Tone/Voice:

• Conversational, confident, informative, specific.
  • A confident voice DOES NOT use words like “may.” Statements should be definitive.
• Download and refer to AAA Brand Voice Guidelines

Keywords:

• N/A

Format:

• Content will live on this page, and should be similar to articles on right sidebar.
• Create a title that piques the readers’ interest.
• Only rewrite info under the red header on the word doc given in Column C that corresponds with the Page name in Column D.
• Use H2s and bulleted/numbered lists to break up content and make it more readable.
• End with a call to action that encourages readers to stay safe on the road, with a link to appropriate AAA services (if applicable).

• Save the pages as the page name in column D of the spreadsheet.
• Put AAA in the subject line of the email and send to [email protected].

Finding the Ideal Maintenance Frequency for Your Vehicle

There might be no worse feeling in the world than turning the key in your vehicle’s ignition switch and getting no response. With as much as you rely on your car, truck or SUV to get you and your family to home, school and work, you cannot be left without a reliable vehicle. Yet reliability doesn’t have to be determined by your vehicle; you can play a major role by keeping up on your vehicle’s maintenance.

The Problem with “the 3000-Mile Rule”

You may have grown up hearing the “gearheads” in your life espousing the virtues of “the 3,000-Mile Rule” – as in you should have your engine oil changed every 3,000 miles. While this was once a standard in the automotive industry, advances in technology have allowed vehicles to be safely driven using the same fluids, lubricants and filters well beyond that interval. Depending on the make, model and year of your vehicle, you can easily go between 5,000 to even 15,000 miles between oil changes without experiencing engine damage.

Yet despite these advances, a significant portion of drivers (nearly 40 percent according to AAA’s 2012 Car Care Month Study) still adhere to the 3,000-Mile Rule. While having your vehicle over-serviced is certainly preferable to the alternative, doing so contributes to one of the big fallacies regarding vehicle maintenance: that it simply costs too much. On the contrary, if you follow the proper maintenance intervals for your car, truck or SUV, your service costs will be significantly less than what you may have to pay in repairs if you skip on needed maintenance.

Should You Trust a Service Professional’s Recommendations?

Service professionals can offer recommendations regarding maintenance intervals (you’ve seen them; they’re those stickers they place in the upper corner of your windshield). Yet again, these suggestions are based on assumptions. More often than not, they recommend following your vehicle’s “severe service” maintenance schedule, assuming that you (like many) drive your vehicle under extreme operating conditions. This also can contribute to over-servicing.

The Advent of In-Vehicle Maintenance Systems

Automakers understand this problem, and began taking steps to address it in the mid-1970s. This period saw the introduction of the first in-vehicle maintenance systems. The original alerts were programmed using preset distances. However, since they were established by the actual vehicle manufacturers, they offered a more reliable source of service advice than external reminders. Fast-forward 40 years, and the smart technology in today’s vehicles allows them to literally tell you when they need servicing.

Electronic monitoring programs allow your vehicle’s onboard computer systems to analyze a wealth of performance data and operating conditions, including information such as:

• Ambient air temperatures
• Cold engine starts
• Median engine loads
• Average driving time and speed

Advanced algorithms are then applied to these factors to offer a real-time indicator of when your vehicle’s fluids begin to degrade. This eliminates the need for separate “severe” and “normal” service schedules because recommendations are made based on actual data rather than estimated criteria. When a need for maintenance is indicated, a reminder light appears on your vehicle’s dashboard. These systems offer needed clarity on the issue of maintenance frequency to you and over 60 percent of today’s vehicle owners.

Use Every Available Resource

In-vehicle maintenance systems are not without their limitations, however. Most are programmed using a two-tiered service schedule (the first being for routine services such as oil changes and tire rotations, and the second for those services plus additional inspections). Most maintenance reminder systems do not provide alerts for other important maintenance services, such as:

• Brake fluid flushes
• Coolant flushes
• Spark plug changes
• Timing belt replacements

Your vehicle owner’s manual remains the comprehensive source for service recommendations. It should be used in conjunction with the information provided by the in-vehicle maintenance system. Other tools, such as mobile applications, can make the process even easier by using information you provide regarding your vehicle to create a custom vehicle maintenance schedule and alert you accordingly.

