Understanding Your Oil Filter

Understanding your oil filter. Find out why it is important to change your motor oil and your oil filter. Learn about the different types of oil filters there are available.

*(NAPSI)—Practicing good vehicle maintenance to extend the life of your vehicle is important, especially in today’s economy. One of the critical components of car care is engine maintenance, including regularly scheduled oil changes based on your vehicle’s manufacturer recommendations.

It helps to know whether the quality of your oil filter matches the quality of the oil you’re using. Here are a few facts to help you make the right oil filter choice for your vehicle:

What’s in an Oil Filter???

There are several main components in an oil filter.

The shell is the solid material that surrounds the actual filter. It keeps your filter safe during the wear and tear on your vehicle and protects it from punctures.

The media is the component that filters the oil. It’s a maze of cellulose, synthetics and micro-fibers that removes harmful debris from your engine oil.

The core of the filter is inside the filter media and constructed from a variety of materials. It helps keep the shape and prevents it from collapsing under extreme pressure.

The base plate is the threaded part of the filter. It also directs the oil flow.

The gasket is the flexible rubber ring that seals the filter to the engine’s oil filter base.

Types of Filters :-

The quality of the filter depends on the material used to make each part.

In basic filters, the media is of natural wood fibers. These filters do the job but need to be changed frequently.

Middle-grade filters use a blend of fibers that are primarily cellulose with a minimal amount of synthetic fibers. These enhance the media strength and efficiency performance.

Premium filters, such as those from Royal Purple, use microglass filter technology. These advanced filters are designed to extend the life of both vehicle and equipment. In addition to superior filtration media, the other internal and structural components are of higher-quality materials, making for easier installation and removal as they are much less likely to crush in the process. Just as the company’s motor oil lasts a long time, Royal Purple oil filters can extend change intervals up to 12,000 miles.

Tune–up Tips For Today's Driver

*Tune–up tips for today's driver to help keep your car in great running condition. Learn how to do a tune-up on your car and why it's important. Spark plugs, oil and oil filter and the cooling system flush and fill are all important for your vehicle.

*(NC)—Back when your parents were teenagers, getting a Canadian drivers license was a true rite of passage. It meant independence and responsibility.

*It also meant that if you were fortunate enough to have a car, you knew how to take care of it. However, today more than 40 percent of consumers don't know how to tune–up their cars. How to solve this quandary?

Here are three must–dos to keep in mind next time your ride is in need of service.


1. Replace The Spark Plugs :-

– According to Autolite, a leading spark plug brand, one of the most economical ways to maintain an efficient engine and avoid wasting fuel is to change spark plugs at regular intervals, according to your owner's manual. As spark plug electrodes wear, the voltage required to jump the gap increases. Regular replacement of your car's worn spark plugs will help your engine to run properly. Spark plugs should be checked at least once a year, however it's best to check the owner's manual for maintenance intervals.

2. Replace The Oil And Oil Filter :-

– The job of oil is to lubricate the engine, help it run smoothly, and prevent friction between the parts. The oil filter helps remove engine–damaging dirt and grit from the oil during every pass through the filter. Regular oil and oil filter changes help keep the inside of the engine both lubricated and clean, so it can run as efficiently as possible. Check your oil level regularly and change your oil and filter at least as often as the recommended maintenance intervals in your owner's manual. Pay close attention to the description of driving conditions for normal or severe service intervals.

3. Do A Flush/Fill :-

– A flush/fill means that you flush the cooling system to clean it and remove sediments that have built up over time, and fill it with new antifreeze/coolant to keep the engine cool and prevent overheats and freeze–ups. Coolant should be checked at least twice a year, however it's best to check the owner's manual for maintenance intervals

Look for Car Hire When Searching for Temporary Transportation

Whether you are looking into car hire for a day, week or longer, you can find lists of companies on the Internet or in the yellow pages. Providing good customer service is important in this industry. To provide this, some companies offer to pick up and drop off customers.

Vacationers and business travelers are the most frequent customers for car rental agencies. For those who have had an accident, or have dropped off their cars for repair, the use of rental agencies is important. Some personal policies include emergency rentals, usually for an additional premium. When considering purchasing a new car, some people prefer to rent a car that is the same model so they can get a better sense of the vehicle.

Renting a car is a very easy process, with the transaction completed in just a matter of minutes. State laws dictate the rules that need to be followed, including the age of the driver and that the driver must possess a valid license. Companies require a credit card to make a deposit, and cash is not accepted. The pricing for rentals fluctuates significantly depending on the season, the model of vehicle and the population of the city. Although insurance is offered when the car is being rented, there is some debate about whether it should be purchased. It is expensive to purchase and may not be necessary. In some cases, however, personal insurance may not be adequate and you will be required to purchase additional coverage.

There are many arguments that support buying car hire insurance as well as for not purchasing it. Most people are confused about what they should do. It is important to look at all of the arguments on both sides before making a decision. You can get information from rental agencies, your insurance agent and your credit card company. Compare the costs as well as the benefits to help you make a decision and to get the car rental coverage you need.

Credit card companies sometimes include travel insurance that will cover the rental car. There may be issues that include the length of time to process an accident payment if you are in another country. Contact the lender to find out all of the details. You should also check with your personal insurance company to see if they offer the coverage you need.

Your personal car insurance may have some exclusions. Some policies do not cover long-term rentals, business car rentals or vehicles rented in other countries. Check with them to ensure you will be covered in your situation. You may also need to confirm that your insurance meets the requirements of the state you will be driving in as well as the rental company.

Purchasing additional insurance, while costly, can actually save you money in the long run. If you have an accident while traveling and use your personal coverage, your policy premiums may raise significantly.

