Amongst mechanics, there seems to be two schools of thoughts regarding gear oil. While some recommend that you change gear oil at regular intervals, others do not bother too much about it at all. Whatever it is, gear oil is definitely the most neglected item of a car.

What in reality, is gear oil? Gear oil is motor oil that’s made specially for the transmission or the differentials in an automobile. According to my mechanic friend, Raman, unlike engine oil, “gear” oil is numbered 90W to 140W. This means gear oil, has a high viscosity. Its “thickness” is necessary to provide maximum protection which is so essential for moving parts of the gear boxes.

Gear oil is very similar to motor oil or, if you like engine oil, which is used for engine lubrication. Gear oil, on the other hand, possess many different properties. This is to meet many different demands that are placed on it.

Unlike engine oil, gear oil takes a great of deal heat, without breaking down. Its duty is to lubricate other parts in an engine. However, gear oil does not reach the temperatures of an engine oil.

Gear oil, is associated with parts that move somewhat slower. Nevertheless, it is reported to get heated up significantly as the vehicle is driven. In gear boxes or differentials, pressures in interlocking metals are said to be more extreme. Because of this, gear boxes require the assistance of gear oil.

What does gear oil contain? It contains sulphur. Sulphur forms a protection coating on all metal parts it touches. This will prevent direct metal to metal contact. Without the coating provided by gear oil, extreme pressures which takes place in the gear box, the parts inside would heat up to a temperature that is considered as hazardous to the operating capability of vehicles and parts will eventually wear out.

Gear oil in passenger vehicles, it is not something that is frequently replaced by motorists, unlike engine oil. For those of you riding motorcycles, it is recommended that you change your gear oil every 3,800 miles or 6,000 km. Do remember, that a motorcycle gear will deplete as time goes by. It then loses its ability to protect the clutch as well as the gear systems of a machine.

How does one go about changing the gear oil of a vehicle?

The same applies as to changing the engine oil. For cars, simply drain oil from the differential, then replace the drain plug, pour in the required amount, which is anything from 3.5 litres to 4 litres, and then replace the oil lid.

In the case of motorcycles, replace with oil that is specially intended for motors and scooters duly. For readers’ information, I use a very popular gear box oil currently available in Malaysia. It is American made. Among the properties of the above oil are:

1. it is suitable for all manual transmission.

2. Quietens noisy operation of gear boxes.

3. Restores smooth shifting of gears.

4. Improved performance is guaranteed.

Finally, it should also be made known that the above gear oil, used by the writer is the only lubricant company in the world ever to be inducted into the Space Foundation Hall of Fame!

Well then, what are you waiting for? Go for it! And in doing so, I hope you’ll enjoy easy and smooth changing of gears.

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Many motorists are unaware that a car has 3 important filters. They are the fuel filter, oil filter and finally, the air filter. Allow me to explain briefly, the functions of each filter mentioned above.

The fuel filter’s function is to filter petrol, fuel or diesel which are stored in the fuel tank of contaminants such as rust and dirt. The second filter which obviously needs no mention is the oil filter. Basically, the oil filter’s function is to rid engine oil or lubrication oil of metal oxides, rust and grime that are found in the engine or lubrication oil making the engine much smoother eventually.

If you were to ask of me, what part does an air filter play in a car or vehicle engine, what then would my answer be? An air filter is a device which is made of fibrous material. It is meant to remove solid particles such as dust, pollen mold and bacteria from the air or atmosphere.

Air filter are used commonly in modern engines of today. Air intake of internal combustion engines and compressors frequently use paper, cotton or foam filters. Air filters are usually overlooked in a car’s itinerary. As a matter of fact, clogged or dirty air filters can very significantly reduce air flow in the cabin or compartment of a car.

What does an air filter in reality do? An air filter actually prevents abrasive matter from entering the engines cylinders where it can cause mechanical wear and contamination. Talking about air filters, such items are normally constructed of paper or felt.

In most of fuel injected vehicles, they use pleated paper filter element in the form of a flat panel. This filter is usually placed in a plastic box connected to the throttle today with an intake tube.

Other vehicles which use carburetors, usually use a cylindrical air filter between 6 inchs (150mm) and 16 inchs (410mm) in diameter. Now that readers know what an air filter is, permit me to delve slightly into the history of this important item of a car.

In 2003, the Ford Motor Company introduced what is called the “Visteon Long Life Filtration System” into the Ford Focus car. In the above system, the foam filter was placed in the bumper of the car. It was said to have a 240,000 km or 150,000 miles service interval.

