What is the difference between 4WD vs. AWD, and where CR fits in? In this article, we delve into the similarities and differences and how to decide which suits your vehicle needs best. Traction is Vital in Canada When buying a car in Canada, you have to expect to drive it in bad weather for most of the year, so you’d be remiss not to pay attention to how much traction is offered in the models you’re considering. Traction is critical because it determines how well your tires grip the road. When all 4 tires normally spin while you’re driving, your car moves the way it should without any … [Read more...]
Spark Plugs: All You Never Knew (updated)
Spark plugs are a critical component of your vehicle’s engine ignition system. Their primary function is to create an electrical spark that ignites the fuel and air mixture inside the engine's combustion chamber. When the fuel and air mixture is compressed inside the combustion chamber, the spark plug generates a high-voltage spark* that ignites the mixture, creating a controlled explosion that drives the engine's pistons. This process is repeated thousands of times per minute to keep the engine running. Want to guess how many volts in a spark plug? The voltage required to create a … [Read more...]
Car Corrosion: The Hazard of Road Salt (updated)
It’s common knowledge that snow and icy road conditions can cause car accidents. That is also why salt is used on the roads since it helps to melt snow and ice and provides some extra traction when combined with sand. That is why washing your car in the midst of winter is important aside from it looking clean, but also to removing the salt that accumulates. Cleaning road salt from your car’s surface is the best practice to help prevent rust damage. The car's undercarriage is often the worst affected by road salt corrosion. Brake lines are typically another of the areas affected, so … [Read more...]
Why Buy from an OMVIC-Certified Dealer? (updated)
The Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council licenses and regulates motor vehicle dealers in Ontario and administers the Motor Vehicle Dealers Act (MVDA) on behalf of the Minister of Consumer Services. Their goal is to maintain a fair, safe and informed marketplace by ensuring the registration of dealers and salespeople, inspecting dealerships, maintaining a complaint line for consumers, conducting investigations and enforcing the Act and its associated rules and regulations. Registration with OMVIC is mandatory for Ontario’s motor vehicle dealers and salespersons. OMVIC was created on … [Read more...]
What Is the Lifespan of Your Car? (updated)
One of the most important factors to consider when purchasing a new or pre-owned car is its longevity. It’s important to consider how long you want to drive the car: is it going to be yours for a year or two, or is it your retirement car that will need to last ten or more years? What Influences the Longevity of a Vehicle? A car’s longevity and reliability depend on many factors – only some of which you – as the owner – have any control over. Manufacturing quality is out of your hands, but it is prudent to research this before buying a vehicle. Information about a vehicle’s build quality … [Read more...]
How to Store Tires Properly (updated)
With the winter finally being over – at least officially – our automotive pets surely can’t wait to be properly cleaned, to have their fluids checked and replenished and other major systems being examined by your trusted mechanic. However, the first thing that comes to mind for most drivers when the season change is replacing seasonal tires. Given the size of the investment, high-quality tires can, and it’s important to store tires properly after taking them off to make sure they don’t lose their characteristics and thus prolong their lifespan. 1) During normal use, tires accumulate brake … [Read more...]
How to Repair a Punctured Tire on the Road (updated)
There’s hardly a driver who has never been through that distressing episode when a tire (or two, god forbid) gets a little iron buddy stuck in it. The buddy gets in, and the air starts getting out. As bad luck would have it, it usually happens when you’re a long way from civilization. As if nails and screws and all kinds of bolts were raining from the sky and falling right to the motorways. Many a mechanic would shudder at the thought of plugging an injured tire without patching it from the inside, but sometimes it’s the only solution if you want to actually make it to the mechanic. … [Read more...]
6 Mistakes to Avoid While Cleaning Car Wheels (updated)
There’s hardly a more serene feeling than having a freshly washed car that shines like a diamond in the morning sun. And there’s hardly a more disturbing sight than spotting four dirty, muddy, dusty rims that spoil the idyll. It seems you haven’t paid proper attention. We told you to start washing the car body only when you’re done with the wheels. Not vice versa. And that’s our first common mistake. 1) Washing the body first Although it may seem obvious, it’s worth noting: the rubber legs of your car are its dirtiest part. It’s not just the mud that ruins the fancy looks of the wheels. … [Read more...]
4 Reasons People Change Wheel Rims on Their Cars (Infographic) (updated)
Wheel rims are an important part of every vehicle, but not crucial for turning on your car when in a pinch, don’t you think? And they come in all shapes and sizes, as they say, right? If that is true, then why do people invest so much time and energy into replacing the original wheel rims on their cars with customs made just their own taste? Take a look at this infographic and see for yourself! How to change the rims on a car Changing your rims can help you express your personal and unique style, can make changes between your summer and winter tires easier, and can improve your … [Read more...]
Ice Safety Guide (updated)
It’s not unusual for Canadians to go out to a frozen lake in the winter, right? Get some peace and quiet, enjoy the fresh air, rest from your phone… But are you sure you know what to expect and what to do if something unexpected happens? Read on! When going out on a lake for ice fishing, skating, or even snowmobiling, you should prepare yourself as much as possible to avoid going through the ice and having to deal with thin ice. Here are some dos and don’t’s: The first tip to walking on ice safely is to never go out on the ice alone. Go out with another person and keep a good distance … [Read more...]
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