I know shit about cars (Few Q's)

Megamanny · 09-17-2006, 02:09 PM

Literally, I can fix almost any computer thrown at me but I don't know shit about my own vehicle.

1. I just got my oil recently changed as I was originally supposed to get it changed back in June. I got it fully changed and everything new filter blah blah. How long can I stretch this for? The mechanic said 3000 miles but if anyone else here knows a good deal about what could be an exact amount.

2. My A/C is spitting out some weird white stuff from it. It looks almost like snowflakes in my opinion. Is my A/C fucking up or something?

3. How could I tell if my vehicle is 4/6 cylinder?

Nomi · 09-17-2006, 02:13 PM

1. Trust what the oil change people say, you may have been given a reminder stick on the inside of your windshield. Your car has an oil change light in all likelihood as a last-ditch reminder that it needs new oil. I change mine more often than the place says because it's a slightly older vehicle and I want to take good care of it.

2. Get your A/C checked out. It shouldn't be spitting out anything but pleasantly chilled air.

3. I don't know engine shit, but if you look up your make and model online (possibly the blue book guide) it will tell you, hah.

dickrazor · 09-17-2006, 02:41 PM

3: Just tell me what kind of car it is and I could probably say haha.

Megamanny · 09-17-2006, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deathrazor

3: Just tell me what kind of car it is and I could probably say haha.

Ah, its a 2000 Ford Taurus SE if I remember.

MIGHT be 2002

Novasonic of /flex · 09-17-2006, 03:22 PM

It's probably a 6.

The whole oil change thing, you can drive for way more than 3000 miles on it, but it's not necessarily the best idea. I'm about 10,000 miles past my oil change.

Eth3rStrik3r · 09-17-2006, 11:06 PM

yea, im sitting at 5000 miles on my 3000 mile oil change, and atm, im too lazy to get it changed, so it will probably get to 10000 by the time i get it in there, which is gunna be a bitch.

ben. · 09-17-2006, 11:30 PM

As far as oil changes, it really depends on how hard you drive your car, what kind of weather it's driven in, and if your car burns oil or not. 5000 miles on an oil change is probably fine, just check your oil at every other gas up or whatever and top if off if you need to.

The AC problem, no idea.

Check and see how many spark plug wires you have coming off your engine. One wire for each cylinder, though since it's a Taurus SE it's probably a 6 cylinder.

HioMrSan · 09-18-2006, 03:56 PM

1. Your oil "should" be changed every 3k miles. Only two types of people do this. One, the people who really care about their cars, and two, the people who do it themselves. You'll be fine should you hit 5k etc... Just make sure you don't BURN oil and let it go or you'll lock up your engine with no oil. My beater car needs a quart of oil ever week and a half saddly. As for my good car, I've driven over 10k with no oil change (funds were tight and I didn't have anywhere to dispose of it if I did it myself) and its been fine. It just isn't the best for the car.

2. Its probably a build up in your evaporator core. (That or you're sucking in dirt through a leak, but since you said it was white flakes...) It's probably starting to oxidize. Unless you know what your doing, you'll need to go somewhere and have it looked at. They'll either wash your vents out and use high air pressure blow it though, or they'll just replace it. I have no idea how much this will cost you. Its best to find a friend who knows a lot about cars. Dealerships will charge you 80-100 dollars an hour for the stupidest shit that takes them 10 minutes.

Edit: Ya, I think I was right. I looked around and found a notice on fords. I remembered hearing a similiar problem before. Theres an issue with Fords and they used an excessive amount of brazing flux when they manufactured the evaporator core. Granted the recall was for Ford Trucks, but hey its pretty damn similiar.

3. Get on cars.com and type in the year, make and model of your car. See if your car even has a V6 model. Other than that just open the hood and count

.

DeusExMachina · 09-18-2006, 04:00 PM

1.) Depends on what kind of oil you get. Mobil 1 or Castrol Synthetic, (what I use) should be good for up to 7500 miles. Make sure you check frequenly to make sure your car has enough oil.

3.) Your car is a V6. Count the cylinders you should see 3 spark plugs on one side of the engine and 3 spark plugs on the other.

dj SARiN · 09-18-2006, 09:59 PM

you could stretch it out to 5000 like Eth3rStrik3r, but it really isn't that hard to change your own oil. it's usually i nut, and bam. oil comes out. then change the filter(screw it off, put some oil in it, put some oil around the screw threads and then screw it back in WITHOUT spilling it allover the engine bay like the grassfucker redneck who owned my 240 did) then again, i got a 240, so i basically have a caveman with it's hair on fire.(simple and fast.)

you need your freeon changed, and your A/C needs inspected. something is fucking up.i think something may be frosting over.

your car has a V6. my dad has a sable(same thing, diffrent nameplate, nicer seats) and thet thing is powerful(24 valve)