What the numbers on a motor oil bottle really mean
A grade like 5W-30 packs two ratings into one short code. One describes how the oil flows when cold, the other how it behaves at running temperature.
Owning and running a car without panic: warning lights, maintenance, fuel and the money side of motoring, in plain words.
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A grade like 5W-30 packs two ratings into one short code. One describes how the oil flows when cold, the other how it behaves at running temperature.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)Charging speed is not decided by the charger alone. The car's onboard charger, the battery's condition and the supply each set a limit.
Warning lights are grouped by colour: red means stop safely now, amber means check soon, and green usually means a system is simply on.
Service intervals set when wear items get attention. Following the schedule in your handbook is the cheapest way to keep a car reliable.
Tread, pressure and sidewall condition decide how a car behaves in the wet. A short monthly walk-around catches most tyre problems early.
Official fuel figures come from standardised tests, so real driving uses more. A few habits and conditions explain most of the difference.