http://weather.weatherbug.com/weather-news/weather-reports.html?zcode=z6286&story=8134
Well they asked for a reply, so why not?
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Who wrote that article? Does he/she actually have any formal training to work on cars?
O2 sensors:
"Faulty sensors are the most common reason for a failed emissions test. Precise oxygen sensors can increase your mileage efficiency by an average of 10-15 percent. Replacing a faulty oxygen sensor is easy and costs between 60-80 dollars on average, which is inexpensive compared to the amount of gas money it can save. The most obvious way to know when your oxygen sensor needs to be replaced is if the "check engine" light appears, but they should ideally be replaced every 50,000 miles."
Nobody should just on a whim replace an O2 sensor, or as they are more correctly named on most cars today an air/fuel ratio sensor. The cost to replace some of those components isn't the fifty or sixty dollars as suggested by the article but quite often can approach three hundred dollars per sensor. Besides, the computers on today's cars constantly test the performance of these sensors so they should be left alone until either the PCM reports them as failing or if a emissions control specialist technician proves that they need to be attended to. With today's cars some of the O2 and air fuel sensors have the potential to be lifetime components. That essentially means if your author was a tech and doing that work for someone else, the advice given would be a rip-off of that vehicle owner.
Spark Plugs:
"Spark plugs are good indicators of engine condition. Spark plugs should be checked every 30,000 miles, even if your car is low-maintenance."
In many cars scheduled maintenance for the spark plugs occurs at the 100,000 mile range, not 30,000. Plus many engine designs today have the spark plugs buried under the upper intake manifold and you need an experienced hand to deal with some of these because of the complexity at even that level.
Engine Oil:
"Oil filters: Oil filters are easy to replace and can help prevent unnecessary wear and tear of the engine. Oil filters should be replaced with engine oil every 3,000 miles."
Extended oil drain intervals are the norm today and the old 3 month or 3000 mile has been inaccurate for at least a decade. We have O.E. recommendations that run from the 5000 mile range to as much as 15000 miles. In fact there are some manufacturers maintenance reminder systems that could allow a car to go even further mathematically, but in practice routinely average 11,000. The real advice that should have been given would have the writer explaining to the readers how to choose the correct oil for their car so that it meets all of the O.E. requirements. Today vehicle owners cannot just grab any oil that shows their recommended viscosity on the front label.
Filters:
"Air filters: Cars run on both gas and oxygen. If the flow of air is blocked by a clogged air filter, a car`s performance and fuel efficiency will go down. Air filters should be checked and replaced every 12,000 miles."
A dirty air filter does not impact fuel mileage. Now power, maybe but mileage no. We have cars on the road today that do not have a scheduled air filter replacement. The ones that do it is often in the 30,000 and as much as 50,000 mile intervals.
"Transmission filters: A blocked transmission filter can produce transmission slippage, engagement problems and engine hesitation. This filter should be changed every 12-15,000 miles to extend the life of your automatic transmission."
Transmission filters on many designs are not serviceable without major disassembly and are considered a lifetime component, only to be addressed if the transmission needs a repair.
#weatherbug, #O2 Sensor, #transmission, #service, #air filter, #engine oil, #gas
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