Engine inspection

[00:00:00] Speaker A: You're tuned into the all new freedom 106.5. [00:00:04] Speaker B: 106.5. [00:00:06] Speaker C: Good morning to my good friend Antonio Prescott. How are you this morning, sir? [00:00:10] Speaker B: Good morning Div. Well, and yourself? [00:00:13] Speaker C: I have a headache. [00:00:15] Speaker B: I realize. Yes. It's crazy right now that's happening. What's happening in Trinidad and Tobago? [00:00:21] Speaker C: I have a headache. I have a headache. Somebody know telling me about the border, Spain, right. With taxpayers. You being on a. You being on a list of do not disconnect list as the prime minister put in parliament. Did not, did not mean that you're not paying your bills, you know that they say don't let them pay bills at all and then do disconnect them, you know, the people paying the bills. But they afforded a concession on this list of depositors. Do not disconnect. But I don't, I don't know if it's a do not disconnect list or if it's just a list with high ranking officials such as judges, magistrates and what have you. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. [00:01:02] Speaker B: And we have so much more pressing issues that you know, everyone focus on that and that is not concerning anything to help us as a nation. [00:01:11] Speaker C: Well said. All right. It's now time to get to the car care segment. Antonio Prescott in the building and this just want to get this correct. Just want to get this correct. [00:01:24] Speaker A: All right. [00:01:25] Speaker C: Is sponsored by Auto Insure 868. We are the company you keep that segment is on now. Are you purchasing a new vehicle or looking for a better deal on your existing insurance? Why not contact Auto Insure at 4877576 today. Get competitive rates on comprehensive and third party policies with windscreen coverage too plus excellent value with Roadside assistance available 24 hours across TNT with insurance company of the West Indies standing behind you. You from over 50 years of expert insurance knowledge and experience. Give us a call on 487-7576 today or to insure 868 we are the [00:02:07] Speaker B: company you keep engage with Davey on the all new Talk Radio Freedom 106.5. [00:02:27] Speaker C: Also being sponsored airt Air Support Tactical. Not just tracking but real protection. So good morning to our two sponsors this morning or Auto Insure 868 and Air Support Tactical for being very prudent and seeing the very important nature of car care segment as a lot of persons in Trinidad and Tobago can do well to get the information that we provide here on Freedom with this segment. So Antonio, welcome back. It's good to see you again. Have you on the program. As we continue our discussions in Takar Care this morning, let's start off I'll give you the open floor to start with the discussion with any piece of advice or misconception that you think persons have as it relates to the maintenance of their vehicles that they don't pay attention to. [00:03:12] Speaker B: Okay, thank you Davy. So maintenance of a vehicle is extremely important because in the long run it could cost you a and as simply checking your Some people who enter cars a lot they check the oil daily because the fact that you could never tell that tomorrow you could have an oil leak versus that someone who may say that they need to check their oil once per month and checking your oil is something that some people I see they don't even start their vehicle, they just check the oil, pull that dipstick. But you need to start the vehicle warm with the vehicle a bit and then check the level of your oil to see the level of it, check underneath to see if any leaks. And most importantly we are driving on the nation's road. We have a speed limit. Sometimes some people drive above and then they have to stop abruptly. So checking your brakes regularly is extremely important. Making sure and checking your dispads to see if it's worn or if it's good because some people they don't know how to check the dispatch. So if you don't know the best thing to do is to go by professional mechanic and do that check. Also I would recommend for persons to be checking their coolant as well because sometimes your fan or some mechanism in the engine of the vehicle could go badly and that could cause you to overheat and overheating. And these days it could be a simple vehicle as a Nissan Almira 80 wagon per se and head on block is that cheap anymore because we're seeing like 300% increase of freight charges for containers to come into the country. So your coolant is most important. Checking your level of that I mentioned about your oil, your brakes I would say do your maintenance as simple as an air filter change is extremely important as well. To some people they disregard the air filter and say that that could go for years but when it accumulates thus that could withhold the performance of your vehicle. So that's very crucial as well. Checking your lights, you know, because we know that that's a tickable offense. So