Motor oil is the lifeblood of your engine. Just as your body operates best with a specific blood type, your engine operates in a similar way. Do you know what type of motor oil helps protect and optimize your engine’s output?

When you take your vehicle to a service department for an oil change, do you know which oil to request in your vehicle? With so many motor oil choices available, it can be confusing to know what type of oil will work the best in your vehicle’s engine. The easiest answer to this question is found in your owner’s manual. For most passenger car and light truck gasoline engines today, any oil that meets the American Petroleum Institutes “SH” rating. While that’s a pretty broad range of oils, here is a breakdown of the different types and functions of motor oil to help you choose which type is best for your engine.

Every motor oil is rated by viscosity, which indicates the oil’s resistance to flow. The higher the viscosity the slower it will flow. Most engine wear occurs immediately after a cold start, so it’s important to have oil that is thin enough to circulate easily.

5W-30 – most new engines today require a multi-viscosity oil for all-round driving. The lighter 5W-30 oils contain friction reducing additives that help improve fuel economy, and also allow the oil to quickly reach critical upper valvetrain components when a cold engine is first started.

10W-30, 10W-40 – used in older engines and engines that are driven at sustained highway speeds during hot weather.

20W-40 – used in high RPM, high-load applications primarily and are not recommended for cold weather driving.

Synthetic oils are also an option when choosing the right oil for your vehicle. Synthetic oil offers greater engine protection in high temperatures, increased durability and a better all-around performance than ordinary petroleum-based oils. These can cost up to three times as much as ordinary petroleum oils because they are manmade rather than refined. The premium priced synthetic oil is recommended for vehicles operated in extremely cold or hot climates, turbocharged or supercharged engines, performance or high output engines, vehicles used for towing and anyone who wants ultimate engine lubrication and protection. Synthetic oil improves the performance of your engine in virtually every aspect:

• Superior temperature resistance. Synthetics can safely handle higher operating temperatures without oxidizing (burning) or breaking down. The upper limit for most mineral based oils is about 250 to 300 degrees F. Synthetics can take up to 450 degrees F. or higher. This makes synthetics well-suited for turbo applications as well as high RPM and high output engine applications.
• Better low temperature performance. Synthetics flow freely at subzero temperatures, pouring easily at -40 or -50 degrees F. where ordinary oils turn to molasses. This makes for easier cold starts and provides faster upper valvetrain lubrication during the first critical moments when most engine wear occurs.
• Better engine performance. Synthetics tend to be more slippery than their petroleum-based counterparts, which improves fuel economy, cuts frictional horsepower losses and helps the engine run cooler. The difference isn’t great, but it can make a noticeable difference.
• Longer oil change intervals. Because synthetics resist oxidation and viscosity breakdown better than ordinary motor oils, some suppliers say oil change intervals can be safely extended — in some cases stretched to as much as 25,000 miles. Such claims are justified by the fact that synthetics don’t break down or sludge up as fast as ordinary mineral-based oils do in use.

Synthetics are available in the same grades as ordinary motor oils (5W-30, 5W-20 and 10W-30) as well as “extended” grades such as 15W-50 and even 5W-50.

Are you still unsure of what oil is best for your engine? The next time you take your vehicle for service at the Honda of Wesley Chapel Service Department, be sure to talk with our knowledgeable service advisors to determine what type and viscosity of engine oil will help keep your engine running like new for years to come.

Source: [Yahoo.com]

Earlier this month, Honda of Wesley Chapel placed our usual order of 100 new Hondas. You can imagine my surprise when carrier trucks hauling 200 new Hondas arrived. Sending these vehicles back to the factory would cost us thousands of dollars. Instead, we’re offering these brand new 2010 Honda’s at factory direct pricing.

Let Honda of Wesley Chapel’s mistake be your gain! For a limited time, you can drive a brand new Honda for less than you ever imagined. $15,000 Honda’s are now $8,000*; $25,000 Honda’s are just $17,000*; even top of the line $40,000 Honda’s are only $21,000*.

These Honda’s are priced so low, Honda of Wesley Chapel is accepting orders from the public, wholesalers and even other dealers. If you ever wanted a new Honda, hurry in to Honda of Wesley Chapel at I-75 and State Road 54 to take advantage of these savings while they last.

Thank you,
George Ernst
President, Honda of Wesley Chapel

*Prices plus tax, tag and registration fees. All prices are 1-payment 36 month leases. 12k miles a year. Excludes tax, tag and dealer fees. Additional fees may apply at lease termination. See dealer for details.

American Honda Motor Co., Inc., recently announced that it has received three Residual Value Awards from ALG. ALG’s 11th annual Residual Value Awards, for the 2010 model year, honored the vehicles in each industry segment that ALG predicts will retain the highest percentage of their original price after a three-year period.

The Accord won the award in the Best Midsize Car category, the Fit was the winner in the Best Compact Car category and the Odyssey prevailed in the Best Minivan category. Since 2001, the Honda brand has earned 20 model awards and six overall brand awards from ALG.

“In a challenging economy, residual value moves up on the list of buyer considerations,” said John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “These ALG awards once again recognize Honda’s commitment to offer high-quality products with long-term value.”

ALG determines the award winners after carefully studying the competition in each segment, historical vehicle performance and industry trends. Vehicle quality, production levels relative to demand, and pricing strategies are among the key factors that affect ALG’s residual value forecasts.

Source: [Honda]

Poor sleep is nothing to yawn at-it takes a toll on everything from your job performance to your overall health. And in women it’s been associated with feelings of hostility, depression, and anger, as well as higher risks of diabetes and heart disease. Here are 5 real ways to get the zzz’s you need.

Nix annoying noises

A snoring husband, that beeping delivery truck-whatever keeps you awake-tune it all out with a relaxing soundtrack. (Check iTunes for downloads of sleep-friendly sounds.) For comfort, try SleepPhones ($60), thin speakers inside a soft fleece headband; they’re especially nice for side-sleepers.

Prep your body

When you hit the sack, try this progressive relaxation technique, says Catherine Darley, N.D., director of the Institute of Naturopathic Sleep Medicine in Seattle. Curl your toes tightly for a count of seven, and then relax. Repeat through each muscle group, working up from your toes to your neck.

Take notes

Your daily routine affects how well you sleep. A sleep log can help you make those connections, says Stephanie Silberman, Ph.D., author of The Insomnia Workbook. Every day, record how much caffeine you drink, when and how much you exercise, what you eat, when you go to bed and wake up, and your total sleep time. Share the log with a sleep specialist.

Keep cool

People doze off easier and sleep better when the room temperature is on the cooler side, according to Silberman. Set your thermostat to around 65 degrees or lower. If perimenopausal night sweats or hot flashes make you kick off the covers, then try a cooling mattress pad, moisture-wicking sheets, or a pair of breathable cotton pajamas.

Relax right

Instead of mulling over the day’s events when you get in bed, try journaling about the big stuff at least two hours earlier, so your mind’s not racing when you turn in, Darley says. Right before bed, try a relaxing imagery exercise: Picture any tranquil scene, like a day at the beach. Over time, the new routine will help cue your brain to settle down.

Source: [Health.com]