Increasing Demand for Batteries, Causes Behind Overheating, Variations in Oil Viscosity

And on this chilly Saturday morning time once again for this edition of CCO's car care show Danny Long here

Let me introduce you to an ASC certified technician Nick Stoffel from Lloyd's Automotive in St. Paul. Nick good morning

Good morning Danny. You had a little bit of a break you and your bride there this past week

But now you're back to reality a little a little cooler reality, but hey, you're a Minnesotan, right?

Absolutely we came back and we had a little snow and I'm just happy that the Sun is out today

It's not great which helps the days go by boy. Isn't that true? Yeah, it makes a huge difference

And that's got that warming capability a little melting capability as well if you're new to the show

Thanks for checking us out Nick answers any kind of any kind of a car care question

You may have doesn't have to be about it. You know if you we have a lot of do-it-yourselfers

That call in and Bravo for them

But you don't have to be a gearhead or motorhead if you drive a vehicle your car your truck your van

You're having problems with it. You need to bring it in for service, but you want to know maybe what could be a-ling

That's what Nick does for our CCO listeners

He kind of gives you a little analysis over the radio what could what could be wrong what you could be facing

So take advantage of Nick's expertise and we always like to say do it sooner than later because Nick takes his leave about

745 making a way for Ted Ferrell's wine chat. So any car care question. Let's hear from you

You can call if you want to chat with them great if you just want to send a text

That's a good two just one number for either six five one four six one nine two two six

While we're waiting for some questions Nick. I was wanting to mention this just happened

I think yeah just yesterday my daughter called me and said to her daughter my granddaughter

Needed to she brings her vehicle. She's smart right takes after you know

Her grandfather she goes to Lloyd's automotive

for her repair she lives in St. Paul and

But she brought the vehicle in the other day because there was a certain kind of a noise turns out that it was a similar noise that that

that Lloyd's fixed on my car and I wanted to ask you about that that she needed some new brakes

So they had that and oil change etc regular kind of maintenance

But they located and you got to correct me of it. Is it I think they call it a dust shield something like that

Yeah, absolutely what what happens is

Especially winter months with all the grime the ice the snow that they you know kick kick kick up and get caught up in between the

Dust shield which is the protective plate on the backside of the brakes that we'll call it

And it just keeps from any debris getting caught up in there

Unfortunately in our climate and with the salt and such they will start to rust it will swell

Sometimes they get a little twisted and they can make contact with that brake rotor

It's not dangerous, but it makes an annoying little squeal or screechy noise

All we need to do is reposition it or tweak it a little bit to give a little bit of a gap there

Very common we see it, you know, especially this time of the year all the time

So it's not a not a concern

It's not going to keep your car from stopping, but it can be quite an annoying noise

That we should take a look at and have it remedied. Yeah, I think one of your mechanics

Graham I think noticed that and he just kind of bent it back

Which is kind of nice to be able to repair that or do do all cars have that?

Absolutely, so when the cars are built

You know, they they assemble the axles

Before they assemble the brakes to put a backing plate on there

They kind of houses it protects that whole system of that area from anything coming from the backside get caught up or any debris

It kind of keeps it clean enough

From my family, I guess is the best way to put it now. Yeah, I

Was thinking you and I talked sometimes when there gets corrosion or some kind of deposits on that wheel the rim

that

Makes the tires kind of deflate in the cold months. Is that pretty common too? Is it more common this time of year?

I suppose because you notice it

Well, I think that the material it seems like you should be careful here

It seems like we don't see as much of those bead leaks as you're referring to which is where the salt and and such will get caught up

I'm at that surface of the wheel

It'll make it's way between the tire rubber and the wheel and this sits there when it's a sitting there

There's nothing to do but corrode

You know, there's maybe a few years ago. We've seen a lot of that

You got disassemble take the wheel off the vehicle take the tire off the wheel. We will clean it

You know, not necessarily grind it but take some

Brake stubs to clean that corrosion away put some sealant back and reinstall it

But it doesn't seem to be as common as it once was

And I guess I should be careful here because before you know, we'll see that again

But you know, it's funny with cars

We'll see common issues for a couple few years and it kind of seems to go away on a particular

Manufacture and then also they'll show up on a different

Manufacture and you know these problems that we see are kind of circled the way around the different makes and models

interesting

Nick let's grab a phone call Jerry is checking it from Minnetaka. I believe this morning Jerry. Thank you. What is your question for Nick?