making sure all your lights working. For example, if you have your significant other you can mash your brakes to check to see if your brakes light working Your headlights and all these different things. And if anything, I missed out. Davi. I just tried to mention in a nutshell things that most important, that persons could check in on their vehicle. [00:05:43] Speaker C: All right, now, when it comes to transmission oil, one texter is saying, and I noticed that with my vehicle, one of my vehicles as well, I have one of them, a Kia Serato, and there's no dipstick to check the transmission. All right. [00:05:58] Speaker B: Yeah, that's. That's a bit. [00:06:00] Speaker C: How do you sense. [00:06:03] Speaker B: Yeah, awkward. Well, in that sense, with no dipstick, I would say, David, that you have to go by professionals to do that, because want to go and check that. It could be a bit cumbersome. So oil change is supposed to be based on your mileage of your driving. And I would say it would hurt if at least maybe once a month just to check on the level of your oil with maybe your mechanic. But those vehicles that don't have a dipstick, most of the times it might be a fairly new vehicle. So you may not necessarily have to check it that often compared to older vehicle that got so much road damage that you have to check consistently because anytime a leak could appear. [00:06:50] Speaker C: Let's talk a little bit about how often do you change transmission fluid? [00:06:56] Speaker B: Well, for my knowledge, Devi, everybody might have a different interpretation. But changing your transmission fluid could be like some people change it once a year, other persons recommend twice per year. And then, too, we have different vehicles as well, too, like those with the CVT transmission that might be changing maybe every two times per year. And then this is all based on your driving. So someone who does drive in to work from, let's say, Trinity to Port of Spain and back, versus someone who been on the road, working daily, going from business place to business place, you know, it will be frequent. When I say frequent, meaning that if it's supposed to be recommended twice a year, maybe you have to check that once per year. [00:07:44] Speaker C: All right, so at least once per year. I do have another texter that probably has a question. Let's hear it. [00:07:51] Speaker A: Murray, good morning to you and the guest there. I don't know if this might be relevant to anybody, but, you know, sometimes there are some people who. Who constantly lock their. Their keys in their vehicle or they hook up the alarm in such a way that they have the vehicle idling and they step out of the vehicle and close the door, and you just hear clocks. And I said, we lock up island with the keys in the ignition. What I would suggest is you find somewhere on your vehicle where it is possible that you can hide a spare key or even a spare immobilizer that if this happens to you, you know, it would be easy for you to get it to open your vehicle. Well, that place could be known to you only. You know, you put the, you put the key or the immobilizer in a plastic, a small plastic Ziploc bag or something like that and you hide it somewhere on the vehicle where you alone could find it. I don't know if you know, that makes sense to anybody. [00:08:56] Speaker C: I don't know if it's wise to tell people where to hide a key outside of your car. You know, to be honest, and I [00:09:03] Speaker B: would say, Davey, with the rise of crime right now in Tobago, good practice should be not trying to have your key in your vehicle, engine running and coming out your vehicle just to run. If it's to play a play with Mark per se, and then come back in your vehicle because it could be daytime, it could be nighttime. Once it is that an opportunity arise for a criminal, they grabbing at it. So good practice. Better than doing what that gentleman said just now. [00:09:27] Speaker C: Hello. Good morning. [00:09:28] Speaker A: A pleasant good morning. Once more, Devi Apta said. Good morning, Antonio. Antonio, there are two issues I want to raise with you. One you touched a while ago with regard to oil change. There are many vehicle owners, drivers and so on who believe that you Change your oil 3,000 miles or 5,000 miles, whatever it is. What many people do not consider, they look at their mileage, the gauge and they measure the mileage. But what many of us do not consider is, is the downtime in a traffic jam while your engine is still working. And that in my opinion should be also considered as part of your mileage, so to speak. So that's the first one I want you to comment on. And secondly, I want some advice on the issue of driving through flood. Waters. What repercussions? It's not like long time where you had vehicles that could take that pressure. In today's world, we have different vehicles so passing through floodwaters, we what are the repercussions that can be caused? I thank you. Enjoy. [00:10:38] Speaker B: Okay, so