With a small investment in tools, you can change your vehicle’s oil now and every 5,000 miles, saving yourself money. At Simply Autos, we know not everyone is handy under the hood, but an oil change is routine maintenance just about anyone can do. 

Safety

You need either car ramps or jack stands to keep your car safely off the ground so you can work beneath it. Never change your oil using only a jack. 

Tools

You also need a few other items, some of which need to be sized correctly to your vehicle:

• Large, old towel to catch spills
• Oil drain pan
• Car jack stands or car ramps
• Oil filter wrench
• Socket set with ratchet
• Oil — Match new oil to your vehicle’s needs; you could be using 5W-20, 5W-30, or 10W-30 in synthetic, synthetic blend, conventional, or high mileage varieties
• Oil filter 
• Funnel

Drain

Warm up your car for a few minutes if it has been sitting. This will make the oil flow better through the system. If jacking up your car, be sure to turn it off. Use car jack stands to ensure the car will not drop. If using car ramps, drive slowly up the ramps, engage the parking brake, and turn the car off. 

Line up the oil drain pan with the drain plug to catch the old oil as it drains. Use the correct size socket and ratchet to loosen the drain plug enough that you can turn it by hand. Remove the plug. Let the oil drain; then replace and tighten the plug with the ratchet. 

Filter

Use the filter wrench to loosen the oil filter, then use your hand to remove it. Keep the oil drain pan under the filter. Once you have the filter off, set it upside down to drain on the pan. Place a very small amount of fresh oil on the rim of the new filter and screw it into place. Tighten it by hand; do not use the filter wrench as may overtighten it. 

New Oil

Now put fresh oil in via the top of the engine. If unsure where you add oil to your engine, consult your vehicle’s manual. Open the oil filler cap, put a funnel in, and add the required amount of oil (between four and five quarts is typical). Take the vehicle off the ramps or stands, and then let it run a few minutes, and check the oil dipstick. Add additional oil if needed. 

The dealers at Simply Autos are also ready to help if changing your car’s oil seems too difficult. Contact Simply Autos today. 

Many aspects of life in the Southwest are great for your car’s tires, but the sun is not one of them. Sunlight — ordinary, everyday sunlight with its ultraviolet (UV) rays — can damage car tires.

At Simply Autos, we want to remind you that UV radiation damage is one of six signs signaling when it’s time to change your tires. 

Let’s take a look at all six signs.

1. Temperature

Your high school physics class about gas laws comes in useful here: cold tires have low pressure, and hot tires have higher pressure. Excessive heat in a desert environment can cause uneven wear and a rough ride. An under-inflated tire will heat up and wear out faster, so be sure to keep your tires properly inflated. 

2. UV Radiation

The UV light breaks down the chemicals in the tire, causing issues like dry rot and cracks. These can be hard to diagnose or see on the outside of the tire, which is why the next factor is important, too. 

3. Age 

Tire manufacturers recommend replacing tires every six to ten years. With the hot weather and high UV exposure around the Southwest, Simply Autos recommends a safer replacement schedule of five to eight years. 

4. Vibration

Vibration from the road can mean unbalanced tires, flat spots from being parked in one place too long, or alignment issues. Uneven wear — when the outside or inside parts of the treads wear faster — can also point to problems with camber angle (negative or positive). 

5. Bulges, Cracks, or Gaping Gouges

Whether from a leaking valve stem, a corroded wheel or some other issue, a deflating tire can cause bulging. This can lead to cracks, and in some cases the wheel edge itself can dig into the sidewall. A new valve stem is far less expensive than a new tire, so if you suspect a simple issue like that, get to your tire dealer or visit Simply Autos’ dealers to check it out right away. 

6. Tread Wear

The penny test (invert a penny into the tread; seeing the top of Lincoln’s head is bad) is still a good general measurement, but to ensure accuracy, look to the wear bars that cross the treads. If the wear bars are even with the treads, it’s time to think about new tires.

Simply Autos

When you do buy tires, always buy them in pairs or fours; if you can only afford two, put the two new ones on the drive wheels and have the best of the older four put on the other wheels. 

Visit or contact Simply Autos for all your automobile needs.