Archive for: Engine

Anyone who has ever suffered an overheating vehicle knows what a hassle it is. Not only can an overheating car, truck, van or SUV leave you stranded, but the tow and repair bills can add up quickly. There are several potential reasons for an overheating engine, and in many cases, you can have several of these problems at the same time:

Low coolant level: This issue is easy to verify and correct. We suggest checking your coolant level before every major trip, especially in the summer, and at least once a month for normal driving. If your coolant level drops below the minimum level, your engine can quickly overheat.
Coolant issues: Your vehicle is designed to run on a specific type and blend of coolant. If…

When you have an automotive fluid leak, you’re likely aware of the problems it causes to your vehicle. Low fluid levels — be it engine oil, coolant, transmission fluid or any other fluid — can create major problems and force your vehicle off the road (and put some hurt on your wallet). If these fluid levels are low because of leaks in your lines, gaskets and fittings, there’s another problem to worry about: environmental damage.

Effects of Automotive Fluid Leaks on the Environment
Oil and coolant leaks not only cause unattractive stains on our driveways, parking lots and roads, but they can also seep into the ground and pollute waterways. It’s important to understand the consequences of motor oil, coolant and other fluid pollution and seal…

Most of us know that oil “lubricates” our engine, but do we really know what that means? Knowing a bit about how engine oil works can give you a greater appreciation for the importance of regular oil changes and maintaining the correct quality and level of oil in your vehicle. Remember, maintenance beats repair every time.

However, if it comes down to a leak repair, we have a wide range of engine oil products that help seal leaks, repair gaskets, reduce smoking and cure a number of other engine oil-related problems. Take a moment to learn how engine oil works under your hood – it’s an easy, non-technical lesson. Promise!

How Oil Flows Through an Engine
When your engine is off, your motor oil accumulates in your…

There are two major types of engine oils: synthetic oils and conventional (also called regular) oils. Blended oils, a mixture of the two, are also available, but they are less common. These oils are known as synthetic blends.

Today, though, we wanted to talk about the major differences between synthetic and conventional oils. While either oil can be used in most vehicles, there are some applications where one is preferred over the other. Our Bar’s Leaks customer support team members are experts in engine fluids, and we wanted to share some of these important differences so that you can make the right choice for your car, truck, van or SUV.
Synthetic Oil
The molecules in synthetic oil are engineered to give the best mix of lubrication, protection, performance…

Here’s the bad news: without even realizing it, you’re likely doing damage to your engine every time you drive it. There are a few things all of us do that reduce the performance and reliability of our engines and can destroy them over time. Be aware of the top five things we do that should be avoided:

Lack of fluids: Letting our engine oil, coolant, transmission fluid and other fluid levels drop below the minimum levels is a common problem. It only takes a moment to check and top-off your fluids, so take care of your fluid levels on a regular basis to avoid fluid starvation, overheating, insufficient lubrication and more. Obviously, the number one culprit here is leaks, and we have all sorts of…