David, to answer that first question, I wouldn't say that the caller is wrong for stating that when it is you are in traffic that you could check that as well too in terms of your mileage. But you see, you need to have some sort of base structure and that base structure is really on having something in front of you that you could know when to change your oil. So some people may mention 5,000. So, okay, having some traffic per se during the day and in the evening morning time, so forth. It is recommended 5000 but I would say it's really based on driving as well. So if it is that you facing traffic and tremendous traffic on a daily and afternoon basis then after the mileage 5000 it applies. But at least you can't say well because I in an afternoon that I should change my old 4000. So it's a bit contrary but I wouldn't say that you inaccurate. [00:11:52] Speaker C: All right, it's now time to give you quickly your tech tip courtesy 800Tech. And this morning your tech tip is as follows. Security isn't about adding more tools. It's about clearly seeing what's happening inside your business. Focus on visibility first. That was your tech tip courtesy 800Tech. [00:12:17] Speaker B: Cyber risk is no longer just an IT concern. [00:12:21] Speaker C: It's a business risk. Organizations rely on SaaS platforms like Microsoft 365, Google and CRM Systems. But without visibility you're exposed. Most attacks operate within your access. 800 Tech gives you clarity, oversight and control across your SaaS environments. You can't protect what you're not seeing. Call 223-TECH, that's 223-8324 or visit 800-tech.com this is 106.5 106.5 and as we continue inside our car care segment this morning and this segment I just want to remind persons is being sponsored in part by Auto Insure 868. We are the company you keep an air support tactical not just tracking but real protection. One texter is trying to get in touch with us with a question a caller. Hello, good morning. [00:13:18] Speaker A: Good morning dear. We enter your your guest there. I would like him. I don't use a stupid question. I would like him to inform us for the ordinary driver when is the best time to test the viscosity of your oil? Thank you. [00:13:32] Speaker C: When is the best time to check the viscosity of your oil? [00:13:38] Speaker B: It don't really have a best time because remember with checking your oil the engine needs to be running. So it could be morning time, it could be afternoon time, it could be nighttime. The whole idea is that the engine of the vehicle should be on and that is when you check your oil. So I don't really have that best time. And I want to go back to the caller from before. He had a second question concerning about driving through flood waters. What could happen to your vehicle? Well, the thing about it is that it could cause electrical damage. But what I want to mention too is that people don't understand that driving through floodwaters, Davy, it's like a silent killer for your engines because it just take like a cup of full water to be sucked into engine to cause significant damage. And I don't think that persons understand that. You know, and mentioning about the electrical damage as well too. This could create issues with your wiring and also damaged sensors within your vehicle. So it's not wise to be driving through flood waters. And sometimes you get those warning lights on your suspect brake or the ABS issues driving through flood water. So you need to inspect that immediately. And these electric vehicles right now, that's a whole different story. Driving through flood waters. I believe that when you drive through floodwaters, the vehicle itself, it signals danger and it shuts down so that electrical components wouldn't be damaged. But imagine if you could shut down, how could you move? [00:15:14] Speaker C: So is that totally, totally understand? Hello, good morning. [00:15:20] Speaker A: Hi, Good morning to you and everyone there. You know, I'll point here. And I don't think he only made that point about your gas. The more what I realized with me and I sure think, I think I'm right, the more you have, your gas is up, the less gas your burden. [00:15:36] Speaker B: Correct. [00:15:37] Speaker C: The more you. Right. The more you have your gas gauge up, the less. All right. So in other words, if your tank is on E and you do more [00:15:45] Speaker A: gas, you put more gas, you put, [00:15:47] Speaker C: you put, you put 100 and you bring it up to a little under [00:15:49] Speaker A: half, you will burn it even though you're half gauge. Yeah. [00:15:53] Speaker C: As opposed to filling the tank, keep more up. [00:15:56] Speaker A: The more you keep it up, is it better for you? Less cash burn? [00:15:59] Speaker B: Yeah. So the idea to have the gauge from half go up anytime you reach right below half, you want to top up, you don't want to reach E and then fill up your tank. I see a lot of persons, they say, hey, my tank on E I need to fill up. But the idea is that when it is a