Should Have a Professional Change Your Oil

For many individuals, the recent economic downturn has meant trying to cut costs in any way possible. One way people have tried to cut costs has been by learning trades to cut down on the money spent on car, home or appliance repairs. Specifically, people have been learning to change their own oil. Though there are advantages to changing your own oil like convenience, there are also disadvantages. Read below to see why it is better to have your oil changed by a professional as opposed to doing it yourself:

Save your Time
Changing the oil in your car is no easy task, especially if you are not a trained professional. To change your own oil you need to first teach yourself to do it, and that takes time and effort. It is much simpler to take your car to a professional who has changed oil in cars before. To change the oil in your car by yourself you also need to set time aside for yourself in order to do it. This would require taking time out of your busy schedule, as opposed to being able to take your car in to a professional garage or dealership that has set hours and are always ready to receive your business. Most importantly, you also need special tools to change your own oil and you must also properly dispose of used oil. You cannot simply throw the oil in the trash or dump it in the back yard; you need to properly dispose of used oil. You will also need to purchase special tools to change your oil. Buying these tools and disposing of your used oil takes time and money.

Having your oil changed by professional garages and dealerships will save you time and money. These professionals are better equipped to change your oil because they are specially trained, they have the tools to do the job properly, and they have methods to dispose of your used oil. Attempting to change your own oil may seem more convenient but the hidden costs of purchasing tools, training yourself and disposing of waste add up. The general ease of allowing a professional will save you precious time, energy and money.

No Accountability for Mistakes
Mistakes can be made while changing your oil; they may be as simple as forgetting to put the oil cap back on, but even simple mistakes can be costly. If you change your oil by yourself then you will have to fix any mistakes made. And if you only know how to change oil then you may have to learn to fix these mistakes yourself or go to an outside source to help you.

If you bring your car to a professional then they are held responsible for any mistakes that they make while changing your oil. Though the chance of a mistake being made by professionals is often minimal, this accountability affords you the ease of mind knowing that if a mistake is made while your oil is being changed then it will be taken care of at no extra cost to you.

Paying for Mistakes
The extra cost that comes with mistakes being made by you while changing your car's oil is also another reason why you should allow a professional to change your oil, as opposed to doing it yourself. If you make a mistake that damages your car while changing your oil, ultimately you will have to pay for that mistake in some way, shape or form. These extra costs can, most times, be more than the cost of getting your oil changed. Or worse they can be severe damages that may result in you needing to purchase a new vehicle altogether.

You Should Call Roadside Assistance

Unfortunately there are times where your car just won't work properly. When this happens drivers can become panicked and wonder what they should do. The decision always comes down to calling 911 or roadside assistance. Often stranded motorists that are in no imminent danger will call 911. This can preoccupy already busy emergency responders and can take them away from real emergencies. There is an important distinction between when it is appropriate to call 911 and when to call roadside assistance. If you are injured or you feel you are in imminent danger then, by all means, you should call 911. Below you will see three instances when you should call roadside assistance and not emergency responders:

Dead Battery
Everyone knows what it is like to turn the key in the ignition only to have your car's engine sputter out and die - you often have a dead battery on your hands. When this happens take stock of your situation. Where are you stranded? Are you in any danger? Once you have assessed your situation and you are in no danger then you will want to call roadside assistance to jumpstart your car.

A dead battery is a situation where you need not call 911. In most situations a dead battery does not constitute an emergency and emergency responders will likely not be able to help you. Roadside assistance will be better equipped to handle the situation, as they will have the appropriate tools to get the job done. Calling roadside assistance is the appropriate thing to do when your car's battery dies.

Deflated Tire
A deflated tire is always a hassle; sometimes it can even be dangerous. If you notice that your tire is deflated you should avoid driving on it at all costs. Driving on a deflated tire can make driving your car increasingly difficult - which could result in an accident - and can often damage your tire's frame. If you do not have a spare tire you should call roadside assistance. They will be able to help you by either replacing your tire or, if they are unable to replace your tire, they will tow you to a repair shop that can replace your tire.

A deflated tire can sometimes result in accident. If your tire deflates, or pops, while you are driving and causes an accident you should call 911 even if you are, or other parties, are unharmed. These accidents can obstruct traffic and may need emergency responders to remove debris from the road and sort out any other issues that may arise.

Run out of Gas
Often times we can be so consumed with our day-to-day lives that simple tasks can go unnoticed or pushed to the wayside. When this occurs you can find yourself in sticky situations, like if your car runs out of gas. Obviously your car cannot run without gasoline so if you find yourself in this situation then you will need to call roadside assistance.

