Automotive News & Information - Jim Van Dyke's Automotive Center

Hello drivers, lets talk about fuel. Fuel, whether gasoline or diesel, is delivered to your car, truck, SUV, minivan, or fleet vehicle engine to be burned to generate the power needed to keep you moving. This fuel leaves a residue as it moves through your fuel system. This may not seem like much, but it can cause big problems. Gum and varnish build up inside fuel lines, your throttle body and injectors. It’s like plaque build-up in your arteries – it restricts the free flow of fuel and can even clog your vehicle fuel injectors.

A customer came into the shop with their temperature warning light on with their car over heating and in a panic. After it cooled down, we discovered the water pump was leaking and needed to be replaced. Water pumps do wear out as they pump the coolant that cools the engine while its running. We also checked the radiator hoses, serpentine belt, and tensioner which were okay, but did note that the coolant needed to be changed which many customers do not associate with engine maintenance.

My customers have been asking for more information on synthetic oil and how it affects their engine. Basically the inside of your engine gets really hot because of friction from the moving parts and from burning fuel. Oil lubricates the moving parts to keep them from getting too hot.

The problem comes when oil turns to sludge, which is kind of a thick jelly. Sludge clogs up little passages so that the oil can’t protect parts of the engine. So the two best ways for auto owners to prevent sludge build-up is to always change their oil on schedule; and to use synthetic oil.

Always putting the customer first, they always call if something else was found that needed attention, and the back up their work when I bring in my Chevrolet Malibu.. - Jan G. in Washington Court House Ohio

This is a common scene played out all around America: You pull off the highway and find yourself with a choice of gas stations. While you're almost guaranteed to see at least one nationally recognized brand waiting by the off-ramp, there might also be Brand X, selling gas for maybe 10 or 20 cents per gallon less.

Just like that, you’re on the horns of a dilemma. Saving money is fun―but you're left to wonder whether opting for the cheaper gas will harm your engine. Does cheaper gas equate to substandard fuel? Here, we debunk the myths surrounding cheaper fuel.