dream half, then from there you fill up. And you realize when you think about it long term and you do like that before and after you would see that you are saving a lot on gas. [00:16:23] Speaker C: Hello, good morning. [00:16:24] Speaker A: Hello. [00:16:25] Speaker C: Good morning, [00:16:28] Speaker A: Mr. Anthem. Good morning to the program and the call. [00:16:31] Speaker B: Good morning to you. [00:16:32] Speaker A: I have picked up a habit, right. Back in 2007, I bought a Corolla, which is engine. And you know, it dawned on me that the oil due to the heat in Trinidad, the oil filters, you know, doing. Remember these cross engines don't cool like the straight engine because the straight engine had breeze from the grill passenger the two side of the engine. But these cross engine became a firewall and that engine that be like a home. So what I have done now I have decided that half of the oil change I change the oil filter. I practiced in that for years over about 15 years now. So every half of the oil change I right now have a Mazda tributary. But every half of the oil change let's say 3000 kilometers, 3000 miles that I say over 1000 kilos average around about 2000 kilos. I will change my oil filter as I practice that. And I observed that I the engine is very, very clean because I just came up came up with that idea based on the fact of the heat in Trinidad 1 and these cross engines you have extra heat plus the heat of the country. The model comment on that side not earlier the natural thing I came up with. Right. [00:17:40] Speaker C: Did you get it? [00:17:42] Speaker B: Yeah, I got that caller question. So it's intrusion in the sense that what I would say everybody have their own way of doing things and sometimes your way is not necessarily a bad way. But I would tell you based on experience and having a vehicle for a while looking at what issues maybe have incurred in the engine, I never had an experience where I need to change my oil filter on each oil change. And even my brother, he is a mechanic and he recommends that it don't necessarily need to change on the oil change. You could change your oil filter after the second oil change per se. So by doing that I think it's more of like personal interest and fulfillment to know that your oil filter is clean. But it don't necessarily mean that it going to prevent any damage on any engine parts of your vehicle. [00:18:48] Speaker C: All right. Hello. Good morning. [00:18:50] Speaker A: Hey David. Morning. I just want to touch on the caller what you call us here with the gas. You're filling up a gas so keep it neither right up so it wouldn't burn gas. Right. Professionally, I study mechanical engineering. Right. And if you read the book James E. Duffy Mechanical Engineering in the gas gauge was designed to fool you. When it moves from that full it won't move that that fuel company tank tank full more than wakeable. Right. So especially with taxi men they would be running by the gas station maybe seven times a day putting in 40, 30, whatever it is the bring the tank up. But when you calculate that amount of time it's the same amount of time when you go to the when they go to the Garden of Hope. And what I recommend to people when you're filling up a tank are the, are the the Trigger, click, run off and stop. [00:19:54] Speaker C: Repeat that you said is a myth. When you go back to that point again. It's something I said I want to, I want to get into with you. [00:20:04] Speaker A: Right. When people, individuals think that you fill your tank up and they keep it up and the needle may move or may not move. And I run to the gas station and it keeps filling up, you might fill up eight times for the day. Let us say taxi men, right? Right. You fill up eight times a day. But that eight times amount to the same amount of, of, of, of. If you go to the action once. Because your fuel pump can pull more than where it could pull. And that is a myth. [00:20:36] Speaker C: I agree with that. Your fuel pump and the injectors can't pull more than so but it have a little bit in the tank or more. [00:20:43] Speaker A: Right. [00:20:44] Speaker C: You're not burning more. Okay. [00:20:45] Speaker A: And people think that they say keep a tank half and they fill it up so they wouldn't pull up the sediments. The fuel, the fuel filter, the fuel pump is right down the tank. That pulling from the bottom, not the top. [00:21:03] Speaker C: It can't pull from the top because if it pulling from the top when the tank, when it pulled beyond that, it can't get the rest. So it has to be at the bottom of the tank. [00:21:10] Speaker A: And there we might check tip for today is right. If it is. Oh, you have a tech financial tip [00:21:16] Speaker C: and a financial tip. All right. [00:21:18] Speaker A: Davy, if you can't afford a Mercedes, buy a theater. No. And you know, people buy talkie Tito. But it's a very good car. [00:21:27] Speaker C: Yeah, I agree. It's real roomy. I just want to be able to have an engine and I could drive it with