10 Signs
There are so many different signs that will show up which indicate that your vehicle needs an oil change and possibly a tune-up. When you take your vehicle in for an oil change, the service person will usually inspect your vehicle and then give you additional recommendations on what they think needs to be done. However, you shouldn’t always depend on them to do this accurately because they might not always catch every issue. That is why you need to pay attention to the signs which indicate that you need a tune-up of some kind.

Below are the top 10 signs of your car needing an oil change and/or a tune-up.

Car Stalling – If you’re driving and your vehicle begins to stall, then you could have a big or small problem. A small problem would be if you have a clogged fuel filter or bad spark plugs. Something like this can be replaced with a simple tune-up.

Difficulty Starting Engine – If you notice that you’re consistently having problems turning on your engine, then you might need to replace your battery. You may notice the engine hesitating before it starts up while the lights on the dashboard dim a bit. Clearly, you need a tune-up that involves a new battery.

Warning Lights – The computers and sensors in vehicles today make it easier for them to detect a problem early on before it gets worse. If you notice an indicator light illuminating on your dashboard, use your owner’s manual to see what that light means. Warning lights will warn you about all kinds of problems such as low battery, taillight burned out, transmission malfunction, and so on. However, if you need an oil change, then you will see the oil change light illuminate. In some cars, it is the check engine light.

Vibration on Flat Surfaces – If you notice your car vibrating on flat surfaces or roads, there could be many different reasons for this. Sometimes, though, you might just need to balance your tires or possibly get new ones if the treads are worn. There could be low air pressure in your tires or a faulty universal joint as well.

Overheating – If you don’t have enough oil in your engine or if the oil hasn’t been changed in a while, then it won’t do as good a job of lubricating the engine’s components. This will cause the engine to heat up more and eventually overheat. An oil change will fix this problem.

Loud Noises – Engine oil gets old and worn after a while. That is why car manufacturers recommend you change your oil every 5,000 miles or so. If you have old oil in your vehicle, then it is likely getting dirtier and thicker. This will make it harder for the oil to lubricate your engine’s components. As a result, your engine will begin making loud noises because of the lubrication failure. Get an oil change right away.

Oil Smell – If the interior cabin of your vehicle is starting to smell like oil, then you know you have some problem with your oil. It usually means there is an oil leak and that it is burning due to an overheated engine. You’ll want to fix that overheating problem and then change your oil right afterward.

Exhaust Smoke – If you live in a cold environment then you are used to seeing vapor emitting from the tailpipe of your vehicle. However, if you actually start seeing smoke come out of it, then you probably have an oil leak. The smoke is the result of less oil being in your engine to lubricate its parts, due to the leak. So, get the leak fixed and the oil replaced.

Dark Oil – If you’ve ever seen clean oil before, it kind of has a bright amber color to it. But when oil becomes old and dirty from the build-up of residue particles in the engine, then it becomes a much darker color. You should make it a habit of sticking a dipstick into the oil of your engine and then removing it. The color that gets onto the stick is the color of the oil. If it’s dark, then you need to change your oil.

Shifting Hesitation – If you are driving an automatic vehicle, then you should have no problems with shifting between gears. But if there is hesitation or lag when you shift gears, it could mean that you need new transmission fluid or filters. Of course, it could mean a worse problem too. That is why taking your car in for a tune-up will at least detect what the problem is.

What does a tune-up involve?
We’ve all heard the term “tune-up” as it relates to vehicles. You might think a tune-up means getting an oil change and having your windshield washed. But in actuality, there is a lot more to a tune-up than that. A tune-up means you are having various components and parts of your vehicle inspected and replaced if they are worn out. Some of these areas include your distributor cap, fuel filter, PCV valve, air filter, spark plugs, brakes, hoses, belts, and wires. The service person will also check your idle speed, idle mixture, sensors, and ignition timing. If any of these areas are not normal, they will be adjusted appropriately.

5 Causes of car engine low compression and how to fix

Car engine compression refers to when air and gas are mixed together in the cylinders of an engine. This process is required for the car to move and function. If there are any problems with the compression process, then you will experience all kinds of car problems.

It will be easy to tell when you have a low compression problem because you may experience a misfire when you try to start the engine. Either that or the engine will provide a weak performance as you’re driving the vehicle down the road. The worst-case scenario would be the car not starting if all the cylinders have no compression.

