The Importance of Oil Changes

Changing vehicle oil on a regular basis is an extremely important task which offers a number of benefits to vehicle owners.

Oil plays an extremely important role of providing lubrication in the engine. Apart from lubricating engine parts, the oil also performs other important roles like cleaning of engine, reducing pollutants, stopping the formation of sludge and cooling the vehicle. But, if it is not changed on a regular basis, it can result in engine failure and engine wear and tear thus causing huge loss in terms of vehicle performance.

Some of the major benefits offered by oil change include improved gas mileage, improved engine stability and life, increased performance etc. All the benefits have been discussed below in detail.

Improvement in gas mileage

This is one of the major benefits offered by routine oil change. If the engine oil is not changed from a long time, it becomes less viscous and starts losing its ability to lubricate and protect elements of engine. As a result, friction occurs between moving parts of the engine thus causing wear and tear. The more will be the friction, the more the engine needs to work in order to overcome that friction. On the other hand, new oil is extremely viscous, smooth and allows engine to move smoothly with smallest friction.

Improves engine stability and life

This is another important benefit offered by regular oil change to vehicle owners. It improves the life of the engine thus making it functional for years to come. Oil change on a regular basis keeps engine clean. Clean engine shows less signs of ageing and offers an excellent performance for a longer time period.

Increased performance

We all know that performance of a vehicle majorly depends on the condition of the engine. If it is good, performance increases.

Stops noise produced by vehicle

Regular changes of engine oil also prevent the parts of an engine from coming into contact with each other. This helps in reducing the noise made by the vehicle. Moreover, it also reduces the temperature of the engine.

Thus, it becomes clear that regular oil change offers a number of advantages to vehicle owners. Getting oil change performed by an auto service centre is a good decision. There are many auto service centers offering such services to vehicle owners. One needs to do a deep research in order to find a reliable service center which uses quality products and motor oil. Individuals can take help from internet in this regard.

Are You A SAFE Driver?

Safety is the first thing in our minds as we open the car door and slip behind the wheel.   Keeping in mind that we're about to unleash a potential weapon weight upwards of 2,500 pounds it's important to realize what a negative impact it could have if things got "out of control".

Speed is a issue with many of us.  Especially those of us who drive late model cars.   Vehicles made today are very quiet and drive very smoothly.  It's difficult to tell that you're speeding without constantly glancing down at the speedometer.  A good remedy for this would be to use your cruise control.  Set the speed at or just slightly below the posted speed limit and you'll be all set.  Of course, this works best for highway driving.  Obey all signs and be aware of what you're doing. 

Driving while distracted has been a big issue since the introduction of the cell phone.  But other distractions have been around much longer than that.   For years, people have been applying nail polish, combing their hair, brushing their teeth and performing other grooming tasks while tooling down the highway. 

I've actually seen people reading a book while driving.  And munching down on that Big Mac and Fries certainly distracts you from the business at hand while driving.   

Driver safety doesn't stop with the driver.  How about the vehicle itself?  Are the tires worn? Have all fluids been changed within the period recommended by the manufacturer?   Do the lights, windshield wipers and horn operate properly?  Do the seat belts work?  

Keeping these safety issues in mind could save yourself or someone else from serious problems.   Safe driving is not just a fad.  It's your responsibility!

--Bruce Zubee

Brake Pads - An Important Part Of Safety

When your car's tires get worn out chances are you do not just replace them without giving the matter some thought. You will spend some time considering the options from the majot tire manufacturers. Therefore you will probably know the brand of tires on your car and perhaps will have bought them because of certain features that you like and which make your driving less stressful and more enjoyable.

