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5 Fall Car Care Tips to Get Your Vehicle Ready for Winter

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Vehicle owners in Canada know what fall is like and what it means for their vehicles. Falling leaves, lower temperatures, and finally heavy snow, the fall season in Canada is from September to November and often it is too harsh. The fall season means that you need to follow some fall season car care tips to prepare your vehicle for the harsh winters in Canada.

Here are the fall car care tips to maintain and prepare your vehicle for the fall season in Canada.

1. Check the Air Filters

Air filters hold first place in the fall season car care tips. It is often neglected but remember that air filters in your vehicle need to be replaced twice a year and definitely before winter strikes. Clogged air filters will reduce the airflow, resulting in higher fuel consumption and negatively impacting the performance of your vehicle.

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2. Inspect the Tires and Brakes

The tires and brakes are the two most crucial components of a vehicle. However, most vehicle owners take them for granted. When following fall car care tips, it is important to get the tires and brakes inspected once before winter starts.

Here is what you need to look for:

  • Tire pressure
  • Any noticeable irregular wear and tear
  • Tire treads
  • Check the tire sidewalls for any cuts or cracks
  • Stopping the power of your car

Also, you need to have a properly inflated spare tire on your vehicle. You never know when you may need it.

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3. Replace the Wiper Blades

Due to excessive use over the course of the year, the wiper blades wear down and become useless. As per the car care tips, it is recommended to replace the wiper blades every year, particularly before the fall season. Canadian vehicle owners know about the importance of wiper blades during the fall and winter seasons. Thankfully, wiper blades are quite inexpensive. All you need to do is find the right set of blades for your vehicle.

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4. Test the Battery

Canadian winters are quite harsh on car batteries. If you have an old battery in your vehicle, you must get it checked to ensure that it has sufficient power remaining to perform optimally during the fall season. Also, any battery connection problems in the car need to be addressed, which otherwise can lead to ignition problems. If the terminals of the battery are corroded, you can clean them using a brush.

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5. Oil Replacement

It is recommended to change the oil every 3,000 miles. You should choose a winter engine oil, which has a lower viscosity (thinner) and flows better for an easier start and a smoother ride.

Wrap up

Following these fall season car care tips will help you avoid the problem of costly repairs and emergency breakdowns later. If you are looking to get your car ready for the fall season, contact Urban Lube for the warranty approved oil changes, mobile battery replacement, tire change, and winter car inspection and care.

Top 5 Driving Habits that Can Damage Your Car

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Vehicle owners in Canada love their cars. Are you one of them? If yes, then you must ensure that it is safe and protected. One way to do it is to maintain it well and go for an oil change to ensure the longevity and seamless functioning of the car. However, this is about preventive maintenance. What about when you are driving the vehicle on the road? When you are self-driving, protecting the vehicle from damage is in your own hands.

Top 5 Driving Habits that Can Damage your Car

1. Making Hard Stops Frequently

Sudden emergency brakes will happen every now and then. Being a responsible driver, you need to avoid hard stops whenever you can. When you slam on the brakes suddenly, it puts a lot of pressure and strain on the brakes, which may cause the brake pads and discs to get worn out faster.

2. Speed Shifting from Reverse to Drive

The most common mistake that drivers make is performing a speed shift from the reverse gear to drive just to save time. However, this speed shifting means a sudden directional change for the vehicle. It has a negative impact on the transmission system and the drivetrain of the vehicle. To prevent damage to the engine and transmission, it is best to halt the vehicle properly and engage the driving gear.

3. Driving with No or Low Engine Oil

Engine oil is the lifeblood of the engine. Your vehicle engine has so many small parts that move rapidly when the car is running. Engine oil keeps the engine parts well lubricated and prevents friction. Driving with no or low engine oil will result in excessive wear and tear of the engine parts. Engine repairs are very expensive. To avoid this, it is best to go for warranty approved oil change and not drive with a low oil level.

4. Overloading the Car

Just like obesity is harmful to the human body, it is to your vehicle, too. An overloaded vehicle consumes a lot of fuel. Not just this, but it puts a lot of stress on the engine, brakes, and suspension too. Hence, it is best to avoid overloading your vehicle unnecessarily.

5. Braking Downhill

When driving downhill, the vehicle becomes too fast, and the first thing that most drivers do is apply the brakes. Downhill braking puts a lot of stress on the brake pads and rotors causing them to get worn out prematurely due to excessive heat. To avoid this, you can switch to a lower gear to let the engine achieve its full capacity.

Wrap up

Apart from following the right driving habits, you must not overlook the maintenance part of your car. Maintaining your car regularly will help prevent sudden breakdowns and increase the longevity of different cart parts.

From oil change to tire change, Urban Lube is a one-stop for car maintenance service providers.

Get in touch with the Urban Lube team to get the best vehicle maintenance and servicing for your vehicle at your doorstep.

Brake Drag – Causes, Effects, and Corrective Actions

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Brakes are a crucial component of a vehicle that allows the driver to slow the speed and stop the car whenever required. Brake drag, also known as dragging brakes, is one of the most common problems associated with the brakes.