four wheels. [00:21:32] Speaker A: Right. [00:21:32] Speaker C: And easy uncomfortable radio. [00:21:34] Speaker A: But you buy a car. I just see you buy a car when you go to the dealership. Either there are no parts. They don't have this, they don't have that. And maybe one of the greatest cars that I ever think that, that they invent in this world. It is CNC cars. The CNG cars. [00:21:54] Speaker C: The city. [00:21:56] Speaker A: Yeah, the. The car that uses the CNG thing. Because them electric cars, brother. I drive with a car. And I would like to tell you, please don't go where you're not supposed to go. Take your time with your car. There's a big investment. Follow us in if you have an idea, brother. All right. [00:22:14] Speaker C: Thank you. So filling up your tank. [00:22:24] Speaker B: What I would say about that, Davis? That for sure. Filling up your tank from half to full makes more sense because when it is, it's from Empty to full. Then after you put in strain on the fuel pump and you would have those debris and particles in your tank itself. [00:22:47] Speaker C: All right. [00:22:48] Speaker A: No. [00:22:48] Speaker C: Yes. Good morning caller. [00:22:50] Speaker A: Good morning, Davy. And to your guest, Antonio. One, one question. Like when driving in traffic, right? This is what I do. So I don't know if it's. If I'm doing the correct thing. So maybe the, the, the tech there could advise me. Whenever I am in traffic and stop, I will always move my shifter from drive to neutral no matter how often I have to do it. That you know, in traffic jam you move one car link and you have to stop. Am I doing the right thing? [00:23:21] Speaker C: Okay. Am I doing the right thing? If in traffic I keep moving my, my shifter from drive from D to N from drive to neutral, even if I have to move it multiple times in the traffic, am I doing a good thing? Am I damaging anything in the car? That's the question the texter is asking. The caller is asking. [00:23:42] Speaker B: When you think about that Davies, that you really, while the car is in motion, you're disconnecting the. The engine from the wheels. So some people would say that when it is you putting it into neutral, you are saving on you like your monks as well too. Because with the car being in drive that causing vibration because it's like the car just when your Lego brakes it will go. So you are actually saving on I would those components, the engine mounts and so forth from getting too much strain on your vehicle if it were to be in drive. So being in neutral it makes more sense in terms of long lasting your parts in the engine per se. [00:24:26] Speaker C: All right. Okay, I hear that. I hear that. Hello. Good morning. Good morning. [00:24:33] Speaker A: Morning. [00:24:34] Speaker C: Morning. [00:24:34] Speaker A: I agree with that. [00:24:36] Speaker C: You agree with that? [00:24:37] Speaker A: No, I disagree with that. [00:24:38] Speaker C: Okay, let's hear your thoughts. [00:24:39] Speaker A: Because it puts more work on the charge. Doesn't matter whether you stopped a million times and didn't. It is safer to leave it in drive and changing it every so often into neutral, back into drive. But once you stop, every part of the transmission automatically stops. But if the car is working properly, it wouldn't put such a strain on the engine. No, it wouldn't. Because that was designed for. The only time it puts that strain on the engine wrong is when you accelerate. Or if you decide to put your foot on the brakes and decide to accelerate, the engine is going to make a swing inside of the bonnet and but also to identify if it break fluid. If your brake shoes are low, there's a little light on your dashboard. Gentlemen, that every time that goes down your top of the brake fluid. That's all that signals you that brake shoes is going down. That is why the light comes on. Or it signals you that there is a leak in the system. Make sure and keep the little light on the dashboard for the brake fluid working right. [00:25:37] Speaker C: And not only that, Antonio has said in the program in the past that once your brakes fluid start dropping, it means your brakes pads are also dropping. So by you topping up, it creates a false sense of hope that all is well. [00:25:49] Speaker B: Because yeah, maybe you are correct there. And I would even mention to a body caller talking about it putting a strain on the engine when it is on the transmission, when it is that you put it into neutral. But look at this for example, let's say that you are parking and you know when it is you in drive, you go directly into park and sometimes you would hear your your Macaday engine from drive to park it go in abruptly. But if you take it from drive and you put it into neutral, pull up your hand brakes and then put it into park, you would realize that everything just would in coincidentally and it's not giving you that vibration that you would get. So I disagree with equal with that and never like saw my brakes come on. But I feel as