There is a similar component that gets worn out just like the car tires do. Car tires get worn out making the car roll along and this component gets worn out by stopping the car's rolling each time you press down on the brake pedal. The cars brake pads are responsible for creating friction that slows down or stops your car. When you press down on the brake pedals the brake pads are pressed against the brake rotors. How hard they are pressed against the brake rotors depends on how hard you are pressing down on the brake pedal. And if you are pressing down hard on the brake pads then they will be creating a lot of friction. In doing so they will tend to heat up and their material should be such that even in hot conditions it should be able to generate friction, otherwise if it goes soft then you will get what is known as a brake fade.

As you can see brake pads perform an important and difficult function and that means that you must take care to buy quality brake pads. If the brake pads are not of great quality they will not generate as much friction, the amount of the friction they generate will reduce as they heat up and they might even produce gases which is not good for braking.

You should therefore choose your braking pads well and buy those made by an established manufacturer with a strong reputation for quality. You can choose them conveniently by going online or by visiting your local auto parts store.

Car Accidents - Common Causes

Car accidents have become a common  characteristic of American life, and indeed, those of  us who live in traffic congested cities have grown accustomed to the site of damaged vehicles stopping up traffic. The majority of these instances are the routine fender-bender,but as most of us realize, vehicular accidents are also often deadly. For many, one of our greatest fears is never seeing our loved ones again when they pick up the car keys and leave the house.

But by understanding what contributes to car accidents, both harmless and deadly, we can minimize the chances that we will ever be involved in one. There's always the chance of becoming a victim to another hapless driver, but awareness and adjusting your driving can significantly change the odds, in your favor.

Here are some common causes of car accidents to be aware of.

1. Speeding

Many car accidents are caused by speeding. While those new to driving might find going slow to be a drag and take some of the "fun" out of it, we must remember that a vehicle is a tool and a dangerous one at that. When we are driving faster, we are given less time to react when something goes wrong, like another driver entering our lane, an animal running into the road, or a sharp curve creeping up on us. When we are driving too fast, it also reduces our car's performance in several ways. For instance, we may lose control going around bends, and the distance we need to stop is much larger than when we are driving at slower speeds.

2. Distractions

Another common cause, especially with mobile technologies, is distraction. Most of us have heard of a small handful of people who have been killed while driving because they were talking on a cell phone or texting and distracted from noticing a danger in time to prevent an accident. Other distractions include trying to read something, reaching to grab something, paying attention to something off the roadway, talking to a passenger, or simply daydreaming.

When you're at the wheel, never forget the responsibility that is in your hands. Put all your energy and focus into the task at hand, and stay alert for any possible sudden changes in the environment that may pose a threat.

3. Careless Driving

Careless driving also causes a lot of accidents and, unfortunately, deaths. Especially younger drivers are known for showboating or just driving haphazardly, and in most cases, the simple reason is they don't take the dangers of driving seriously enough. Even older, more mature drivers "cut corners" in the sake of time or convenience by running stop signs, following too closely, or any other number of aggressive driving mistakes.

Nothing can be more sobering than a brief lapse in judgment ruining lives.

4. Drunk Driving

The most preventable cause of automobile accidents is drunk driving, a cause of death that crosses nearly every parent's mind when they first hand their teenager the car keys. We all know it is a problem and a very dangerous one, yet so many still do it.

Any time you've had a drink, you should refrain from driving, it is simple as that. Use taxis, designated drivers, and self-control. Anything else is a show of complete neglect for your own life and the lives of others.

5. Weather

Of course, weather is also a major factor in automobile accidents and in any of the cases above, it can make an accident much more likely to happen. Driving speeds and habit should always be adjusted in regards to the current road environment, so keep an eye on the weather and drive accordingly, it's the law, but it's also your life and the lives of others.

The simple truth is that most car accidents involve a variety of different contributing factors, and even if you do everything perfectly, someone else's mistake can quickly alter your life. For that reason, the best policy is and always has been defensive driving. Make it a point to always be aware of not only what you are doing but what those around you are doing, and always be prepared to give to a more aggressive driver.

There is life in your hands.

Free Shipping - A Myth

Are you drawn to online sellers who offer "free" shipping?  Before you fall into that age-old marketing trap, do some homework.

