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Responsible car owners know that keeping oil in your car is vital to the life of your engine, so much so that it's often called the lifeblood of a vehicle. But the importance of motor oil means that some motorists falsely believe common misconceptions about motor oil.

Many drivers believe that they need to change their motor oil before embarking on a road trip, no matter the circumstance, but that isn't always true. 

The difference between cars with front wheel drive and rear wheel drive systems is immense. Through all of the engineering sophistication, it boils down to whether your car transfers energy from its engine to pull, or push the vehicle to produce motion. Front wheel drives use torque to pull, and rear wheel drives utilize engine output and a long drive shaft to push.

Both drive systems provide reliable power and efficiency, but they each have advantages that require special attention to maintain. 

Most dealerships offer a warranty with every vehicle unless it's a real lemon. However, there are differences in warranty coverage, and just because a car comes with a warranty, it doesn't mean you are protected against major manufacturer defects or things that break on a pre-owned vehicle that were not your fault.

Powertrain warranties should cover your engine and transmission. 

We all know our car needs fuel to run, but we tend to forget how the fuel gets to the engine until the car quits working. The fuel system of your car is responsible for getting the fuel to the engine. At BMW of Salem, we can check out your car and perform fuel system services.

Here are some signs your fuel pump may be the culprit and in need of replacement.

When you take your car to the mechanic, you hear him referring to an oil change and oil viscosity as if they relate, and they do. The question is, how important is oil viscosity when it comes to changing your oil?

To most drivers, all they have to do is get their car to the mechanic for their oil to be changed. 

The exhaust system takes a lot of punishment. It is exposed to high temperatures, weather, noxious fumes, road salt, and gravel thrown up from the road. Knowing the materials that your exhaust system is made from will help you choose one that has the longest life and resistance to the elements.

When we think of the mechanics of our car, we think of stop and go. The gas pedal, controlled by gasoline, makes it go and the brakes, controlled by brake fluid, make it stop. While we seldom forget about gasoline, we tend to forget about brake fluid until the brakes fail to operate properly. Does your car need new brake fluid? 

Move Over laws protects tow truck drivers in all 50 states. Let’s help keep our drivers safe. #SDMO pic.twitter.com/KgZY2p83H8

— AAA (@AAAauto) July 12, 2017

There are laws in every state when you drive. One of them is the Move over Law. This law is enforced in every state and indicates that you should always move over when you are passing a vehicle on the side of the road. If it is just not safe to pass a vehicle on the side of the road, you should slow down by at least 15mph.

Countless people are killed…

Damaged windshields are a very common issue that plagues many of drivers every day. From a minor ding caused by a flying rock on the freeway to large cracks caused by sharp changes in temperature, the list of threats is long. Fortunately, there are professionals who specialize specifically in windshield repair who can assist in fixing or replacing your damaged windshield...

Tires are a very important part of the safety of your vehicle and are often overlooked when considering what could happen in the event of a hazard on the roadway. Many people will drive to and from work each week, day in and day out, and never think twice about their tires. Many people have not come to terms with the fact that your tires are the only thing connecting you to the roadway. Given failure of one of your tires, and certain driving situations such as heavy traffic, and highway speeds, can produce a catastrophic situation given a tire…