Good morning guys

Love your show. I'm just gonna ask I've got an older sweet rod and it's got it's naturally aspirated

So it's not fuel injected and it's got like two Edelbrock four-wheel carburetion. I'm just wondering if

If they work on that kind of move kind of vehicle

You know the the hot rod vintage is definitely not our specialty not that we don't see him from time to time

But you know, there are places in town my best advice to you would be the next time is a car show

You know in your community your area go to it

You know make some relationships talk to some folks figure out who's doing the tuning on those different types of vehicles

But this is not something that we do anymore

You know most are most of those guys they retired from our business to be honest

But there's still guys out there and there's still outfits out to that to tune them and they'll adjust those carburetors for you

Make sure they're in sync make sure everything's working the way it should so like I said my best advice is next time

There's a car show go to it. You know walk around talk to some people

Find some of that kind of clicks with you see where they're taking their vehicle or who maybe they themselves can help you

So that that'd be my my first stop

And then we have a lot of collectors in this area. Don't we I mean you go to these? Oh, yeah

Like at the State Fair or something and that yeah, you that's a great advice because you know that they know

Where to take now some folks work on their own vehicles

They're talented, but you know where they they take yeah, they're half to me

So that when you go to these renew your levels of take a technical expertise

They don't teach carburetors anymore. Is that what you're saying? No, I mean, you know when I

It's been a while since I went to trade school

They still had a unit will call on carburetion kids

Mostly, I think they want us to understand sure how the air and the fuel volatiles

How I made its way through the Venturis and all that so I have you know very small as I'm putting my fingers very small amount of

Knowledge on carburetors, but there are still those folks out there

There are those specialty shops that definitely do that

It's just a matter of finding one that works on your particular brand or your tipper engine set up

So there's a little bit of homework, but once you find somebody stick with them and they can keep your car on the road

It's fun to go to those shows though to see these great old vehicles

Hang on Nick. We're gonna take a quick break

Let's invite our listeners to join in as I say sooner rather than later

We always seem to run out of time

So call us or text us any kind of a car care question will do at six five one four six one

Nine two two six right now in the Twin Cities. We're at nine above zero. We're heading to 22 today

Near 19 tomorrow, but warming up this week by Friday. We'll be back to 44 again a plus nine here

News talk 830 W CCO and a good Saturday morning to you. Welcome back to CCO's car casher

We are here every Saturday right after the seven o'clock news break. Thanks for our friend Nick Stoffel from Lloyd's Automotive at St. Paul and Nick

We always like to remind folks for if they need some help from Lloyd's

They can always call you guys and certainly pay a visit on that great location. Where are you?

Absolutely, so you can always reach us at my phone six five one two two eight one three one six

And if you're in St. Paul, you'll find us on the corn of grand and chance worth versus nine eight two grand Avenue

If you need more information, you can always check out our website, which is Lloyd's Automotive dot net very good

Nick will I get you that info before and Nick takes his leave which is about seven forty five

So don't wait if you have any kind of a car care question call us or text us

Six five one four six one nine two two six a neck

Here's the text came in a bit ago at 2020 Acura RDX

The backup camera is showing colors of green and purple on the bottom half of the image

The image is still present, but is distorted by the colors that began suddenly in now and has not improved

Can I get a clean image back easily or cheaply? What do you think the remedy there is?

Well, I wonder if something didn't happen, you know when they when they assemble these things a little film where it all kind of

Sandwiches together. I wonder if something didn't happen. I'm not sure if it was temperature related car wash something

You know, I would take it in maybe they can try to reset it

I'm plugging plug it back in try a couple tricks of the trade

But unfortunately, I suspect that it might have just failed and you'll need a replacement. Is that a big job?

Not necessarily in the prices are all over the board, you know for everything that offers us

It can be a hundred dollars or many hundreds of dollars

So I would I would get a get an assessment figure out what jack-o-lantern don't assume anything until we have facts in place

But I would you know, I'd

Cautious thing move forward. We're good

this listener sent a text looking to purchase a 2022 Ford Explorer with a I

For single turbo and a 10 speed transmission

But the texture says I've been hearing there have been challenges with that 10 speed transmission

Do you have any insight in that or any issues with that kind of transmission?

