Archives for September 2023

If you’re interested in learning about car oil changes for European vehicles, the friendly and professional team at Sommer Car Care can help. Our expert mechanics can teach you about the consequences of neglecting oil changes. The recommended frequency of oil changes and the impact oil changes can have on engine performance, longevity and efficiency. If you own a European car and need an oil change, contact Sommer Car Care in Brisbane to schedule an appointment.

Don’t Neglect Oil Changes!

Text: Timely oil change services can prevent your engine from a variety of negative consequences, such as:

Dirty Oil

All engine oil will become dirty with time. This dirt can clog up the filters and passages oil use to lubricate and cool the engine, which can cause damage.

Engine Failure

Oil helps to lubricate and cool your engine and failing to change it can cause your engine to seize up. This can result in costly repairs or the replacement of the entire engine.

Lost Fuel Efficiency

If your engine is using dirty oil, this can cause the engine to work harder, which can result in higher fuel consumption and reduced efficiency.

Overheated Engine

Oil provides cooling to your engine. Dirty oil can cause your engine to overheat, which can damage elements of the engine.

Increased Engine Wear

Without clean oil, engine parts rub together. This can cause damage to the engine and result in costly repairs and replacements.

How Often Should You Arrange a Car Oil Change?

The oil change frequency for your European car depends on driving conditions, frequency of use, the type of oil and the type of engine. If you use your car regularly, the wear and tear on your engine is greater so the frequency of your oil changes increases. Our expert mechanics can understand the specific details of your car to help you find the correct oil change services for your vehicle.

Impact on Performance and Longevity

Regular car oil changes can increase the performance and longevity of your European engine by removing impurities that cause corrosion and overheating. The sludge left behind by dirty oil can draw heat from different engine parts, which reduces the effectiveness of your engine. Proper lubrication can increase the longevity of your engine, improve mileage and increase horsepower.

Increase Your Fuel Efficiency

Studies show that impurities in oil increase over time. Your engine can lose power because of the build-up of viscous by-products left behind by dirty oil. There is a direct link between dirty oil and mechanical losses in parts of the engine, such as piston skirts, bearings, piston rings and piston trains. A car oil change will allow engine parts to work more easily, which means your engine will use less fuel.

If you think you might need your oil changed, contact the expert team at Sommer Car Care on 07 3171 8780 to schedule a meeting, or contact us online.

Use of Oscilloscopes to Diagnose Car Faults

At Sommer Car Care in Brisbane, our auto technicians use state of the art diagnostic equipment to detect, diagnose and correct automotive problems. One of our best tools is an “oscilloscope” which records voltage over time on a graph. The sensitivity and high bandwidth of the oscilloscope makes it possible to detect and record lightning-fast response times in electronic equipment, with the ability to zoom in on any anomalies in the waveforms produced.

What Car Systems Can an Oscilloscope Record?

An oscilloscope can be used to analyse variety of electrical systems in your car. This can include:

• Charging and starting systems
• Sensors
• Actuators
• Ignition Systems
• Communications Systems
• Systems Tests
• Pressure Transducers
• Relative compression
• Cylinder balance
• Batteries
• Starters
• Alternators

An oscilloscope can also test a multitude of systems and sensor signals in EVs (electronic vehicles).

The sensitivity of an oscilloscope is also used for more advanced diagnostics to test issues with noises and vibrations that can’t be diagnosed easily with more traditional methods.

How is an Oscilloscope Used?

An oscilloscope produces data on an active electrical system over a span of time. In most situations, our auto technician would attempt to recreate the malfunction detected by the driver by running the car or system whilst graphing and recording the information on an oscilloscope.

Our auto technician would then compare the graph data (waveform) with existing “known good” data that was taken from the same car when it was working correctly. This would give us a benchmark to compare against the newly recorded data.

If an anomaly is detected, we can then isolate it and determine whether it is causing the malfunction. Diagnosing the problem is the first step to correcting it and restoring your car to working order.

Why to Use an Oscilloscope

Modern car systems have become very sophisticated over time and electronic systems are responsible for a wide variety of essential performance and safety features. The use of diagnostic equipment such as an oscilloscope, offers us the advantage of diagnosing problems more accurately and more quickly, which means less delays and expense for our customers.

Data gathered from an oscilloscope and our other diagnostic equipment, can also be used to create a continuous record of your car’s performance and faults, helping us to understand your vehicle and be better able to diagnose any faults that may develop in the future.

European Car Repair Experts, Brisbane

Call Sommer Car Care in Brisbane on 07 3171 937 today for an appointment. When it comes to European Car Servicing, we are second to none!