Wenzlick Automotive -FAQ's

Below are explanations for some of the more common questions asked by our customers. We will add content to this section as time goes on.

What does the engine oil do?
• Engine oil lubricates, cleans, cools and protects the engine and all moving parts to eliminate excessive wear.
Why do we change engine oil?
• Engine oil is manufactured with friction modifiers and cleaning agents necessary for the modern engines of today.
• These additives are sacrificial and therefore after a period of time are no longer evident, leaving the oil contaminated with harmful acids and sludge which causes wear.
• Lack of prolonged oil changes is a major factor in premature engine wear and oil seal failures.
How often should the oil be changed?
We recommend:
• For normal use (mostly highway driving) – 10,000 kilometres or yearly whichever comes first.
• For severe use (short trips, stop and go traffic, high speed etc) – 5,000 kilometres or 6 monthly whichever comes first.
• High performance engines and older diesels – 5,000 kilometres or 6 monthly whichever comes first.
What grade of oil should I use?
• This depends on what vehicle you drive. When we change your engine oil we use the grade most suited to your engine, using manufacturers guidelines.

BRAKE FLUID

What is brake fluid?
• Brake fluid is the hydraulic oil used throughout your vehicle to transfer pressure to the brakes
Why change the brake fluid?
• Brake fluid is a hydroscopic fluid meaning that it attracts moisture. Moisture is created from the heating/cooling effects of normal brake use, also humidity from the atmosphere. This moisture causes rusting and pitting of internal parts which leads to unnecessary replacements costs. Under severe braking excess moisture can cause the fluid to boil leading to brake failure.
When is it necessary to change brake fluid?
• We test the moisture content using a hydrometer. Once the fluid has an excess of 3% moisture we will recommend replacing it. This is checked annually by us and normally requires changing every 2 years.
Will I notice any difference in my brakes?
• If the system is well maintained and the fluid has been replaced on a regular basis, in most cases the brakes will feel the same.
• If the brake fluid is overdue for replacement we usually find that the brake pedal is firmer with less travel and less pedal pressure is required to stop the vehicle.

What is a timing belt?
• A timing belt is a component used by engine manufacturers to keep the engines valves and pistons in correct time.
Do all engines have a timing belt?
• No, some engines use a timing chain.
How can I tell if my vehicles engine has a timing belt?
• Ask us. Usually we will know but if we are unsure we can consult our technical data.
Why should the belt be replaced before it fails?
• When the belt breaks your engine will stop immediately, sometimes with catastrophic results (valves contracting with the pistons).
Would there be any warning before the belt breaks?
• Not usually, however if the belt is very worn sometimes a rattling noise can be heard.
So how can I tell when the belt should be replaced on my engine?
• All engine manufacturers have recommended replacement intervals based on time,age and kilometers travelled.
• The rough guide of no more than five years or 100,000 kilometers – whichever comes first. This does vary and manufacturer’s specifications should always be adhered to.
How much does it cost to replace the timing belt?
• Prices vary on different makes and models due to engine design and complexity.
• Other components that run with the timing belt such as the water-pump, idle pulleys and belt tensioners may have to be replaced at the same time, but this would make it safer and more cost effective in the long term.

Why do vehicles have coolant/antifreeze in the engine?
• The antifreeze/coolant prevents the cooling system freezing in cold climates.
• It helps raise the temperature at which the coolant in the engine would normally boil.
• It prevents corrosion of internal components in the cooling system.
What happens if there is no coolant/antifreeze in the engine?
• Over a period of time, rust and corrosion will appear in the cooling system. Long term this will reduce the life of cooling system components such as the radiator, water pump and coolant hoses.
• In extreme cases failure of cylinder head gaskets and other engine damage can occur.
How often should the coolant/antifreeze be changed?
• Most manufacturers recommend a two-year interval. Some vehicles now have a long-life coolant which can last for four years.
• When there is visible rust in the cooling system.
• When the cooling system test is low on antifreeze or anticorrosive.

The Scan Tool is a very sophisticated electronic device that connects to a diagnostic plug in your vehicle. Wenzlick Automotive use the specialized manufacturers scan tools to service and repair Nissan and Hyundai vehicles and also have generic tools which are compatible with most other makes and models.

The tool is used to access any fault codes that may be stored by an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) in your vehicle. It allows the technician to easily check the operation of electronic sensors, components and wiring that is associated with those systems. This leads to faster more accurate diagnosis than would otherwise be possible with lesser equipment.

Engine, automatic transmission, ABS (anti-skid braking) and SRS (airbag) are just a few of the systems we are able to access with these tools.
Resetting service indicators and programming keys and anti-theft systems are other handy features that are not otherwise possible without this specialized equipment.