Well, I would say, you know a 10 speed transmission is a newer technology

Typically when we see something newer, maybe the word is challenges because it takes an adjustment takes a little bit of learning

The manufacturers are also going through the same, you know, they obviously do their research and development

but

They don't know all the facts until we see those cars on the road. So

You know, I wouldn't I wouldn't shy away from it, you know, I would inquire

I would make sure maintenance has been done the car's only a few years old

You can check service bulletins have it inspected before you buy it makes no concerns to be known of

But I definitely wouldn't say that's a reason not about the vehicle

You know, Nick, it's always fun to hear from listeners who are listening to us from well out of state

But sometimes out of the country too, but we have a regular listener Dan who is from the Twin Cities

Listening to us from Palm Springs this morning

Spending about a month out there. Well, lucky you guys

Feels like home listening to CCO and that's that's that's kind of cool to get to get these things because you know years ago

Nick long before you were in the business and I was working

Nights sometimes over nights and those days without the before the internet

We would get the actual, you know letters or postcards and it was always fun to getting in those postcards

I remember getting one from

Texarkana saying coming in loud and clear back in those days, but anyway, I digress call us or Texas with your car care question six five one

Four six one nine two two six. So here is another one. So so you were before dark was on the radio. Thanks

Marconi I knew him personally

All right, don't go there

Let me let me see. Here's another one. Good morning. Love the show

Yeah, this will be interesting to hear your comment on this my new battery just failed

After three and a half years the out-of-ports apart store says the new batteries are failing a lot sooner than the old batteries used to

Texture wants to know what's wrong with the new batteries. Why don't they last as long? Do you think that's true?

Well, I'll put a big maybe there. I've had my

Theories also because it does seem insert makes a model that they were replacing them sooner than we used to

That being said the demand on the batteries much more a lot more electronics

There's a lot more going on inside the vehicle behind the scenes

You know if you're not listening to the radio what you should be listening to a trio

But you know all the computerization all the cameras all the safety features a lot more going on a lot more

Demand on that battery. So I think that we were using the battery cycles more often

So maybe they're being used up a little bit more and also keep in mind that the weight of the vehicle the balance of the vehicles

A really big deal with emissions and fuel economy

So I think that maybe the capacity or the sizes of the batteries have changed too

So I think there's some truth to it, but also keep in mind

There's a lot more going on than just you know the batteries aren't as good as they used to be

Would you say though on the like we say once in a while where there would be wiper blades or anything or oil filters?

Do you still usually usually get what you pay for? Oh?

Absolutely, and you know we we try to sell a premium battery

But there are certain makes and models that every three years will see will be replaced in them

And there's other makes and models that maybe it's you know that five or six year time frame

So it really depends

But you know buying the lesser value or the lesser price point on anything quite honestly in life

We give some life and life advice here, but if you're cutting corners, unfortunately, it's not always gonna work out for the best

That's right. Let's grab a phone call this morning Nick Tim calling in for Fridley, Minnesota this morning. Thank you Tim

What is your question?

Yeah, I've got a

2010 Buick Listern

That I got second hand at that time. It had about

85,000 miles on it. I'm pushing up to just sort of a hundred and fifty thousand miles on it

And I I don't know if the previous owner had ever changed the transmission fluid on it

Should I be considering doing that now or can you even change the fluid on that model? I know some of them you can't

What users a way to service them

Into what extent last time it's just a drain infill which we talked about from time to time and obviously as technologies change

Changed so it's some of the maintenance schedules and this maintenance procedures. So I'm pretty sure a drain infill still possible

You know like but you know, I wouldn't I wouldn't see too far into it

I you know follow owner's manual look the maintenance schedule and kind of follow their advice

Very good. Thanks Tim. Thanks for the calls if you want to call in your question or send a text whichever is easier

We always like to say and still say it. We love to hear from you sooner rather than later Tim

Was lucky to get in before the break here, but we still have time

Nick will be with us for about another 15 minutes or so. So any kind of a car care question

Take advantage of our time here call us or text us

6514619226. Let's do this. We'll take a break see what that forecast is calling for we come back

We'll do more car care talk here on news talk a 30. This is WCCO stay with us

Good Saturday morning to you with this happens to be the 21st of February and we are in the midst of CCO's car care show here

Every Saturday. Thanks to Nick Stoffel from Lloyd's automotive for helping you out right after the 7 o'clock news break every Saturday

Nick we're gonna grab some more text messages, but first let's say grab a phone call Pat checking in from Schaefer this morning Pat

Good morning. What is your question for Nick?

