Essential Car Kits to Keep in Your Vehicle

If there's one crucial car maintenance task that you never want to miss, it's changing the oil. It's important always to follow a suitable oil change schedule for your vehicle, oil, and driving habits. Also, watch out for the following signs of low or deteriorating oil, and don't hesitate to visit your local Mitsubishi dealership to have it refreshed. Your Oil Level Is Low At any time, you can use the dipstick to check the level of your oil. It's advisable to do this frequently. Always park the car on level ground beforehand to ensure an accurate reading. If your oil is low, have it topped up or changed at once. Your Oil Looks Dirty When you draw out the dipstick, if the oil looks dark and grimy, it's probably time to refresh it. When new, motor oil is typically amber in hue, fading to brown as it ages. Dark brown or black usually indicates the oil is too old and degraded. And if the oil is any other color, such as milky or creamy, you might have coolant leaking into the engine and mixing with the oil, which must be resolved at once. more You See the Motor Oil Warning Light The lights on your instrument panel will usually let you know if you need to change your oil. Never ignore the motor oil warning light. Likewise, pay heed to the check engine light, which could have been triggered by engine trouble related to bad motor oil. Your Engine Makes Odd Noises When low or aging oil fails to lubricate properly, you might hear knocking sounds from the engine. And if the additional friction is causing overheating, you might hear ticking sounds and the engine's power will begin to drop. You See Smoke in Your Exhaust Fumes If a piston seal springs a leak, it's possible for motor oil to seep into the combustion chambers. When this occurs, you're likely to see strange bluish smoke emit from the tailpipe. Change Your Oil Twice a Year at Your Mitsubishi Dealership Most engines stay healthy when the oil is changed biannually, although it really depends on how much you use your car. You can easily arrange routine oil servicing with us; we can help you set up the perfect schedule for your particular driving habits and needs. Visit DELLA Mitsubishi in Plattsburgh, NY, to have your motor oil promptly refreshed.

A car engine misfires when one or more cylinders fail to produce power. An engine misfiring can cause a range of serious issues, from increased gas mileage and stalling to a surge in exhaust emissions and severe engine damage. Take your vehicle to your Mitsubishi dealer for repairs to avoid significant damage and high repair costs. What Is a Misfire? The heart of the internal combustion engine is its cylinders, each housing a piston that moves up and down, orchestrating four vital cycles. It all begins with the intake of a mixture of air and fuel into the combustion chamber. Next, the compressed mixture is ignited by a spark plug. This ignition then triggers a powerful combustion that drives the piston downward, powering the crankshaft. A car misfires when one or more cylinders fail to generate power, often stemming from an inadequate spark or a lack of compression or fuel. more Why Does a Car Misfire? Ignition Problems The ignition coil powers the spark plugs; if it's faulty, the spark plugs won't receive enough electric current. If a spark plug generates a weak spark or fails to spark, the cylinder will not fire and fail to produce power. Issues With the Air and Fuel Ratio The fuel pump delivers gas to the engine. If the pump malfunctions, not enough fuel will reach the combustion chambers. A faulty or clogged injector, congested with residue and tiny carbon particles, will limit the amount of fuel available for combustion. Initially, misfires may occur infrequently, but as the residue accumulates and the injectors become more clogged, the misfires become more frequent. A clogged fuel filter will obstruct fuel flow, and a leaking manifold gasket will cause the cylinders to draw in excess air, both of which will disrupt the air and fuel balance, creating a lean environment that could cause misfires. Mechanical Failures The piston rings act as a barrier, sealing the combustion chamber from the other parts of the engine. Piston rings allow vacuum and pressure buildup during the combustion process. Damaged piston rings could cause misfires. Intake and exhaust valves facilitate the entry of air and fuel into the combustion chamber and the exit of exhaust gases. If you notice your Mitsubishi is losing power, shaking, vibrating, stalling, consuming more gas, or is difficult to start, head over to DELLA Mitsubishi in Plattsburgh, NY, today.

A flat tire can be a nuisance, but it doesn't have to leave you stranded. As your Mitsubishi dealer, we want to tell you the easy steps to replace that tire so you can get on the road again ASAP. Advice From Your Mitsubishi Dealer: Steps to Change a Flat Tire Find a Safe Spot The most important first step in changing a tire is to locate a safe area. Changing a tire requires focus, which is much easier to achieve if no moving vehicles are close to you. Preferably, you want an open, flat space like a parking lot. If you must change the tire on the road, switch on your emergency flashers and open your hood and trunk. This will warn other drivers that you're stationary. Gather Your Tools You only need three items to replace that flat: a lug wrench, a jack, and a spare tire. These items are usually inside your trunk. You can easily find their location by checking your car manual. more Position The Jack Lifting points are located under your Mitsubishi on the frame. They're flat metal plates positioned behind each wheel that provide a safe place to fit the jack. Once you've located the closest lifting point, use the lug wrench to loosen each lug nut on the damaged tire until it can be turned by hand. Then fit the jack under the lifting point and jack your Mitsubishi until the damaged tire lifts off the ground. Replace the Tire Lift the old tire off the wheel hub and put it to one side. Then lift the new tire onto the wheel hub and rotate it until all the holes line up. Insert the lug nuts and turn them as tightly as you can by hand. Lower Your Vehicle Use the jack to lower your Mitsubishi to the ground. Use the lug wrench once more to tighten each lug nut as tightly as possible. Pack the jack, lug wrench, and damaged tire in their places, and you're ready to drive away. Using a Donut This advice applies only if your vehicle has a donut, which is a smaller, space-saving tire. This type of tire isn't intended for permanent use, as it's not as strong as a regular tire. Don't drive more than 50 miles or at more than 50 mph for safety when using a donut. Now you changed your tire, visit us at DELLA Mitsubishi in Plattsburgh, NY. Our technicians will install a new tire for you in minutes.