What is Brake Drag?

Brake drag refers to a problem with the braking system where the brake pads fail to disengage properly even when the brake pedal is released. In dragging brakes, the brakes remain applied partially even when no pressure is put on the brake pedal.

Brake Drag Causes

There may be many reasons behind brake drag. Here are the most common brake drag causes.

1. The Master Cylinder

One of the most common brake drag causes is that the brake pedal is too tightly adjusted, resulting in blockage of the master cylinder vent port. This blockage causes excessive pressure build-up on the braking system, resulting in brake drag.

There needs to be a slight gap between the master cylinder and push rod for the brakes to function optimally. A corroded or worn out master cylinder may require excessive pedal effort to apply the brakes, resulting in dragging brakes.

2. Pedal Return Springs

Worn out or broken pedal return springs are also one of the brake drag causes. As the pedal return springs become rusty or wear out completely, the drum brake systems cause brake dragging.

3. Excessive Brake Fluid in the Master Cylinder

The displacement property of the brake fluid helps the brake function. When brakes are applied, the pistons push fluid out of the master cylinder. When the brakes are released, the pistons get pulled back, allowing the fluid to re-enter the master cylinder. For this system to function correctly there needs to be sufficient empty space in the master cylinder. However, excessive brake fluid blocks this space, which is insufficient for the brakes to release. As the brake fluid heats up when driving, it expands, resulting in less free space in the master cylinder.

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Some of the other brake drag causes include:

  • Brake hose restrictions
  • Overheating of the brake fluid
  • Corroded or jammed calliper piston
  • Corroded bushings or pins of the calliper piston
  • Frozen brake cables
  • Distorted backing plates
  • Sticky wheel cylinder
  • Clogged master cylinder by-pass port by contaminants

Corrective Actions to Treat Brake Drag and Prevent Re-occurrence

  • Regular servicing and cleaning of the brakes
  • Using a brake lubricant
  • Cleaning the brakes with a quality cleaner
  • Readjusting the brakes to ensure they are not too tight
  • Installing new pedal return springs
  • Clearing the blockage in the master cylinder
  • Replacing the distorted backing plates with new ones

Brake Drag Symptoms

  • Difficulty in steering
  • Brake pedal remains depressed
  • Sluggish feeling while driving
  • Vehicle becomes highly unresponsive
  • Car pulling to one side of the road
  • Car moves ahead as if it does not have any power

If you notice any brake drag symptoms, you need to get it inspected and repaired immediately from Urban Lube.

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5 Most Frequent Car Problems You Could Have

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Just like humans are susceptible to infections, car machinery is not everlasting. Being driven in various climatic conditions and terrains, cars are expected to witness some kind of breakdown.

Five Most Common Car Problems That Car Owners May Encounter

1. Dead or Discharged Battery

Most car batteries have a lifespan of around 36 months, i.e., 3 years. Most car batteries may last longer than that, but they can start showing performance issues. Hence, most vehicle manufacturers recommend a battery change after 3 years or 50,000 miles, whichever is earlier.

The common causes of a dead or discharged battery could be:

  • Corroded battery terminals
  • Faulty charging
  • Defective alternator
  • Parasitic drains
  • Loose battery connections
  • Extremely high or low temperature

If the battery has discharged, you can try charging it using the jumper cables or a battery booster. However, if the car battery does not respond even after charging, it is time to consider a battery change for your vehicle.

2. Engine Overheating

With most modern cars having a very powerful cooling system, the chances of the occurrence of engine overheating are less, though not impossible. If the temperature gauge of your car’s engine turns towards red signal and your engine is overheating, there may be a problem with the cooling system. The most common reason for engine overheating is low coolant levels. Hence, a coolant top level is a must when the coolant levels are low.

3. Low Engine Oil Levels

Engine oil is the lifeblood of your engine. For your car’s engine to function optimally, you need to ensure that there is sufficient engine oil in your vehicle. Driving with a low engine oil level can result in increased wear and tear of the engine parts and components. If the engine oil levels in your car are sufficiently low, you need to go for a warranty-approved oil change immediately.

4. Problems with Braking Systems

Brakes are a key safety component of your car. By applying the brakes, you can stop your car at the right time to avoid any accidents and mishaps. If you notice certain problems with the brakes, like grinding or squealing noises, spongy or soft brakes, car vibration when applying brakes, brake light indicator on the dashboard, or complete brake failure, it is time to get the brakes inspected by an expert and professional mechanic.

5. Uneven Wear of Tires

After regular driving, you may see that the treads on a particular tire do not match with the rest. This is uneven tire wear. The front tires are subjected to more pressure because they carry the weight of the engine, too. The reasons for uneven tire wear include unbalanced wheel and tire assembly, tire inflation issues, or worn out suspension. If you notice uneven tire wear, get wheel balancing done immediately.

All cars need periodic maintenance to function smoothly. No matter your car’s model, a battery change and warranty-approved oil change are a must at regular intervals. The car service provider will also make other suggestions, which you must consider to enjoy a safe and fun drive.