According to a technical paper, which was published by the Society of Automotive Engineers, this design offered a higher and more stable filtration efficiency when compared to other conventional air filters.

Today, pleated paper filter elements are the exclusive selection of automotive engine air cleaners due to the fact that it is easy to service and its cost of production is very low. Besides, pleated paper air filters which are very popular in the market nowadays, there is also available in the market today of oil polyurethane foam elements which are used in some replacement auto air filters.

However, paper air filter have replaced oil wetted foams nowadays. There is yet another form of air filter which this writer feels should also be made known to readers. The filter in question is none other what is called the oil bath oil filter. I still recall one such filter that I chanced to come across in 1961, a Volkswagen 1200cc model that he owned way back some 40 years ago. The oil bath oil filter consists of a round base bowl containing a pool of oil with a round insert which is made of mesh or wire, foam or any coarse filter media.

For readers’ further information, the Volkswagen Beetle was commissioned to be built by the second world war dictator, Adolf Hitler of Germany for a sum of only £50. The above “Beetle”, was reportedly built by the famous and international renowned car builder, Ferdinand Porsche himself.

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In my last blog post, I wrote about what you should do if you mistakenly filled up your petrol car with diesel. You can read about my silly mistake at “What To Do When You Accidentally Filled Diesel Into Your Petrol Car?” post.

After making the mistake of pumping diesel into my petrol Perodua Kancil, as a driving instructor for many years, I’ve now decided that I should teach my young students, who are mostly 17 or 18 years, the correct manner to fill up petrol at our petrol stations

I usually advise my students the proper and correct way of filling up petrol or “gas”, as they say in America. Amongst the many advices usually given include:-
1) Ensure you as a driver, drive your car into the square space next to the petrol pump. The petrol pumps are normally numbered 1 – 10.

2) Ensure that your car is placed approximately 1 – 2 feet from the pump.

3) Make certain that the pump you’re entered into, issues or supplies the fuel that you require, that is “petrol”.

4) Fuel in Malaysia are normally of 2 varieties. RON 95 for older vehicles and RON 97 for new vehicles and more expensive model of vehicles.

5) After ensuring that you have indeed landed up in the correct pump, locate the position of your fuel tank. It would be either be on the right or left side of your vehicle.

In most vehicles, you’ll have to pull a lever to release or “open” the cover to your petrol tank. However, in older vehicles, a key would be required to open up the cover.

Some newer cars even use the “sensor” touch system. In one of my other articles on Ford cars, Fiesta, Mondeo and Focus versions of its latest models makes it unnecessary for motorists to unscrew the cap to the fuel tank.

After you have located where the petrol tank is and what to do with it, the next step would be to approach the counter to order the amount of petrol you would like to insert into your vehicle.

6) Assuming that a motorist would like to fill in a RM50 worth of petrol into his or her car. Tell the counter clerk the amount you want. You can either pay cash or use your credit card should you have one.

In most petrol stations, the operators supply motorists with rebates or discounts. Cards such as “Smile” and “Bonuslink” are examples of rebate cards available in the market.

Even Genting Highlands point cards can collect rebate points at petrol stations. The points collected can be exchanged for drinks, toys, umbrellas and even food from time to time.

During festive seasons, like Hari Raya, Deepavali and Chinese New Year, boxes of packet drinks are offered to motorists. All in all, it is a great way to repay motorists who patronize these petrol stations. It is my opinion, a move that encourages healthy competition amongst petrol station operators, should be encouraged.

What should an inexperienced motorist who has just got his “P” license to do after he has made payment at the counter?

Well, the next step is to decide which type of petrol he wants. The best alternative is to choose RON 97. It may be slightly more expensive, but RON 97 is said to give motorists better acceleration, more power and protect engines eventually.

7) After opening the cap to the petrol tank, place the nozzle into the tank, and depress a small lever at the base of the nozzle. Observe the meter at the pump depicting the amount of petrol you have ordered. Make sure, the pump issues the correct amount of fuel you have intended to purchase.

8) After completion of filling in the amount of petrol required, remove the nozzle from your petrol tank and replace it on to the pump. Ensure that the fuel tank cap is put back tightly. Push back the petrol tank cover properly.

You have thus successfully succeeded in filling up petrol which your car requires. With this article, it is hoped new and inexperienced drivers who have just got their “P” licenses, will from henceforth find it easy to fill up petrol which your car requires.

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