Do an Internet search to find a list of companies that have vehicles available to rent. Sometimes car dealerships provide this service, particularly if your car is being repaired at their garage. Regardless of your decision to purchase additional insurance, make sure it is an informed one. Do research and find out all of the details concerning coverage.

Great Tips for Those Who Want to Sell Their Own Car

It is very unlikely that you will get the best deal by selling your old car to a dealer. If you think about the fact that a car dealer is not a charity then you may be able to understand this a bit better. You can be sure that most car dealers will be making quite a bit more for the car than they offer you. However you may be able to make just as much as the car dealer would get if you are clever about it.

The following are a few secrets on how to make the most money when it comes to selling your old car.

- You have to make sure that your car is ready to be sold. Have it completely clean inside and out and have all the documentation ready. You need to make sure you have the car ready for sale the minute you put it on the market. If a potential buyer arrives at your door and you don’t seem to have everything in order they will just walk away.

- Consider advertising your vehicle on some of the internet websites such as Craigslist. This is an option that you might want to take full advantage of because it is becoming very popular these days. This is probably the cheapest way of doing things, but the downside is that there are a lot of timewasters out there.

- It is not a good idea to accept a cheque or a banker’s draft for payment; you should insist on cash. It is much safer for you to accept cash. PayPal is another method that could work well if both parties have it.

- Some of us just don’t want to go on a test drive with a complete stranger. You could ask them to leave their keys to their own car while they take your car for a test drive. Of course you will want to ensure that it really is their car.

The costs of distracted driving

*-There has been a lot of coverage in the media recently over distracted drivers. With Bill 118 (which outlines the ban on handheld cell phone use while driving in the Province of Ontario) likely to come into effect in October 2009, do you know what penalties you may have to pay if you're found guilty of talking or texting while driving?



*-For starters, if you are found guilty of using a handheld cell phone while driving, the fine could be as high as $500, plus you'll get an added ticket to your driving record, which could have an impact on your car insurance premium. This infraction applies to more than just using a cell phone while driving. It also includes other electronic devices such as portable GPS units.



*-do note that you will still be able to use your portable GPS unit, provided that you program your destination into your GPS prior to driving with no further manipulation of the device while driving.



*-If you are talking or texting and are involved in an auto accident, you could be charged with “Careless/Driving with Undo Care and Attention,” and could face a serious conviction that comes with a fine of up to $1,000. This type of conviction, coupled with all the implications that are tied to a car accident, could impact your automobile insurance premium by thousands of dollars every year for at least six years. Not to mention the risk of injury that you pose to yourself and others on the road.



*-If you need to make a call while driving, take a couple of minutes to pull over and make your call while your car is shut off and in park. Driving requires your full time attention. As a driver, you have a responsibility not only to yourself but to your passengers as well — not to mention everyone else on the road.

The consequences of lying to your insurance company

The main purpose of insurance is to protect you in the event of an accident , whether or not you are responsible , in exchange for a premium charged by the insurance company. Your insurance company determines how much you’ll pay for insurance by assessing the answers you disclose on your auto or home application.


When applying for an insurance policy, you're in a unique position, since you have full knowledge of all the necessary facts needed by the insurer. What you say will determine if the company will offer you a policy, including the correct premium to charge you in relation to the risk you pose.


If your insurance company discovers you purposely hid material facts on your auto or home application, you can expect to face consequences, such as:

• Failing to disclose or hiding material facts on your application is considered “misrepresentation” or “non-disclosure.” If the insurance company determines the insured individual did not disclose material facts, the insurance company may void the insurance contract. In other words, the policy will be cancelled from its inception.



• Non-disclosure cancellations stay on your record for three years, which means you no longer qualify to purchase insurance through the regular market. Your only course of action would be to purchase insurance through "high-risk" insurance carriers, which means higher insurance premiums.



• If you’ve reported a claim to your insurance company and, through investigation, the company discovers you willfully concealed material facts that would have influenced the insurer's decision to issue a policy, then your claim will be denied and your policy voided.


• When an innocent non-disclosure of facts occurs, a policy will not necessarily be voided. Examples of true non-disclosures from policy applicants include such examples as failing to mention that a person uses their vehicle to deliver pizzas, concealing the fact that a person uses their vehicle as a full-fledged taxi, a person neglects to inform an insurer that they run a welding business in their home or that they run a full-time daycare five days a week.

5 reasons to contact your insurance company

*If you are like most people, the only times you think of reviewing your insurance policy are if you are making a claim or when you get your renewal notice in the mail. But did you know that there are a number of common changes to your driving profile that require you to notify your insurance company or insurance professional?

How you use your vehicle forms part of your driving profile and how you use your vehicle today can be different from the way you used your vehicle at the time you completed the original application for insurance. Depending upon what has changed, you could find yourself without coverage or reduced coverage in the event of an accident.

To ensure that you are protected at all times, here are five instances when you should always contact your insurance professional:

1. Changes to the use of your vehicle. Let your insurance professional know if the use of your vehicle since the time of your application has changed; for example, from pleasure to its current use to make sales calls or deliveries, even if you only do this part-time.

2. Changes to the drivers of your vehicle.  If there are changes to the people who are driving your vehicle, make sure to provide your insurance professional with an up-to-date list of the drivers along with their driving information. Make sure to include any of your children who may now be licenced drivers and were not when you applied for insurance.

3. Vehicle modifications. Let your insurance professional know if you have made any changes to your vehicle since your application. Changes like altering the suspension or major enhancements to your engine could impact your coverage.

4. Change of address. Let your insurance professional know if you have moved, even if it is within the same neighborhood. Part of your rate is based on where you live and even moving a small distance can have a significant impact on what you pay.

5. Are you being paid to drive? If you or someone else using your car receives compensation for being a driver, you need to let your insurance professional know to ensure that you are covered.