April is
National Car Care Month and the perfect
time of year to take an active role in educating
motorists on vehicle maintenance, in order to avoid
costly repairs and potential breakdowns. For example,
checking the vehicle’s oil, filters and fluids is one of
the most recommended and basic maintenance procedures to
ensure superior performance. After all, it’s not much of
a stretch to think of your car as a rolling version of
the human body. Both contain filtering components
designed to remove impurities from the system, helping
prolong life while improving peak performance.
Champion Laboratories, Inc., is an active
member of the Automotive
Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) and a
supporter of the Be Car Care Aware® program. The following
helpful tips are provided as a way to remember that
properly maintained vehicles, and the correct filter,
are key to performance and longevity of any vehicle.
By now everybody should know that a vehicle’s oil and
oil filter needs to be changed based on the
manufacturer’s recommendation, or every 3 months or
3,000 miles. But did you know that if the oil isn’t
maintained on a regular schedule, it loses good chemical
properties and picks up impurities, which can adversely
affect the engine’s performance? Hand in hand with that,
dirty oil contains contaminants that bombard the oil
filter. As the filter itself gets older and dirtier,
more and more of these contaminants escape the filter
media and enter the oils stream, putting the engine in
danger. In addition to the owner’s manual, the Car Care
Guide from the Car Care Council is a great reference.
Air quality is another important consideration for the
long life of a vehicle. Since dirt contaminants are
capable of getting all the way past the piston rings,
air filters help to provide protection from harmful
airborne contaminants that can foul the engine.
According to a U.S. Department of Energy report,
changing the air filter every 12,000 miles can also
improve engine performance, so it is recommended that
the air filter be changed during every third of fourth
oil change, depending on its cleanliness. Do you have
more questions on air filters? Learn how to Make the
Most of Your Air Filter.
One last tip; make sure you take part in Be Car Care
Aware events in your area. For more, go to www.carcare.org.
Champion Laboratories, Inc. is a global manufacturer of
Luber-finer branded filtration products. Luber-finer
provides premium filtration solutions for all fleets and
on highway, as well as all off-road applications such as
heavy construction, mining, agriculture, oil and gas
industry and marine. Luber-finer has been a trusted name
in filters since 1936, providing high efficiency
performance in the most demanding work
environments.
For more information visit www.luber-finer.com or
call (800) 851-3641.
