Preventive Maintenance & Oil Changes
Motor oil lubricates the moving parts of the engine, reducing friction and wear. It also helps to cool the engine, while cleaning dirt and sludge. But remember, engine oil breaks down with time and should be replaced regularly for optimal effectiveness. Rest assured, at Midas we adhere to manufacturer's guidelines, ensuring the right services for your vehicle at the right time.
Midas mechanics can select the right oil for your vehicle, inspect your car's air filter and check the levels of vital fluids for brakes, power steering, automatic transmission and coolant/antifreeze.
And that’s important. Because taking care of your car’s oil, filter and fluid needs is one of the simplest, most effective and inexpensive ways to help keep it running smooth and strong.
Oil Changes
One of the simplest, most effective and inexpensive ways to help protect the life of your car, especially its engine, is to change the oil and the oil filter regularly.
Oil is the lifeblood of your engine. It reduces friction, lessens wear, provides lubrication, forms a seal between the pistons, rings and cylinder walls while helping to cool engine parts. Without the cleaning action of new oil, carbon and varnish buildup would be toxic to the engine. And engine oil even dampens the shock and noise of moving parts.
Small wonder, engine oil and filter service is the car engineers' most frequently recommended service. And with our oil change, or any other service, you can request a Midas TouchT Courtesy Check. We'll look inside, outside, under the hood and underneath the car, then explain the findings and give you a written report.
Motor Oil
Most cars on the road today use multi-grade oil - one that can work efficiently in cold and hot weather. A multi-grade oil is rated by two numbers, such as 15W-40.
About the oil classification system
Each motor oil comes with a classification indicating its viscosity, which is its friction or resistance to flow. In a multi-grade oil, the first number indicates how the oil will flow when it is cold. The lower the number, the lighter the oil and the better it will perform at lower temperatures. The second number indicates the thickness of that same oil at high temperatures. For example, a 15W-40 oil will flow as a 15-weight oil at zero degrees Celsius and as a 40-weight oil at 100 degrees Celsius.
Why viscosity is a concern
During cold starting, a small amount of oil is present in the upper parts of engines. To lessen the friction when upper engine parts, such as the valve train, pistons, overhead cam and cam bearings, scrub against each other, a low viscosity allows the oil to reach the components more quickly.
Why 5W-30 oil is so popular
Many vehicles today leave the factory with 15W-40 engine oil. Vehicle manufacturers recommend it because it is a lighter oil that performs well in a range of temperatures and improves gas mileage.
Synthetic oils
Not all motor engine oils are petroleum-based. Synthetic oils, which are chemically compounded lubricants, are also available. They provide:
- Higher viscosity stability over a wider temperature range
- Reduced oil thickening
- Reduced wear and increased load-carrying ability.
Which oil is right for your car?
The simplest and safest way to find out is to check your owner's manual...or talk to your Midas mechanic.
Oil filters
Oil filters are designed to trap foreign particles suspended in the oil and prevent them from getting to the engine bearings and other parts.
Fluids
Your vehicle relies on a variety of fluids to operate its brake, steering, transmission, engine cooling and other systems. When these fluids become degraded or are at incorrect levels, damage to other components may occur...so always follow the manufacturer-recommended service schedule.
Automatic transmission fluid
This is an oil used in a transmission that lubricates and cools the transmission and shifts gears automatically.
Brake fluid
This is the hydraulic fluid used to transmit pressure through the brake lines in a brake system.
Coolant/antifreeze
This is the mixture of water and antifreeze used in an engine cooling system to maintain the engine's temperature throughout its operating range.
Starting & Charging
The battery starts your car, powers on-board computers and supplies emergency power needs. A weakened battery causes stress on alternators and starters, especially during extreme temperatures. Let Midas inspect your battery regularly.
Air Filters
Clean air filters can increase engine performance, boost fuel mileage and reduce engine wear. Cabin air filters can minimize airborne contaminants in the passenger compartment and improve heating/cooling efficiency.
Midas TouchT Courtesy Check
Ask for the Midas Touch Courtesy Check. It's fast, efficient and covers many items on your vehicle's preventive maintenance plan. We'll conduct a visual check, looking inside, outside, under the hood and under the vehicle, then create a written report.
Belts & Hoses
A series of belts and pulleys drive engine accessories such as the alternator, water pump, fan, power steering pump, air conditioning compressor and air injection pump. Hoses and steel lines transfer coolant, brake fluid and fuel throughout the vehicle. Over time, these parts may crack, rust or leak. So, protect yourself by following the factory maintenance schedule.
At Midas, we follow the manufacturers’ service guidelines for all maintenance services, including belt and hose replacement. Our shops have access to factory maintenance schedules for most makes and models on the road. So, when you visit us, we retrieve your car’s schedule and print it out for your review.
Timing belts
These are toothed, reinforced belts used to drive the camshaft via a sprocket to a crankshaft. They ensure the synchronization of the engine's camshaft, crankshaft and distributor.
Signs of trouble: Engine backfires or stops
Serpentine belts
These belts transfer power from the crankshaft to all of the engine accessories. When this single belt breaks, it can cause damage to the engine through overheating, loss of the charging system or loss of power steering.
Signs of wear: Cracking, splitting, slipping and squealing
Coolant hoses
These are hoses that transfer antifreeze throughout the engine cooling system, including the radiator and the heater core.
Signs of wear: Cracking, splitting and brittle or soft spots
Lights, Wipers, & Accessories
See and be seen while out on the road. We can improve your visibility by inspecting wiper blades, headlights, turn signals, brake lights and filling your windshield washer fluid.
Headlamps
Headlights typically come with dual beams, which allow you to use the high-beam mode, when no other cars are in view, and low-beams, which are used for city driving.
Headlamps mostly come in two varieties — the conventional sealed beam type, which produces a maximum 150,000 candlepower, and the halogen capsule, which produces a 25 percent higher output of whiter light on the same amount of power as a conventional headlamp.
In addition to headlamps, other lights available from Midas include:
- Tail, park, and brake lights
- Turn signals
- Interior lamps
- Hazard flashers
How they work
Light bulbs, often called lamps, have filaments through which electricity flows. The filament provides a resistance to electron flow, so it heats up, causing light.
Midas Touch™ Courtesy Check
Don’t forget to ask for the Midas Touch Courtesy Check. We’ll conduct a visual check, looking inside, outside, under the hood and under the vehicle, then create a written report. It’s fast, efficient and covers many items on your vehicle’s preventive maintenance plan, including lights and wiper blades.
Remember, this is a safety issue. Why wait for the police to pull you over because a light bulb is out when you can take care of that problem proactively at Midas?
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