Situations where your car will not run, like running out of gasoline, are situations where roadside assistance will be better able to help you in your time of need. 911 emergency responders are not equipped to help drivers that have been stranded due to mechanical failure. Roadside assistance workers will able to either fill your car with gasoline or tow your car to the nearest gas station. If damage has occurred to your car, which can be a result of driving with low gasoline, then roadside assistance can fix your car or take your car to the nearest service station in most cases.

Engine, Chassis, Transmission and Suspension for Maserati GranTurismo S

The Maserati GranTurismo S is powered by eight cylinder, 4691 cc V90 engine developing 433 bhp at 7000 rpm and producing a maximum torque of 361 lb-ft at 4750 rpm. Two overhead camshafts per bank and four valves per cylinder control the timing with hydraulic tappets. The overhead camshafts on the aspirated side are managed by low pressure and continual phase valve timing of less than fifteen seconds. The higher displacement and the exhaust valves controlled by the driver contributed to the increase of the power and torque. When the driver pushes the "sport" button on the dash, he / she activates the valves opening allowing the exhaust to escape quicker whether the lower pressure lets the engine to reach its peak power output of 433 bhp.

The Maserati GranTurismo S' six speeds automatic transmission is developed by the German specialists ZF and it is specifically designed for Maserati. The self-adapting automatic transmission is particularly felt at low to medium revs but still grants immediate power delivery higher to the rev range allowing the changes to be made at 7200 rpm redline, a level that no other automatic transmission in the class can equal. The transmission operates in four modes: auto normal, for comfortable driving, auto sport for the clients who prefer a sporty driving experience, Auto ICE designed for low grip conditions and the Manual Mode. With this last setting, the driver chooses when to change gears through the shift paddles located on the steering column.

The Maserati GranTurismo S has an optimal weight distribution: 49% front and 51% rear, a set up that Maserati achieved by shifting the engine behind the front axle allowing the driver to feel an unparalleled level of response and balance. The car provides dynamic handling while providing a more comfortable drive.

The rear wishbone suspension has an 'anti dive' and 'anti squad' geometry which limits the front dipping under braking and the rear end squadding under acceleration.

The Skyhook system is standard in the Maserati GranTurismo S. To constantly adjust the damping rate, the technology uses shock absorbers with aluminum body.The system uses acceleration sensors to detect movements on all four wheels and the body. Skyhook allows to automatically selecting the optimal level of damping and integrates it with the Maserati Stability Program safety System as well as with the calibration of the car's automatic transmission, with the results of having a car that easily adapt to the characteristics of each driver.

Differences Should I Make When Driving in Deep Snow

It can be very scary having to drive when there is lots of snow out, but most of the time you'll have no choice. That's why it's so important that you are prepared for when snow strikes.

You'll need to make sure you have the necessary items ready for your car. Here are a few things you can do to get ready for deep snow driving, these will all help lessen the risk.

Make sure you have a 50/50 mix of water and antifreeze inside your cooling system, this needs to be done for all cars during winter months. The majority of cars have special long life anti freeze already put in the car, you can't mix this with any other kind of anti freeze. If you're not positive what type of anti freeze your car uses, stop by your dealer to find out.

Another thing you need to have ready is screen wash. With all the salt and grit on the roads your windscreen can get dirty really fast. This makes it quite hard to see while you are driving. Make sure that you have your screen wash at the right levels before driving in snowy weather.

The third thing you'll need to do is make sure that your car tyres are in good condition. You'll want to have a tread of at least 3mm for your car tyres when driving in winter weather. You'll also want to make sure that you follow your manufacturers recommended levels for your tyre pressure.

Tips For Driving In The Snow

When you are driving around in the snow you'll want to steer in a gentle, steady manner. Don't go too fast, you will want to keep an even speed if you accelerate too quickly you could lose control of your vehicle. Don't go too slowly either though, without enough speed you won't have the momentum you need.

Accelerate, steer, and break as smoothly as you can. Your breaking distances are going to be at least 10 times longer than normal you have to take this into consideration. Get used to how your breaks respond in these conditions it's not the same as in normal driving conditions. Your ABS breaking system will also suffer from some negative effects make sure to make use of your gears to slow down.

If you get stuck in the snow there are several things you can do to make sure you make it out unharmed. Keeping the following things in your car is a good first step; Spare clothing and blanket, water, food, and mobile phone. A great way to keep yourself warm is by using your car's engine. You'll only want to do this for 15 min per hour though.