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Common Reasons for Car Breakdowns

Car breakdowns are a driver's worst nightmare, but the good thing is that a lot are preventable! Keep reading this post by Synthetic Oil Outlet in Staten Island, NY for information on how to do so.

It can be frustrating to have car breakdowns when you need it the most. Avoid this happening again by only using the best products for your engine maintenance. Call Synthetic Oil Outlet today at (718) 354-0548 for more information on their products, or visit AMSOIL's online store to place an order today.

Getting a Flat Tire

One of the most common reasons for car breakdowns is having a flat tire. The good news is that this problem is easy to fix (and easy to prevent). Prevention is essential to avoid flat tires. The best way to prevent waking up to a flat tire is to keep an eye on their condition and always inflate them to the correct air pressure. Another reason for flat tires is having too shallow treads, which is a sign of a worn tire. If this is the case, it might be time to swap them out for new ones. If you get a flat tire on the road, the first thing to do is pull over to a safe place and change it for your space tire. Once you’ve done so, take your damaged tire to a repair shop to see if it’s salvageable, or buy a new one if needed. Remember that your spare tire is only a temporary solution, and it isn’t meant to be driven more than 70 miles, so getting a new tire (or your flat tire fixed) should be priority number one.

An Overheating Engine

Another reason for having your car break down is that your engine overheated. This is much more common in places with extremely hot conditions, but it can also happen if your car’s cooling system is malfunctioning or if you run out of coolant. To prevent overheating episodes, you should always watch the temperature gauge. That way, you’ll be able to tell if your car is on the brink of overheating If your car is overheating, the first step is to pull over to a safe spot and let it cool down. Once it’s cooled down, if you have coolant in your car, refill the coolant reservoir and take it to a mechanic so they can figure out why it’s overheating. Other ways of cooling down your engine are opening the hood to let heat out or turning on your car’s heat to help it cool down faster. Safety note: Avoid taking off the radiator cap when the car is still hot as it's a safety hazard.

Having a reliable car maintenance routine can help you avoid many issues with your car. For advice on excellent products like AMSOIL’s Signature Series 5W-20 Synthetic Motor Oil, call the oil experts at Synthetic Oil Outlet at (718) 354-0548 or place an order in their online store anytime.

Your Battery Died

Having a dead battery is another common reason your car could break down. Here are some of the reasons your battery could have drained out:

User error: Anything that consumes energy in your system could cause your battery to drain out, for example, leaving on the headlights or the radio for long periods when the car is parked.
Extreme weather: Temperature fluctuations could also hurt your battery. If it’s too cold or too hot, its life could decrease, causing it to run out sooner than expected.
Charging problems: Having short commutes could also hurt your battery’s charge. If this is the case, go on a long drive at least a couple of times per week to keep your battery charged.
Poor connections: Corrosion on your battery’s terminals could cause connection issues. Fix it by cleaning the corrosion with warm water and a clean cloth. Then tighten the terminals.

In any case, you can try jumpstarting the battery, but if it doesn't seem to do the trick, you might need to buy a new one.

You Have Electrical Problems

The last reason you could be having car breakdowns is that your car has electrical problems. Some signs of electrical issues are the smell of burning plastic, headlights not working correctly, blown fuses, or the engine clicking. If this is the case, you should take your car to a trusted mechanic, as figuring out where electrical problems are coming from can be tricky.