Top 5 Common Causes
There are many reasons why low compression might exist in a car engine. Sometimes there will be low compression in just one cylinder of the engine and other times there will be low compression in all cylinders. You just have to understand the main possible causes of low compression in a car engine and then fix or replace whatever is damaged. Below are the top 5 causes of low compression in car engines.

Holes in Piston – You probably know that the cylinders of an engine have pistons in them. These pistons are typically made from aluminum alloy and are supposed to be able to handle the power of combustion. However, if there overheating in the engine, then hot spots will get onto the piston.

After a while, these spots will burn holes right through the piston. Once that happens, gases will leak through these holes and cause low compression to take place.

Leaky Valves – The top of each cylinder contains exhaust valves and intake valves. Air and fuel go into the intake valve for the combustion process. The gases which form from this go out of the exhaust valve. If these valves become overheated, they could start to leak gas prematurely out of them. Once this happens, you have low compression.

Worn Timing Belt – There is a timing belt in every engine which connects the camshaft and crankshaft together. If the timing belt were to be broken or damaged, the camshaft would no longer be able to turn anymore. This means it cannot open or close the exhaust valve or intake valve properly. As a result, the combustion in the cylinders will be ruined and no gases can get released. So, you have low compression because of it.

Head Gasket Fails – There is a gasket between the area on top of the engine where the cylinder head is connected. If for some reason the gasket becomes faulty and starts to break, then it will leave a tiny hole in between the cylinder and its head. This causes the gases in the cylinder to leak out of the hole in the gasket. Then you will have low compression and a weak engine.

Bad Piston Rings – Overheating can cause the rings of the piston to become damaged or broken. This will cause carbon gases to leak through the rings because they are no longer able to seal them inside of the cylinder.

How to Fix
The first thing you need to do is use a compression gauge and test to see if there is actually low compression in your engine. This process will usually take 45 minutes so make sure you have some free time on your hands. If you don’t have a compression gauge, then you can either purchase one or take the car to the auto shop and have them test the compression for you.

If they find there is low compression, the next step is to inspect the cylinder, piston, valves, and gasket to see if any of them are damaged or broken. From there, you can replace whatever is damaged. However, this will be a lengthy and costly job because it involves taking out the engine. Be prepared for that.

Symptoms and Effects of Wrong Engine Oil in Car

The motor oil in automobiles has to function under various temperature and pressures. For example, vehicles must endure the cold weather of the winter and the hot weather of the summer. Oil has a harder time flowing in the cold and an easier time flowing in the summer. And if you’re hauling a heavy load on top of that, it is even more work for the oil. This resistance to flow calculation is known as viscosity.

There are standards for measuring the characteristics of oil which have been determined by the American Petroleum Institute. SN is their latest standard set forth for all gasoline engines. Because of this, all the oil you buy in the present will have to be equal or better than the previous standards such as SG, SF, SJ, SL, and SM. Check your owner’s manual to find the right oil for your car and at least 2 accurate multi-grade specifications that coincide with the engine of your vehicle. Do not just look for a brand name when choosing oil. Your manual should recommend an oil that has a requirement such as “compliant with standard SN of API.”

The numerical codes of these standards are defined by the Society of Automotive Engineers. For example, winter is represented by the letter “W” and it is only suitable when the viscosity is equal or less than 25. This means it is best used in the wintertime or cold temperatures. If the viscosity of the oil is over 25, then it is too thick and should only be used in warmer temperatures.

Wrong Engine Oil Effects
If the cold viscosity of your oil is too much, then you won’t be able to start your car in colder temperatures. If the hot viscosity of your oil is too much and then you start your car, the oil will lose its strength and it won’t lubricate the components of the engine properly. This will result in the oil being burnt.

It does not matter which motor oil brand you use. The only thing that matters is the viscosity rating such as 10W30 or 5W20. Your owner’s manual will tell you which one to use. If you end up using the wrong oil in your vehicle for too long, the components of the engine won’t be lubricated as much which will result in the engine’s life being shortened. If the owner’s manual recommends you use synthetic oil, then that is what you should use. Do not believe the myth that mixing synthetic oil with regular oil is bad for the engine because it is not. You won’t benefit from doing this, though.