5 Warning Signs You Need Brake Repair

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Car owners hardly pay attention to preventing maintenance by ignoring regular brake servicing. When they realize that there is a problem with the brakes, it is already too late. If you are a car owner, here are the top 5 warning signs that indicate something is wrong with the brakes and that there is probably a need for brake repair or replacement.

1. Brake Warning Lights

If the brake warning light or ABS (Anti Braking System) light is flashing on the dashboard, it means there is something wrong with the braking system of your car. It may also flash due to low brake fluid or a leaky fluid reservoir. If you see the brake warning light flash on the dashboard, it makes sense to stop the car immediately at a safe place and call for brake servicing assistance from a professional.

2. Unusual Noises

When applying brakes, if you hear screeching, grinding, or squealing noise, it is probably due to the worn-out braking pads. The heat and friction may cause the brake pads to wear out. The screeching noise should be regarded as an indication that it is time for brake pads to change.

3. Brake Pedal Problems

Another warning sign of the brake dying is if the brake pedal feels too spongy (loose) or hard to press.

Either one of these issues may indicate the following:

  • Air has entered the brake line and brake fluid.
  • The master cylinder seal is broken.
  • Low brake fluid.

Any of these problems may be catastrophic in nature. Hence, they need to be fixed immediately by a professional technician during brake servicing.

Even if the brake pedal has lost a little bit of its stiffness, brake repair is essential to avoid any major problems at a later stage.

4. Vibrations During Braking

When you apply the brakes, if the steering wheel, brake pedal, or the entire car starts vibrating, it indicates a dying brake. The vibration of the brake pedal may be due to worn-out brake pads, warped brake rotors, and stuck brake callipers.

Failing brake callipers will cause the steering wheel to vibrate when brakes are applied. Out-of-balance brake rotors may be the possible reason behind the vibration of the brake pedal and the entire car. To avoid one or any of these issues, it is necessary to get brake servicing done periodically (at least twice a year).

5. A Car Being Pulled to One Side

When applying brakes, if the car is getting pulled to one side, it may possibly be due to one or a combination of these reasons.

  • Low tire pressure
  • Unbalanced brakes
  • Worn out brake pad
  • Stuck brake calliper
  • Low brake fluid

To avoid any of these issues, it is best to go for brake servicing regularly and fix the problems before they get worse.

When the brakes of your car are in good condition, you can enjoy a smooth, comfortable, and safe drive on the road. Share the challenges that you are experiencing with the brakes, and get brake servicing in Regina done on a regular basis.

Contact Urban Lube for an oil change, brake service, wiper change, tire change and much more.

How to Change a Cabin Air Filter to Breathe Fresh Air?

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Most of the modern cars that we see on the roads have a cabin air filter installed. Without the cabin air filter, the air entering the car from outside would be contaminated and polluted.

What is the Function of the Cabin Air Filter?

  • The cabin air filter is different from the engine air filter.
  • Just like the engine has an engine air filter, the car’s HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) system has a cabin air filter.
  • The cabin air filter ensures that clean air is free from pollutants and contaminants that enter the cabin from outside.
  • It helps maintain the air quality inside the car’s cabin.
  • This system prevents dust, debris, dust, mould, pollen, and other fine particles from entering the car’s cabin.
  • The cabin air filter is permeable to air, but does not allow pollutants and contaminants to pass through.

Why is a Cabin Filter Change Essential?

Ultimately, as the cabin air filter gets older, the pores get clogged with dust, debris, pollen, and micro particles from the air. If the cabin filter change is not done on time, the air contaminants will pass through the old filter and enter the vehicle’s cabin, resulting in serious health problems, especially, for the respiratory system. Not just this, but a dirty cabin air filter will obstruct the airflow to the cabin as well.

How Frequently is a Cabin Filter Change Required?

  • Dirty or clogged filters need to be replaced immediately to maintain the air quality inside the car.
  • Most vehicle manufacturers recommend a cabin filter change every 20,000-25,000 km.
  • It is advisable to change the cabin filter at least once a year to ensure the quality of air inside the car.

Step-by-Step Procedure for Changing Cabin Filters

Step 1: Safety is Essential

  • Safety is important because the cabin air filter can be really dirty.
  • You must consider wearing gloves, a mask, or even goggles.

Step 2: Locate your Car’s Cabin Air Filter

  • The location of the cabin air filter varies from vehicle to vehicle.
  • It may be located under the hood, under the dashboard, or below the glove box.
  • Check the owner’s manual to find the location of the cabin air filter.

Step 3: Remove the Old Cabin Air Filter

  • To remove the cabin air filter, remove the nuts or screws that hold the filter housing together.
  • When removing the cabin air filter, note the direction of the arrows on it.

Step 4: Install the New Cabin Air Filter

  • Place the new filter in the same position and direction as the old one was. The arrows on the filter denote the airflow direction.

Step 5: Reinstall the Housing Cover

  • Place the housing cover back the way you removed it.
  • If you had to remove the glove box or dashboard, put them back in place.

A cabin filter change will ensure that the air you are breathing when driving the vehicle is clean, dust-free, and does not have airborne contaminants.

Contact Urban Lube for cabin air filter change.

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