Yeah, hey guys

My daughter is going to school out in Oregon and when she's driving through the mountains her car will overheat and

Then by the time she gets back

To bring it in to get checked, you know, it's it's run fine and they can't find a problem or duplicate the issue

She has a 2015 Chevy Cruze

I'm heading out there next week to see if I can help her out. I was wondering if you have a idea where to start

Well, obviously going through the mountains elevation things are under more stress

So I start to wonder do we have an issue with cooling system the thermostat the water pump circulation?

I would still think even in town flat elevation that maybe some of the temperatures would be elevated as it may be

They can check the input and they'll put temperature on both sides of the thermostat. Make sure it's managing the temperature properly

Because I don't think it's gonna be completely okay in one scenario and then

Overheat in the other. I think there's gonna be somewhere in the middle and hopefully there's enough of a clue there

You know whether or not the water pump circulate enough whether or not the

Radiators dissipating that heat or the thermostats managing that temperature. I would hope that there's a clue somewhere

So if you have, you know, you take it back in to have them kind of stick with it per se

Hopefully there's enough of a clue there where they can kind of you know do some further investigating

Yeah, I'd like to hear the results of that and if you have the time and you get it corrected

I'd like to hear what what happened and what what the technicians found out interesting question and good luck be safe

Good morning. Texter says I have a 94 Cadillacs at Andeville the rear shocks and

Compressor don't work anymore. It has 33,000 actual miles on it

Can I get some aftermarket replacement that won't cost an arm and a leg Texter wants to know

Some make some models with that suspension there is a

Kit to change it to to more traditional type suspension. I don't know for actual on that type of system

But I do know if you do

Update or change it you might have a indicator on the dash will always be on so if that's something that's bothersome to you

So keep that in mind

But you don't go to your shop your dealership inquire see what the options are see how the ride will be different

Because it will ride a little different than your custom to make sure all that is fine with with yourself and your family

But there may be an option. So it just takes a little research and hopefully you find a happy place there

We always like to get and we do get listener comments from time to time just some suggestions and here's one

We're talking about that

Texture wanted to buy that particular Explorer and wondering about that particular type of transmission any problems, etc

And this Texter said check consumer reports or similar for the used car reviews for 10 speed transmissions

I think that's a good idea. I remember years ago

You can't use

Like in commercial matter, you can't use consumer magazines. I remember getting a letter of cease and desist from some

magazine

Attorney saying you can't say this you can't say that but I can say I used to get

That particular publication with the car issue

Which is great because you had all these different repair records of all these different makes and models and

It was it was great research and it's something, you know to buy an expensive car, which they are

Do some research and that's a key word is research and you know, they you know

People are gonna pick on a 10 speed transmission my truck has one. I've had no problems with it, right?

You know, you talk to the next guy and it's been nothing but trouble or you know certain makes, you know, I driver Chevrolet

It's always been that way. It doesn't mean that Ford and Ram are bad. It's just it's what it is, right?

But everybody has their their their feeling their opinion and they're right they have the right to that

But like you said do your research talk to your shop talk to your dealership

You know careful online because online you can find any answer you want to whatever good bad and different, but you know

Talk to your friends talk to your neighbors be informed when you do decide to buy this vehicle at least know what you're buying

You know, there are certain makes and models that maybe have a little more

Troublesome from time to time doesn't make them bad doesn't mean the one you're gonna buy is troublesome

But you know just you know

Ask you know get some information and the most importantly before everybody any used vehicle have your shop your dealership your guy

your people I should say

Inspect it do that use vehicle inspection

Therefore, you know what you're buying to the best that they can share with you and you're and you'll hopefully have a good long life for that

car

absolutely

Looking at an interesting question another via text from a listener Nick says with a concern about engine wear

Would you change to a higher viscosity motor oil?

Like 0 to 0 to 20 to something higher

What do you think about changing what the manufacturer calls for?