Don’t allow yourself to be stranded by your vehicle due to negligence. Make the commitment today to adhere to the correct maintenance schedule for your car, truck or SUV. Pay attention to your vehicle’s maintenance needs, and read through your owner’s manual to create a schedule for services not covered by the in-vehicle reminder system. There are plenty of other resources that are also at your disposal, like AAA’s no-cost AutoManager™ app, which is available in many areas and can send maintenance reminders right to your cell phone. Utilizing all of these tools will help ensure you a safe and more reliable ride.

The In and Outs of Engine Oil

Auto maintenance can be daunting, even when it comes to something as seemingly basic as motor oil. Based on the make and model of your vehicle, you need to consider the oil’s type, viscosity grade, service classification and whether it meets additional industry standards or proprietary specifications required by the manufacturer of your vehicle. Fortunately, you don’t have to be an expert to provide your automobile with the right oil. All it takes is your owner’s manual and an understanding of some easy-to-learn symbols and numbers printed on the engine oil packaging.

Oil Types

Motor oil has come a long way since the late 19^th century, when crude oil was first being refined into lubricants for the steam engines of that time. Contemporary offerings now include everything from conventional formulations to synthetic oils that offer superior performance. There are also oils designed to extend the lives of older engines in cars with many miles on the odometer. Here’s a quick primer on the most common oil types currently in use:

• Conventional: Refined from crude oil and commonly recommended for older engines with simpler designs that are not expected to endure high-performance demands while driving. Conventional oil is typically less expensive, but generally requires more frequent changes.
• Semi-Synthetic: A blend of conventional and synthetic oils (see below) that provides enhanced performance at a lower price point than a full-synthetic oil. Most late-model cars require semi-synthetic oil to meet automakers’ specifications.
• Synthetic: Oils that are chemically engineered at the molecular level to reduce impurities, flow more easily at low temperatures and resist breakdown at high temperatures. Synthetic oils are more expensive, but offer the highest level of protection. The engines in many premium luxury cars and high-performance models require the use of synthetic oil.
• High-Mileage: Designed for engines with 75,000-plus miles of use, high-mileage oils contain additives that help limit common problems such as oil leaks and increased oil consumption.

Oil Specifications

Oil type is important, but there’s more to know before topping up or changing the oil in your vehicle. Automakers and industry organizations have developed various oil standards, which appear on motor oil packaging in the form of two symbols called the “donut” and the “starburst”. The information provided by these symbols includes:

• Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Viscosity Grade: The SAE viscosity grade—in the center section of the donut icon—refers to an oil’s weight or thickness, and indicates how easily it will flow to lubricate moving engine parts. Because outside temperature impacts viscosity, most modern vehicles call for multi-viscosity oils that perform well in a wide range of temperatures throughout the year.
• American Petroleum Institute (API) Service Category: This code appears in the top half of the donut symbol and designates which API standard(s) the oil meets. The testing required to meet API standards involves a wide variety of requirements, from engine protection and performance to emissions control and compliance with government regulation

Each category consists of a two-letter code, beginning with “S” for gasoline (spark) engines or “C” for diesel (compression) engines. The second letter denotes how current a standard the product meets, with “SN” and “CK-4” representing the most current standards as of January 2018.

In gasoline engines, you can use a newer service category of oil than that required by the vehicle manufacturer —for example, “SN” can be used in engines that call for “SM”. But, it is never okay to use oil with an older service category than that specified. The situation is more complicated with diesel engines, where the latest oil service category is not always compatible with earlier engine designs. Always follow the automakers recommendations for these engines.

• International Lubrication Standard and Approval Committee (ILSAC) Standard: This rating for oil performance and engine protection is established by ILSAC, a standards organization made up of American and Japanese automakers. “GF-5” is the most current standard as of January 2018, and the presence of the starburst symbol on an oil package indicates compliance with the standard’s requirements for emissions control, seal compatibility, protection of turbochargers and pistons against high-temperature deposit formation and more.
• Automaker and Diesel Engine Manufacturer Standards: In addition to the industry standards described above, most automakers and diesel engine manufacturers have proprietary motor oil standards designed around the unique needs of their powerplants. The standards are identified by alpha-numeric codes that appear in owners’ manual and on the packaging of oils that meet the necessary requirements.

Protect Your Engine

Your engine is the heart and soul of your automobile, and using the right type of oil is essential to both its performance and longevity. When selecting motor oil to service your car, always refer to the owner’s manual to determine the specific requirements of your particular vehicle.

For greater peace of mind throughout your travels, consider Roadside Assistance by AAA. With trusted round-the-clock service, you’re covered virtually anytime, anywhere, no matter what you drive.