a driver that the brake spot is a bit low. [00:26:48] Speaker C: It's dropping. [00:26:49] Speaker B: Yeah, I know to myself that I need to go and check my brakes part because since driving I never experienced that light coming on. For that light to come on, that brake spot had to be terribly so I wouldn't suggest anyone to wait on any light on your dashboard and next thing let's your dashboard not working and the light don't come on, you know, so you can't wait on things like that. But as a driver you feel your vehicle and you know your vehicle. [00:27:16] Speaker C: Some person said, I've noticed drivers switching off their vehicles every time they stopped in traffic. Is that correct? No, I don't think it is. [00:27:22] Speaker B: No, no, no. [00:27:24] Speaker C: You put a strain on your starter, correct? Yeah, your starter. [00:27:29] Speaker B: I think they're getting mixed up with new vehicles that cutting off itself, which [00:27:32] Speaker C: is the hybrid vehicle. [00:27:34] Speaker B: Yes, your vehicle. You could cut off your vehicle and then start back. No, that is automatic. With hybrid vehicles. [00:27:40] Speaker C: Yeah, with hybrid vehicles. Yeah, that happens automatic and it's a system built in. But if you switch off and switch on, switch off and switch on. You are the bushings in your starter. Remember your starter is just used to turn on the car. [00:27:51] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:27:52] Speaker C: But once you keep doing it, that's why if your car giving trouble and you Started start like if you're turning ice cream ch. When you're just starting and it. They sell you all right. [00:27:59] Speaker B: You. [00:28:00] Speaker C: Because you'll burn the starter and you burn more. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. You know, so I mean I learned a lot with Antonio over the months that we have been doing car care segment. So some of these things I remember and I'm happy that you all are asking these questions because repetition breeds good information and reminders. So even if we repeat the information next week somebody else listening may pick up on it and you know, it may be new to them. So I don't have a problem if he. If we discuss this issue again the week after. You know, it's good. Good morning. [00:28:33] Speaker A: Hello. Good morning. [00:28:34] Speaker C: Good morning. [00:28:35] Speaker A: Yeah, I know that mechanic or anything but monitor. You want to guess how we in my experience with vehicle as the guest was saying, you know, and one of the call I was saying before that when you're in traffic and you move from drive to neutral, it saves a lot in your vehicle, especially your transmission because it reduces the wear and tear of transmission when you take it off from drive to neutral. And I think that is a good idea. And in terms of the fuel you are talking about when the needle drop, since I know myself my tank always three quarter full. And when you're using your vehicle, you feel you really and truly you just burn less of fuel. To me, that's my concept that yellow stick a lot. Next thing too. I notice when people in traffic now this is my take. I always say keep a distance behind the vehicle in front of you. If you cannot see the rear wheel of the vehicle in front of you, the base of the rear wheel know that you are too close. And I know in Trinidad we like to stick bumper to bumper in case of emergency. You cannot turn around your vehicle because you stick bumper to bumper. I always tell drivers keep a little distance behind each other. Regulation tell you free car length before but we could go a little closer but not that close that you're touching actually touching the next person bumper with your vehicle. Thank you. [00:30:02] Speaker C: I thank you for that and I know it's a lot. But our time is upon us at this time. And I want to thank Antonio for chiming in on the car care segment. We most definitely have to continue. There are several factors. Yeah. We had to talk again other person saying to disagree with you on the changing of oil filter every other change. There are certain factors depending on several factors. The oil filter has been recommended amount of miles before it needs to be changed. The average filter like from Prolator that you recommended amount are recommended every 5,000 km. There are more expensive ones that will last longer. But I recommend changing your filter every time you change your oil, tire pressure. All these are things that we have to discuss. Somebody says re auto shop. My 2015 Benz has auto stop and start. And It's a fuel C180. So that's what Antonio said. Auto stop and start, you know. But you personally switching off and switching on is something different, according to Antonio. [00:31:04] Speaker A: All right. [00:31:05] Speaker C: So thank you very much, Antonio, for chatting with us this morning. And we'll talk again in the not too distant future. Take care, buddy. [00:31:13] Speaker B: You're tuned into The All New Freedom 106.5. 1 6.5.