Use the oil that is recommended by the manual. Just make sure it is a multi-grade oil which matches the service standard that is required. If you get your oil changed and end up putting a heavier oil in your vehicle one time, then it won’t become a huge issue. All it will do is lower your fuel mileage. However, the manufacturer could provide a recommendation to go with an oil that has a higher viscosity if the usage of the oil is more demanding.

5 Common Engine Noises (and What They Mean)

If your car starts making weird engine noises and they are sounds which you are not accustomed to, it can be confusing. All cars will emit some sort of noise, which is the general nature of a vehicle. It develops what some people refer to as a “personality,” and these noises become part of the performance of the car.

These noises do not necessarily mean anything is wrong with the vehicle, but we all get to know our cars, until one day it makes a noise that stands out from the usual tones. That’s when we tend to tune in and get worried.

Here’s a list of what some of these noises might indicate.

1. Clicking and Tapping Sounds

An audible tapping or engine clicking noise coming from the front of your car will definitely draw your attention. Your ears will perk up and you will tune in to the noise, open a window and try to figure out what is going on. The tapping or clicking will increase as you accelerate and become faster. This could be what is known as a ‘tappet,’ or the upper valve train. The causes could be a number of issues starting with a worn part. It could also indicate that the oil pressure is low. Check your oil pressure gauge when you hear this sound and follow guidelines to determine the exact problem. Take the dip stick out and make sure you have enough oil in there.

2. Deep Knocking Noises

These are usually a sign of deep trouble and yes, you should be worried. ‘Rod knocking’ sounds could mean that one part deep inside the engine has worn out. If your rod bearings have worn completely out or become too loose, it is only a matter time before the bearings fail. In this case, you should not use the car until the knocking engine noise has been fully and properly tested, diagnosed and repaired.

3. Rattling and Whining Sounds

If you hear a whining or rattling engine noise from your car when you accelerate it could possibly be that your cam shaft belt is badly aligned or slipping. Have your cam shaft belt checked or look it over yourself if you have the right knowledge. It should really be fixed by a good mechanic, otherwise you could have more trouble further down the road.

4. Squealing When Accelerating

This is an unmistakable sound and it is quite ear splitting. This is your fan belt telling you it is in pain. The fan belt can loosen over time and when you start your engine and the fan belt (often called the serpentine belt) can squeal when the rubber teeth underneath it start to drag. If the fan belt is loose it will not be able to move at the same tempo as the pulleys which control it, hence the squealing noise. If this happens with your vehicle you should look in the manual for repair procedures and tighten it correctly. It may have worn enough to need replacing.

5. Grinding Engine Noise

If you hear a deep grinding engine noise, this may not be your engine, but your brakes. Check your front brake pads for signs of complete wear. If the metal is grinding against the cylinders, replace your brakes. If the noise does continue, check with a good mechanic for correct diagnosis.

Symptoms of Bad or Failing Intake Manifold Gaskets

Common signs include the engine constantly overheating, coolant leaking, engine misfires, and a decrease in power, acceleration, and fuel economy.

The intake manifold gaskets are some of the most important gaskets found on an engine. Gaskets are the seals placed between engine components before they are assembled in order to provide a reliable seal. They can be made of paper, rubber, metal, and sometimes a combination of the three.

The intake manifold gaskets are responsible for sealing the intake manifold against the cylinder head(s). Apart from sealing engine vacuum, certain designs will also seal engine coolant. When the intake manifold gaskets have an issue, they can cause drivability problems and even engine overheating. Usually a faulty intake manifold gasket will produce a few symptoms that can alert the driver of a potential issue.

1. Engine misfires and decrease in power, acceleration, and fuel economy

One of the most common symptoms of an issue with intake manifold gaskets is engine performance issues. As the vehicle acquires mileage, the intake manifold gaskets may wear out and eventually leak. This can cause major performance issues, as the intake manifold gaskets seal engine vacuum and pressure. A vacuum leak caused by a bad intake manifold gasket can throw off the engine’s air-fuel ratio and cause engine performance issues such as misfires, a decrease in power and acceleration, a reduction in fuel efficiency, and even stalling.

2. Coolant leaks

Another symptom of a faulty intake manifold gasket is coolant leaks. Some intake manifold gaskets also seal engine coolant, and if the gasket wears out it may lead to a coolant leak. This may produce a distinct coolant smell, along with steam, and drips or puddles of coolant underneath the vehicle. Coolant leaks should be addressed as soon as possible, in order to prevent them from becoming a greater issue.