You know, I would be very cautious there

The tolerances and engines have changed are very very specific

If you read the manual it might say there's a certain range depending on your climate

If you fall within those ranges of the oil weight, I think you're okay

You know years ago Denny we said summer and winter weight oils, you know at the shop

You'd have two different tanks and you know those days are far behind us

But the talent is a very tight the specifications very tight

Warranty is very specific

So I would be very careful before I would change any kind of oil weight

I think you might find there might be one or two options within your vehicle itself

But I'm not sure it makes a huge difference either that's the other thing

That's kind of old-school thinking you know where we need to put a heavier weight oil because in the winter or summer months

Because that you know the heat things thin out. I don't think that's necessarily truth technology today

But read up follow what the manufacturers recommend

Especially if your vehicle is under warranty you don't want to do something that prevents any kind of warranty repair if you have do have any problems

you and I talk about this Nick from time to time about the

Viscosities have changed so much over the years and I know I was surprised when my son said his his Camry uses

016 and I saw the look of that it was like water

But then you told me and I've since seen it on the shelf

08 I think am I correct on that that's got to be like real like water

You're correct. It's gotten very very thin

You know as I say from time to time I'm not a chemist a scientist it does make me wonder just a little bit

It seems too thin to be real

And in a false kind of back in our experience, you know, I've been at Lloyd since 1998

We've seen I don't know thousands of thousands of cars and you know, we've repaired and we fixed them

we you know didn't what we've done and

You know it kind of comes on to maintenance so no matter what they throw out as far as oil or its

Specifications or all of that if you follow the maintenance schedule

I think you'll be fine, you know, we always talk about the longevity of oil and the recommendations and based on our experience

You know, we always say on synthetic oils five thousands the interval that we really like

But I would I would caution

I would caution people from doing anything different than what the manufacturer says that is I said that previous texture because I'd hate to

Have a problem and have somebody not have any kind of warranty coverage to support that. Yeah, very good. Good. Good thought

Texture says when replacing struts and springs and Toyota Camry, is it okay to use you're gonna help me with this

Is it Moog parts instead of Toyota parts? What is MOOG? What is that?

Moog is a brand

There's a lot of brands out there. Obviously federal mogul. I believe the manufacturer of it

And we touch this, you know, I think in the last couple weeks is aftermarket parts

Oftentimes are made by the same manufacturer made the original equipment parts meaning that the automakers assemble vehicles

They don't make parts so they research they source out all these part manufacturers to make the parts that they need so they can assemble their vehicles

Now within that the manufacturers the part vendors might have a different value line a different

Good, you know, good better best

From my experience Moog is a more of a premium or a premier parts company

So we've had good luck. We've used it. We use them to be honest

So you do your research just because it's not original manufacturing doesn't mean it's not gonna work

It's not gonna fit. It's not gonna be right

Oftentimes the aftermarket parts have the same quality same value, but a better price

So you got to kind of work your way through that. That's how you should have a good relationship with your shop your dealership

Whoever you take your vehicle to they've been doing the bit in the business a long time

They know what works and what doesn't work and they can find ways to save you some money with the same quality

Think we've got one one more text. Yeah, I think you're gonna like this before we head out of here

Texas has loved your Saturday shows listening from Florida while on my morning walk

I am a senior female who enjoys cars wine and gardening

I owned a 59 metropolitan a surprise 60th birthday gift from my husband. She enjoys driving manual transmissions. I love it

Thanks for taking the time to do that. That's awesome

Yeah, and then they can the garden shows next so you just keep listening to WCCO and you'll be complete

Well, she likes wine too. So Ted Farrell will be coming up here in a couple minutes and she can enjoy that as well

We always enjoy your company Nick and your expertise. What do you say? We do this again next week

It sounds like a date Danny. Thank you in the meantime for the folks who want some help from Lloyd's automotive

Tell us how we find you guys

You can always reach us at 651-228-1316 and as always if you're in St. Paul

We're at 982 Grand Avenue. That's two blocks east of Lexington Parkway

And if you need more information, please do check out our website, which is Lloyd's automotive dot net

You'll be safe out there and enjoy the week and we'll talk next Saturday. Sounds good. Thanks, Danny

Increasing Demand for Batteries, Causes Behind Overheating, Variations in Oil Viscosity

About this episode

dust shield

backing plate

bead leaks

wheel

sealant

Edelbrock carburetor

hot rod

car show

tuning

carburetors

Venturis

Acura Rdx

backup camera

Ford Explorer

10 speed transmission

Buick LaCrosse

transmission fluid

Chevrolet Cruze

Compressor

rear shocks

aftermarket replacement

indicator on the dash

Dodge Ram

used vehicle inspection

motor oil

viscosity

tolerances

summer and winter weight oils

oil weight

Toyota Camry

aftermarket parts

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