 Make note of the selling price of the product offering the free shipping promo and shop around for that same product being offered from a dealer that calculates shipping separately.   You'll find in most cases, the item offered by the seller providing the  free shipping is substantially higher in price than the same product offered with shipping calculated separately.

Obviously, those who offer "free shipping" build the cost of shipping into the price of the product.   I recently discovered a video on ebay promoting the practice of including the price of shipping within the product price and promoting it as "free shipping". 

Shipping charges are very expensive these days given the cost of fuel, packing materials and labor.   Shipping costs are calculated in part by the destination of the package, so it would be difficult to know exactly how much to mark an item up to cover postage going to different parts of the world.  Many sellers opt to calculate shipping to the furthest point and add that amount to the price of the product.   In a case like this, a person living 20 miles from the seller will pay the same shipping charge as the buyer living 2,000 miles away.   What's wrong with that picture?   

The moral of this story is "free" doesn't always mean free.  Shop around for the best price before selecting a seller to purchase from.

--Bruce Zubee

Zubee is Director of Online Marketing and Operations for Chuck and Eddie's and Mitchell's Auto Parts.  The opinions stated above are his own and don't necessarily reflect the opinions of Chuck and Eddie's or Mitchell's Auto Parts.

Save Save Save!

Clearly one of the big reasons to purchase used auto parts is to save money. And these days, saving money is job one!  Follow these simple tips to help you save even more.

Did you know that Chuck and Eddie's sends out money saving promotion codes every week to members of their email list?  That's right!  Folks who sign up for email notifications receive special offers and coupon codes worth up to 15% off their online purchases (and sometimes even more!).   It's easy to join the growing number of smart auto parts shoppers on our email notification list.  Just find the email sign up box located on the chuckandeddies.com homepage.  The sign up box can be found on the lower left of the page.  Enter your email address, press the submit button and you're on your way to some serious savings!

Another way to save some serious cabbage would be to purchase multiple items at the same time on the chuckandeddies.com website.   By grouping a number of parts into one order, your shipping fees will be combined into one, smaller amount.   Keep in mind that we can NOT combine shipping on ebay orders.  You must make your purchase on the chuckandeddies.com website .  ebay will charge a separate shipping amount for every item you purchase.

Stick with chuckandeddies.com for the best possible value on auto parts and work apparel.  We look forward you providing you with quality parts at the best price, backed by our world-class customer service.   We value our customers.

Do You Want Fries With That?

With over 150,000 parts in our inventory, it's impossible to store them all in our warehouses.   That's why many of our inventoried parts stay on the vehicle until sold.  This is a cost-saving measure which helps us to maintain our low prices. The only down-side to this practice is that it delays shipping by a day or so in some cases. 

Since the part you order may still be on the vehicle, you may be able to request hardware and associated components that we normally don't send along with the primary part.  If you need mounting hardware (nuts, bolts, etc), you can always request them and we'll do our best to send them along at no additional charge if we have them.  Simply enter a note in the comments box during the ordering process and we'll do our best to send you the additional components.   We only ask that you don't count on receiving them.  If the item you order has already been removed from the vehicle, we will not have the hardware that once attached the part to the vehicle. 

Something to keep in mind:  We do not inventory every part found on a vehicle.  If the item is not in our inventory, we can not offer it for sale.  Components like interior and exterior trim are not offered for sale.  Other things you won't find in our inventory include carpeting, sun visor clips, sensors, audio speakers, tires and various  small plastic parts. 

Even with the exclusions above, you'll find most of what you're looking for within our extensive inventory of used and new parts.   Our entire inventory is online and searchable on the chuckandeddies.com website, while not everything is listed on our ebay store.   If you've searched our website and can't seem to find what you need, we're just a toll-free phone call away!  

--Bruce Zubee

Bruce is Director of Online Marketing and Operations at Chuck and Eddie's Auto Parts