How to Properly to Check your Oil from Ohio's Engine Oil Experts

The most vital fluid that goes into the engineering of your vehicle is without a doubt your engine oil. The main purpose it serves is to lubricate the many moving parts inside your engine, preventing metal breakdown, and ensuring a proper compression within the cylinders. Checking your oil is a relatively straight forward process, and should be done occasionally in between oil changes. For more information on how long you should wait in between oil changes, visit our blog post here. Oil changes can be done at any local Bob Sumerel Tire, click the link here to schedule your appointment today!

• Allow your car to run for a little bit before checking it- Checking your oil "cold" can give off an inaccurate reading. It is essential to allow the oil to circulate and warm up before checking it. 
• Always check your oil with your car off- With your car not running, oil has time to settle at the bottom of the oil pan, which is most accurate way of reading your oil dipstick. 
  
• Make certain your car is on a level surface- If your car is on a slope, the oil level will not be "flat," thus giving an inaccurate reading on the dipstick. 
• When taking out the dipstick, do not tip it upside down- Bring the dipstick straight out of the tube, and make sure the bottom of the stick faces down. Flipping it upside down can cause the oil to run, giving an inaccurate reading. 
• Find the two dots/dashes- Most dipsticks have a low/high level represented by two dots, or dashes on the stick. 
• Add oil accordingly- If your oil is below the "low" level, try to add half a quart of oil. Once this is done, check the oil again to see where the level is at, repeat this process until it is between the two dots. 

Typically, when the level is below the "low" dot, it will take approximately 1 quart of oil to get it back to the "full" level. Every car is different however, and you should be cautious not to overfill your oil when you are adding oil. A common misconception about oil is that if it is dark in color, it is dirty, which means it needs to be changed. Color has little to do with the condition of the oil, you should always go off of your mileage when thinking about when you should get it changed next. Take advantage of the coupon at the bottom of this blog to get $5 off any oil change at your local Bob Sumerel Tire!

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Abnormal Tire Wear: What is Looks Like, and How to Prevent it

The old "penny trick" is a common way of measuring the current depth of your car's tires. 2/32nd's is the depth in which it is recommended to purchase a new set of hoops, and is a measurement backed by government regulations. When you do in fact get a new set of tires, stretching your dollar the furthest means you need to be cautious, and take care of your new set of tires. In this week's blog post, we will show you examples of what abnormal tire wear looks like, and how you can be proactive in preventing this from happening!

Toe Wear- This is primarily caused by an alignment issue with the vehicle. The tire will show wear on one of the edges of the tire, but not the other. Have your vehicle's alignment done when getting your new tires, but also have it checked periodically to ensure the vehicle is properly aligned!
Camber Wear- The photo to the right illustrates both positive and negative camber. Essentially, one side of the tire is being stressed heavily, while the other side has minimal contact with the ground. To prevent this, an alignment should be checked and/or performed to ensure a neutral camber. Alignments can be completed at any local Bob Sumerel Tire location!
Center Wear - Over inflating your tires is the what causes center wear on your tires. Get in the routine of having your air pressure checked to ensure your tires are at the correct pressure. Your local Bob Sumerel can take care of this for you free of charge!
Edge Wear- This is the opposite of center wear, and is caused by having under-inflated tires. The majority of the stress is being put on the edges of your tires when they are under inflated, also resulting in poor handling.
Patch Wear- When a tire is not balanced properly, it is subject to "hopping" while on the road. Usually, these patterns are erratic and have no consistency with how they form. Any local Bob Sumerel Tire location will balance your tires with purchase, and can be checked periodically upon scheduled maintenance checks!
Cup Wear- These consistent bald spots in the tire usually stem from your shocks, struts, or stabilizer links going bad. A simple inspection can be done at any Bob Sumerel location to check to see if the suspension parts are holding up.

Something else to keep in mind is regularly rotating your tires, which is a free service at your Bob Sumerel Tire location with any tire purchase. By rotating your tires, you allow for the tread to be worn evenly, and preventing any wear from alignment/suspension issues. Simple checks can be done to see if your suspension is tight, or to see if your alignment on your vehicle is off. If your vehicle "pulls," or has abnormal shakes at highway speeds, contact your local Bob Sumerel for a complimentary vehicle inspection.

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Last Minute Winter Preparation Tips For Your Vehicle From Your Northeaster Automotive Experts

Winters in the Midwest are summarized by one word; uncertain. It is vital that we are always one step ahead of mother nature.  Because of the uncertainty and harsh weather conditions in the winter, it is important to know the steps to take in preparing your vehicle for these months.  That is why the winter vehicle preparation and car care experts at Bob Sumerel Tire Co. have put together a short list of tips to help prepare your vehicle at home for the winter.

• Switch your wiper fluid over to a "de-icer" fluid. It has the same functionality as your standard
  wiper fluid, but has the ability to melt snow up to -40 °F.
• Have your battery and starter tested. The battery and starter experts at your local Bob Sumerel Tire store are more than happy to assist you in making sure you are worry free when starting your vehicle this winter.  Schedule a starting and charging system check here. 
• Change your oil to a "winter grade oil" during your next service. A thicker, heavier oil does a
  
  better job of protecting internal engine parts during a cold start. For more information on the correct oil viscosity for your vehicle, visit your local Bob Sumerel Tire oil change experts. 
• Frequently check your tire pressure. Extremely cold mornings tend to decrease the air pressure of a tire.  Make sure to inflate your tires to manufacturer's suggested pressure. 
• Create a "winter survival kit" with things like: flares, jumper cables, door lock de-icer, melting salt, and various other items for those unexpected car breakdowns. 
• Consider snow tires instead of wearing down your all season tires.  Consider getting a set of winter tires for the best possible traction under severe road conditions at your local Bob Sumerel Tire store. 

While these are just a handful of tips, see CarCare.org's additional tips for winter car care prepping. If you have additional questions about service intervals and maintenance, your local Bob Sumerel Tire is always just a quick phone call away. Since 1968, Bob Sumerel Tire Co. has been committed to keeping your vehicle running safely and efficiently on the winter roads.  Bob Sumerel really cares!

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