Category: Yardley

What is top tier gasoline, and why do I need it?

There is a lot of debate online about whether using cheap gas makes a difference. We at Big Oak Citgo know that it does, and that’s why we sell a Top Tier gas brand at our pumps. Using cheap gas isn’t going to reduce your car’s horsepower or have any immediate impact on how your vehicle drives. It is all about long term carbon deposits in certain engine components.

How it all started

Automotive technology has advanced by leaps and bounds, mostly driven by Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards and The California Air Resources Board (CARB) emissions standards. CAFÉ standards have resulted in car makers producing more fuel efficient and environmentally friendly engine designs. CARB standards have helped reinforce the needs for low emissions vehicles. These standards have driven innovation in all areas of engine control and have produced some amazing new engine control systems and strategies. They also require exact formulations of all maintenance and consumable fluids, such as engine oil, antifreeze and gasoline.

As these complex systems began hitting the streets, manufacturers realized they had a problem. They began to see unexplained break downs, no starts and other drivability concerns. They came to realize the cause was inconsistent or nonexistent additive packages in gasoline.

The solution to the problem

A new standard was introduced in 1997 called the lowest additive concentration (LAC) standard.  The LAC standard required a minimum level of additives, in the hope of resolving the drivability and reliability issues. It worked for a few years, but technology marched on and soon these minimum required levels become unsatisfactory. In 2004 top tier gasoline additive package standards were introduced to standardize fuel additive packages but not every brand got on board.

Top tier gasoline standards allow new car manufacturers to design engine control systems in ever tighter tolerances, increasing mileage, reducing emissions, and increasing performance. Top tier additive packages also allow manufacturers to design in less wear and deposit tolerance for things like injectors, valves and combustion chambers. For instance, intake valve deposits that would have caused no problem at all 10 years ago, will cause significant drivability concerns in today’s gasoline direct injection cars.

Strangely, the top tier standard is not required, some gasoline brands, and all unbranded gasoline does not comply with top tier standards. Many premium new car manufacturers such as BMW, General Motors, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Ford, Honda, Toyota, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz and Audi suggest using only top tier gasoline. It makes sense because, despite the slightly increased price at the pumps, the amount of money you can save by not paying for expensive high mileage car repairs can be substantial. For more information please see www.toptiergas.com, or www.aaa.com/AAA/common/AAR/files/Fuel-Quality-Full-Report.pdf

The bottom line

You can look at the progression of gasoline additives in the market as well as the advancements in engine efficiency for all you need to know. The use of additives in gas has increased and gained consistency as engine design has advanced. One would think with this correlation you could not deny the impact Top Tier gas makes on the modern vehicle. A case study done by the American Automobile association yielded some shocking results. When comparing Top Tier gas brands with non-Top Tier brands in a controlled environment, “non-Top Tier gasolines caused 19 times more engine deposits than Top Tier brands after just 4,000 miles”. This is not a huge concern in the low mileages but when talking about a gasoline direct injection vehicle with 100k miles or higher, carbon deposit build-up certainly becomes a concern. Carbon will build up in a few primary places, in the combustion cylinder itself, the fuel injectors, and the engine intake and exhaust valves. Carbon deposits in all these locations can impact how your vehicle runs, cause it to not start, misfire, and turn your check engine light on.

Our process is greater than the sum of its parts…

Original, Aftermarket, Re-manufactured, Rebuilt, and Used parts, that is.

When repairing your car, we select parts from a variety of sources and the choice is based on a thoughtful and thorough process.  If you sit in our waiting room and overhear Mike or Tom on the phone with a parts house, you may think it’s a simple undertaking for him to order a set of spark plugs or a headlamp assembly for the car on the lift in the shop.  In reality, a great deal of time, expertise, and understanding have gone into the decision-making process for each and every part that we stock or order as we work on your vehicle.  With the collective experience of our technicians & service-writers behind us, we can provide you with the best possible value on every repair we undertake.
Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at how we determine the best parts to use for a range of repairs and maintenance.  To learn more, read on:

OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) Parts

  • We purchase these parts directly from dealerships.
  • These are the exact parts used when your vehicle was built.

Aftermarket parts made to OEM Specifications

  • These parts are made to the original manufacturer’s specifications and typically function in exactly the same way the original parts do, they are simply made by a different manufacturer.
  • Sometimes they are even made by the same manufacturer but under a different brand name, therefore only the name on the box is different.
  • Example: Toyota owns a parts manufacturer called Denso. Denso makes all the spark plugs for Toyota and their subsidiary companies. Consumers can buy Denso spark plugs for a fraction of the price of the Toyota brand despite them being identical. The part is literally the same exact part made in the same exact plant and only the name on the box differs.

Innovative aftermarket parts

  • Some aftermarket companies have created a niche for themselves by improving on issues in the original parts design.
  • This option offers solutions for notorious issues that plague certain makes and models.

Remanufactured parts

  • These are previously-used parts or “cores” that have been remanufactured to the original blue prints and manufacturer’s specifications.
  • Once remanufactured, the parts are put through the same testing process that the original part was put through when it was made.
  • In certain applications, remanufactured parts dominate the market.

    Rebuilt parts

  • With rebuilt parts, the cause of failure is identified and resolved – only the failed components are fixed before the overall part is resold.
  • In this instance, it’s important to be mindful that other age-related issues may remain, unrelated to the immediate reason for failure.

Used parts

  • These parts were used on a previous vehicle and are typically purchased as-is.
  • When we purchase used engines and transmissions from trustworthy vendors, the parts are usually tested briefly before being shipped out.
  • It is always a good idea to purchase additional parts & labor warranties when using these parts, therefore we typically purchase a full year of parts & labor coverage in these instances.
  • In many applications, repairing a vehicle with used parts is by far the most affordable option.

If you have any questions about our process or about your vehicle’s replacement parts specifically, please contact us and we will be happy to provide you with personalized advice.

In addition to helping you find the best parts for your repairs, we can ensure your vehicle remains safe and reliable with our comprehensive maintenance services.  Our service advisers will be happy to assist you — make an appointment by calling 215-295-4535 or visit www.bigoakcitgo.com to make an online appointment request.

 

If Your Car is Overheating, Bring It to Your Yardley Mechanic as Soon as Possible

There could be any number of reasons why your engine is overheating, but the main cause usually involves the cooling system failing to some extent. If your car is overheating, bring it to your Yardley mechanic as soon as possible. Here are some reasons your car is overheating.

There could be a leak in the cooling system. A cooling system leak is by far the most common reason your car suffers overheating. The leak could be from any number of places, the radiator, hoses, water pump and freeze plugs top name just a few. In order to find the leak, we will perform a pressure test.

You could have a faulty thermostat that is causing your car to overheat. The thermostat in your car responds to the engine temperature, opening when the radiator fluid gets hot enough. If it gets stuck, your engine will overheat.

There are any number of blocked passages that would cause your car to overheat. Rust, dirt and other debris can impede coolant flow and cause problems. There are also other contaminants that can cause premature failure of your cooling system.

A radiator fan that wobbles, has broken blades or just doesn’t work is yet another reason for cooling system failure.

Your cooling system consists of a number of hoses that carries engine coolant throughout the engine. If any of these hoses has cracks or splits and leaks, it causes a disruption in the flow of coolant and the engine will overheat.

These are just a few causes of engine overheating.