3. Engine overheating

Engine overheating is another symptom of a possible issue with the intake manifold gaskets. A coolant leak will eventually lead to engine overheating when the coolant level drops too low, however there are instances where overheating can occur without any visible leaks. If the intake manifold gaskets leak coolant into the intake manifold the engine may overheat as a result, without any visible external leaks. Any coolant leaks should be addressed as soon as possible to prevent the possibility of serious engine damage occurring due to a bad intake manifold gasket.

While a faulty intake manifold gasket will produce symptoms that quickly alert the driver of an issue, there can be instances where a leak is difficult to detect. If you suspect that your intake manifold gasket or gaskets may be having an issue, have the vehicle inspected by a professional technician from AutoFactorNG to determine if the gasket should be replaced.

Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Engine Mount

Common signs include impact noises, excessive vibrations, and engine movement.

Engine mounts are the component responsible for securing the engine of a vehicle to the chassis. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes to fit a wide variety of needs, but they all serve the same purpose of mounting the engine and dampening engine vibration. They are usually made of metal and rubber. Metal is used to be able to withstand the force and torque generated by the engine, and rubber is used to absorb and dampen the vibrations. As engines generate a considerable amount of vibration in their regular operation, when there is a problem with the motor mounts, it can usually be quite noticeable. Usually problematic motor mounts will produce a few symptoms that can alert the driver of a potential issue that should be serviced.

1. Impact noises coming from the engine bay

One of the most common symptoms associated with worn engine mounts are impact noises coming from the engine bay. Worn, damaged, or broken motor mounts can cause clunking, banging, and other impact type sounds as a result of the weight of the engine shifting excessively to the point of contact.

2. Excessive vibrations

Another symptom of a bad or failing motor mount is excessive vibration. If the rubber or vibration dampening parts of the motor mount wear out or break, it will significantly reduce the mounts ability to absorb engine vibrations. Undamped engine vibrations will cause the entire vehicle to vibrate, which may make the cabin uncomfortable for the passengers.

3. Engine movement

Another symptom of bad or failing engine mounts is an engine that moves in the engine bay. If the engine mounts are in good condition, they should be able to secure the engine firmly in the engine bay. If they are worn or broken, however, this may result in an engine that will move forward, backwards, or side to side in the engine bay. The movement may be especially pronounced when accelerating, and may also be accompanied by an impact noise of some sort.

Due to the amount of vibration that engines generate as part of their regular operation, motor mounts are an important component on any vehicle. When they fail, this will not only make the cabin uncomfortable for the passengers, it can also place an additional strain that can damage other components. If you suspect that your motor mounts may be having an issue, have the vehicle inspected by a professional technician, such as one from AutoFactorNG. They will be able to look over your vehicle and determine if it needs an engine mount replacement.

Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Catalytic Converter

Common signs include reduced engine performance, rattling sounds, and the Check Engine Light turning on.

A catalytic converter is an exhaust emissions component that works to reduce vehicle emissions and pollution. It is a metal canister that is installed in the exhaust system. It is filled with a chemical catalyst, usually a platinum and palladium mixture, and helps to convert the vehicle’s emissions into non-harmful gasses. Usually a faulty catalytic converter will produce a few symptoms that can alert the driver that service may be required.

1. Reduced engine performance

One of the first symptoms commonly associated with a bad or failing catalytic converter is a reduction in engine performance. The catalytic converter is built into the vehicle’s exhaust system, and as a result, can affect the performance of the engine if it develops any problems. A clogged converter will restrict exhaust flow, while a cracked one will leak. Both can negatively affect engine performance and can cause a reduction in power and acceleration as well as fuel economy.

2. Rattling noise

Rattling noises are another symptom of a bad or failing catalytic converter. If a catalytic converter becomes old or damaged internally from excessively rich fuel mixtures, the catalyst coated honeycombs on the inside of the converter can collapse or break apart causing a rattle. The rattle may be more obvious when starting the vehicle, and will get worse over time.

