What Oil to Use for Summer Driving

 

Drivers in New Mexico know that our summers can be hot. For best performance in your vehicle, should you switch to a heavier oil during summer driving?

Regular oil changes help ensure the life of your vehicle. The old rule of thumb was to change your oil every three months or 3,000 miles. But most manufacturers now have extended that recommendation. Be sure to refer to your vehicle’s owner’s manual for the period between oil changes. Not changing your oil when recommended can not only damage your engine, it could potentially void your warranty.

When drivers followed that three month routine, it was common to use a heavier weight oil in the summer months to prevent the oil from breaking down in the heat. However that problem was solved when multiviscosity oils were developed. Multiviscosity oil flows better when cold and thickens when it’s hot outside.

Oils manufactured today are effective across the temperature extremes. New engines being made today are designed and tested with specific oil in mind, so always refer to that owner’s manual if you’re planning to change your own oil.

If you’re planning to use an express oil change service, the Melloy Dodge Express Lane on Coors in Albuquerque offers fast, no-appointment oil changes. Our team of service technicians can change your oil, rotate your tire, and perform other routine maintenance quickly on any make or model of vehicle.

Melloy Dodge: NM Power Broker

 Manufacturer of Dodge and Ram vehicles, Stellantis recently launched Dodge Power Brokers dealer network. Melloy Dodge in Albuquerque is one of only 10 dealerships in the West Business Center’s geography chosen to represent this incredible opportunity and the only New Mexico dealership.  

Dodge Power Brokers are a team of proven, performance-focused dealerships dedicated to an elevated level of customer service from the showroom to the service & parts departments.  Determined to offer a 'best in class' customer experience, Power Broker dealerships must meet a threshold for staff training on Dodge and Ram models to be expert on the vehicles. 

A number of Melloy Dodge employees in Sales, Service, and Parts have qualified as Power Brokers. As a Dodge Power Broker, the Melloy dealership is also an exclusive partner in Direct Connection performance parts and installation.

Melloy Dodge has been awarded the Customer First badge for many years. The Power Brokers designation ups the value to car buyers, bringing an even higher level of expertise to those looking to buy a car or truck, or owners looking for performance parts.

Learn more about PowerBrokers at MelloyDodge.com.

Turning Off the Engine at a Stoplight

 

With the high price of fuel in the summer of 2022, it may be tempting to turn off the engine when your car or truck is stopped at a stoplight to save fuel. But is that a good idea?

Some new cars and trucks like the Dodge Durango, Challenger, Charger and some Ram trucks include automatic Start Stop technology that will stop the engine when the vehicle is at 0 mph and the brake pedal is fully depressed. The engine restarts when the brake pedal is released. The Auto Start Stop is estimated to save 5% to 15% in fuel if you drive mostly in city traffic.

If you’re driving an older vehicle without that technology, it’s not advised to turn the engine off when stopped at a stoplight when traffic is otherwise flowing normally. Turning off the engine requires putting the vehicle into park or neutral, then restart the car and shift back into gear. All of that puts additional wear on many components. If your battery is not at optimal strength, it also may result in the car not starting. 

Some vehicle manufacturers recommend not turning off the engine if the stop is 3 minutes or less. Long periods of idling is also not ideal.

So even though the price per gallon of fuel is at near-record highs, it’s not advisable to turn off the engine when at a stoplight. Instead, consolidate your trips, remove any extra weight from your car, and most importantly, decrease your speed a bit and watch the rapid acceleration.

If you’re in the market for a new or used car, truck or SUV, including models with the automatic Start Stop technology, contact Melloy Dodge on Coors in Albuquerque.