Sounds Like a Hot Rod (Noisy Exhaust System)

Driving along, your exhaust system’s rumbling so loud that people turn and stare at you pass by. You’re wondering when the police are going to pull you over for illegal noise.

Your mind immediately thinks, aha! A broken muffler.

Well, your exhaust system is composed of many more parts than just a muffler.

Your engine makes power because of thousands of tiny explosions from detonating fuel. Those explosions make a racket, so engineers came up with a system that acoustically dampens that sound in addition to getting rid of harmful exhaust.

In the engine is the exhaust manifold that looks like several pipes that join up into one pipe. It directs exhaust to the catalytic converter. The catalytic converter converts harmful gases into less harmful gases using certain chemical reactions. Then comes the muffler that has baffles inside to quiet the sounds of your engine noise. Finally: the tailpipe.

All of those pipes and parts are joined together by clamps and held up by brackets, and they ride over some pretty bumpy roads. They are also exposed to the elements, like salt, water, rocks and grit. Chances are that one of those clamps or brackets has been weakened by corrosion. When you hit a bump, bingo! The crack widens into a gap and there’s a spot for the engine noise to come roaring out instead of being directed into the muffler’s quieting chambers.

You might be surprised to know that the exhaust system can rust from inside out. How? Moisture is one component of exhaust, and moisture on the inside can do the same kind of damage as moisture from the outside.

It’s a good idea to have your exhaust system looked at regularly by a technician. He or she can evaluate the condition of the metal and recommend when it might be time to replace parts before they break.

Then you’ll have a decision to make. Newer exhaust systems are made out of stainless steel that is much less prone to corrosion issues. Others are made of aluminized steel that also fights rust. You’ve probably already guessed that they can cost more, but the extra price up front may give you an exhaust system that will last much longer.

Sure, with a repaired exhaust system, you won’t have quite the head-turning vehicle you once had. You’ll just have to live with all the quiet.

Autotronics of St. Peter
111 Jefferson Avenue
St. Peter, MN 56082
507.934.9290
http://autotronicsstpeter.com

No Strain, No Gain (The Basics of Oil Filters)

Ever wonder what one of the best things is to ever happen to your vehicle’s engine? It’s the little thing that usually looks like a can, the oil filter.

Just like your kitchen sink strainer filters out errant particles of food from clogging your drain, the oil filter cleans out small particles that could cause your engine harm.

Your engine operates in a dirty, hot environment and gathers a lot of tiny contaminants like dirt, dust, little metal shards and unlucky bugs that get sucked in. Get those things circulating in your engine and those little particles can cause friction, which starts wearing out those finely machined metal parts.

You know how important it is to change your oil regularly. It’s vital that you change your oil filter at the same time to keep the oil as close to brand new as possible.

Most oil filters look like a metal can with some holes in the bottom. Inside there are carefully chosen materials that can screen out the contaminants while at the same time allow the lubricating oil to pass through. Early oil filters had steel wool, metal mesh or actual screens. Then they tried fabric filters using material such as linen and cotton. Finally, a less expensive disposable filter using paper and cellulose did the trick.

Cellulose or other synthetic media are used in most oil filters today. Cellulose is inexpensive and effective. Fibers filter out particulates and let the oil flow. The other synthetic media have the ability to screen out even tinier particles while not significantly restricting the oil from getting through. Engineers continue to work on even more advanced filter material.

Choosing the right oil filter is something our pros at Autotronics of St. Peter can help you with because there are a lot of them out there. Factoring into that decision are your driving habits, how far you drive and the temperatures to which your engine will be subjected. While some filters will cost more than others, they may be worth it to extend the life of your engine.

But most important is remembering to come have your oil changed at Autotronics of St. Peter regularly at the intervals recommended by the vehicle’s manufacturer. Just like you wouldn’t want to have a plumber come over to fix a clogged kitchen drain, you certainly wouldn’t want to have to pay for major engine repairs if they could be prevented by regular oil and filter changes.

Autotronics of St. Peter
111 Jefferson Avenue
St. Peter, MN 56082
507.934.9290
http://autotronicsstpeter.com

Oil Times are a-Changin’ (Oil Change Synthetic)

When it comes to oil changes, things are really changing. Most newer vehicles require synthetic oil, and while it costs more than conventional oil, it doesn’t need to be changed as often.

When conventional oil was the only game in town, you changed your oil every 3,000 miles/5,000 km. But as technology in newer vehicles has rapidly changed, so has oil technology. Synthetics have been around since the seventies. Even though they start with a conventional oil base, they are engineered in a chemical processing plant with properties that allow them to keep your engine lubricated at very high temperatures. They are more uniform and consistent.

Synthetic oil doesn’t break down as easily, so it lasts longer than conventional oil. And synthetic oil can flow more easily, even in extremely low temperatures. As you can see, it has performance advantages at both temperature extremes.

Generally, in recent years automakers have been shipping most of their vehicles with either synthetic oil or a synthetic blend. Blends are cheaper and have many of the advantages of synthetics. Another reason synthetic oil is being used in many newer vehicles is its ability to flow more easily improves efficiency.

It’s important to follow your vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations when you have your oil changed, so our service adviser can see what options you have for your vehicle. Many newer vehicles come with specific recommendations for synthetic oil. If you live in an area with wide temperature extremes or do a lot of stop-and-go driving, synthetic oil can offer advantages.

Older vehicles can do fine with conventional oil, but it will have to be changed more than synthetic oil. Also, if you have an older vehicle with more than 75,000 miles/120,000 km on it, it can be more prone to leak and burn oil. Some synthetic oils are designed to protect those high-mileage vehicles better than conventional oil, and yours may benefit. See what your service adviser thinks.

Autotronics of St. Peter
111 Jefferson Avenue
St. Peter, MN 56082
507.934.9290
http://autotronicsstpeter.com