3. Check Engine Light comes on

A bad or failing catalytic converter can also cause an illuminated Check Engine Light. The oxygen and air fuel ratio sensors that modern vehicles are designed with monitor the efficiency of the catalytic converter by monitoring the gas levels in the exhaust. If the computer detects that the catalytic converter is not operating correctly, or not catalyzing the exhaust gases properly, it will set off the Check Engine Light to alert the driver that there is a problem. A Check Engine Light can also be activated by a variety of other problems, so it is recommended to have the vehicle scanned for trouble codes to be certain of the issue.

The catalytic converter is one of the most important emissions components found on modern vehicles. Without it the vehicle may produce excessive emissions and have trouble passing the emissions tests that are required in some states. If you suspect that your catalytic converter may be having a problem, have the vehicle inspected by a professional technician, such as one from AUTOFACTORNG to determine if the car will need a catalytic converter replacement.

Symptoms of Bad or Failing Spark Plugs

Common signs include slow acceleration, poor fuel economy, engine misfires, and difficulty starting the car.
Without spark, there would be no way for fuel to ignite in the combustion chamber. Spark plugs have been a critical component of the internal combustion motor for years.

They are designed to transmit an electrical signal sent to the spark plug from the ignition coil and a predetermined time to ignite fuel inside the combustion chamber. Each vehicle requires a unique spark plug made from specific materials and with a designated spark plug gap that is set by a certified mechanic during installation. A good spark plug will help burn fuel efficiently while a bad spark plug can cause the motor not to start at all.

Spark plugs are similar to oil, fuel filters and air filters in that they require routine service and maintenance in order to keep your car running strong. Most vehicles sold in the US require that spark plugs are replaced every 30,000 to 50,000 miles. However, newer cars, trucks and SUV's manufactured have advanced ignition systems that claim to have lifetime warranties on the plugs. Regardless of the warranties, or claims made, there are times when a spark plug wears out or shows signs of failing.

Listed below are a few of the common symptoms of worn out spark plugs or spark plugs that have fouled and need to be replaced by a local ASE certified mechanic as soon as possible, so you can continue driving your vehicle without hassle.

1. Slow acceleration

The most common cause of poor acceleration on most cars, trucks and SUV's is a problem in the ignition system. Today's modern engines have multiple sensors that tell the on-board computer and ignition system when to send electric pulses to fire the spark plug. However, sometimes the issue is just as simple as a worn out spark plug. A spark plug is composed of materials that work together in order to produce a spark hot enough to ignite an air to fuel mixture. When those materials wear out, the effectiveness of the spark plug is reduced, which can significantly reduce the acceleration of the vehicle.

If you notice that your car is running sluggish or does not accelerate as quickly as it used to, it may be contributed to a spark plug that needs to be replaced. However, you should contact a mechanic to inspect this issue as it could be caused by multiple other factors including bad fuel filters, dirty or clogged fuel injector, or issues with O2 sensors.

2. Poor fuel economy

When a spark plug is working correctly, it helps to burn fuel efficiently. When this occurs, your car can achieve better than average fuel economy. When the plug is not burning efficiently, it is commonly due to the fact that the gap between the spark plug electrodes is either too close or too far apart. In fact, many mechanics will take out spark plugs, examine them and adjust the gap to factory settings during a routine tune up as opposed to replacing the spark plug. If your vehicle is losing fuel economy, it very well could be contributed to a worn out spark plug.

3. Engine is misfiring

If the engine misfires, it's typically due to an issue in the ignition system. Most of the time in modern cars, it's due to a sensor that is malfunctioning. However, it may also be caused by a spark plug wire or the tip of the spark plug that connects to the wire being damaged. An engine misfire can be noticed by intermittent stumbling or stuttering sounds from the engine. If the engine is allowed to keep misfiring, exhaust emissions will increase, engine power will decrease, and fuel economy will reduce.

Because of all the potential problems associated with engine misfiring issues, you should contact a mechanic as soon as you notice an engine misfire, so they can inspect the issue and determine the right course of action to repair the problem.

4. Difficulty starting the vehicle

If you have trouble starting your vehicle, it could be a sign your spark plugs are worn. However as we've noted above, the engine's ignition system is comprised of multiple individual components that must work cohesively in order to function properly. At the first sign of problems starting your car, truck or SUV, it's a good idea to contact the mechanic, or contact one of our mechanics at Autofactorng.com to ask a free question.

Regardless of what the issue might be, the reality is that spark plugs will eventually wear out. Being proactive about spark plug maintenance can extend the life of your engine by hundreds of thousands of miles.