Is there such a thing as normal oil consumption?

Firstly it should be mentioned is that if you find your oil levels are depleting then it is either down to oil consumption or an oil leak.

Oil consumption is the 'burning off' of oil in the engine and is common in older vehicles or ones which have been subject to high mileage. Commonly this is caused by worn valve stems and seals, and worn piston rings which allows the oil to slip into the combustion chamber where it burns off. If this is happening you may see wisps of blue-ish coloured smoke coming from the exhaust. Oil consumption is almost certain to happen as the vehicle ages. You can maybe even expect to see some consumption occur if your engine requires an oil with particularly low viscosity, 0W/20 for example.

More after the jump...

The New FS Range: The Next Generation

At Granville we are determined to set the Gold Standard when it comes to motor oil and now we are pleased to reveal our new look Engine Specific range to reflect that.

The refreshed packaging comes as a result of months of research and development to bring our Customers a range of improved formula Engine Specific Oils which you can be confident will care for your engine as well as looking great on the shelf.

More after the jump...

Motor Oil 101: the importance of making the right choice

Oil is the bread and butter of what we do at Granville. We love the stuff and we love making sure that when you pick up your oil off the shelf you know you are making the right choice for your vehicle. And you know we go on and on about why its important for you to make sure you have the right oil for the job but please, humor me once more as I take you through everything you need to know about engine oil.

Why do you need oil in your engine?

Essentially, oil is in your engine to do three things:

     1. It lubricates the moving parts of your engine

When you consider the speed and frequency that the metal parts of your engine move at, it's easy to see why they might need a little help to keep them going. Engine oil coats these components even at high temperatures ensuring smooth movement whilst protecting them from friction damage.

More after the jump...

How healthy is your transmission fluid?

Ask the average motorist and it’s likely they will know how and where to check their oil and coolant level but ask about transmission fluid and they might not be so savvy.

src: automobilespoint.com

It’s not always immediately obvious how to check the health of your transmission fluid and indeed in recent years manufacturers have made it increasingly difficult for the end user to interact with the transmission at all unless you have the correct tools to get at the undercarriage of the vehicle. Should this be the case then we highly recommend that you allow your professional mechanic to perform any maintenance checks on your transmission fluid as you could risk voiding your warranty. If, however, you have a vehicle equipped with a dipstick under the bonnet for checking the transmission fluid then here are some things to look out for which may signal it’s time to book in for a fluid change or top-up.

More after the jump...

PRODUCT FEATURE: Running In Oil

In response to popular demand, Granville is pleased to announce a new edition to the growing lubricant range.

Running In Oil is a low detergent, non-friction modified oil specially formulated to promote the bedding in of newly machined mated surfaces in re-built engines. High quality additives overcome bore glazing allowing accurate seating of the piston rings and valves. Can be used for up to 1000 miles of normal road use.

More after the jump...

Product Feature: Nova Car Care Extending Car Wash Brushes

It's that time again folks as Granville welcome a new product to their exclusive Nova Car Care range. The Extending Car Wash Brush is designed to make washing high-sided vehicles a doddle with a reach extending up to 1.65m on the standard model and 1.70m on the deluxe model but, of course, it is suitable for use on any vehicle and produces the outstanding cleaning results you have come to expect from the Nova Car Care range.

The new look brushes can be connected securely to most hose pipes and the built-in adjustable flow control gives you complete control over your vehicle's wash routine. The brush heads are tough on dirt whilst being kind to your paintwork.

More after the jump...

PRODUCT FEATURE: Hypalube PD 5W/40

The folks at Granville have been busy again and are pleased to announce the release of the latest addition to their growing Hypalube range. Hypalube PD 5W/40 is formulated to meet the requirements of VW 505.01 for use in Pumpe Duse engines.

More after the jump...

8 easy car wash tips everyone needs to know

Cleaning your car to perfection is a fine art, but you don't need to be a professional detailer to achieve that showroom shine. Here's some top tips which will help you improve your car wash routine with minimum effort and maximum results.

1. Start with a clean bucket

It may seem like common sense but if you store your car wash bucket in the garage or the garden shed chances are that it's going to have collected a layer of dust and dirt by the time you dig it out again. Give your bucket a good rinse before you get started and you won't have lost before you've started.

More after the jump.

10 times dogs had more fun in cars than we did

1. Nothing will ever appreciate the wind flowing through their fur quite like man's best friend.

src: reddit.com

2. And let's face it, we would could never look this cool sticking our heads out of the window anyway...

src: forgifs.com

more after the jump...

How to look after your genuine chamois leather

Chammy or Microfibre? It's a question which splits the room when it comes to drying off your vehicle. Many people reach for the microfibre cloth simply because Chamois Leathers seem like too much hassle and anyway they fall apart dead quickly right? Well, you might be surprised to know that if you look after your Chammy, you could get plenty of service out of it. In fact, plenty of people swear by the Chamois' durability and ability to absorb around six times its weight in water.

Think your Chamois is doomed to this?

The best way to get the most out of your genuine chamois leather is to take good care of it. Treat it right and you will get the results! Here's my quick guide on how to look after your chamois leather so that you can get the best value from it.

More after the jump...

Rust Repair Tutorial

This week sees the launch of Granville's new Rust Repair Liquid. Now this stuff is the bee's knees, what can I say? It's easy to use, takes only 15mins to work its magic and also comes in a gel formulation for easy application on hard to reach and horizontal surfaces.

So let's take a look at how to use Granville Rust Repair Liquid and Gel...

More after the jump.

Antifreeze and Coolant 101

Antifreeze and coolant. They cause quite a bit of confusion for motorists who aren't in the know. In fact it's one of the most frequently asked topics put to the Tech Team here at Granville HQ. And it's no wonder that it causes folk to scratch their heads over it because they are essentially the same product - just with different functions.

Call it coolant and you're referring to, you guessed it, the stuff that keeps your engine cool and operating at the correct temperature. When you think about it, your engine is basically powered by a series of controlled explosion so it's bound to get hot under that hood!

The job of Antifreeze is to keep things just right - src: funnyjunk.com

Now, technically speaking, coolant can be just plain water but this alone wouldn't protect against extremes of temperature or corrosion. Add Antifreeze to this water and you solve this issue, protecting against corrosion, aiding heat transfer, preventing scale build up, and raising the boiling point and lowering the freezing point of the liquid.

Generally speaking the ratio to make coolant is 50:50 Antifreeze to water but you must check your User Manual for the specific dilution for your vehicle.

More after the jump.

Introducing the Hypalube C Collection

Introducing the new Hypalube C Range from Granville. Specially formulated low and mid SAPS (sulphated ash, phosphorus and sulphur) technology oils meeting the requirements of ACEA C1, C2, C3 & C4. Formulated from premium quality base oils and the very latest in additive technology, these lubricants meet a wide range of modern engines that have exhaust after-treatment devices fitted.

What your oil is trying to tell you about the health of your engine

Frothy Oil
A good quality engine oil should not foam up because of the anti-foaming additives that are mixed with the product. There could be several reasons why your oil has foamed up. If your oil is bubbly or foamy but not discoloured then you may have overfilled the sump. The oil is essentially being churned and aerated by the crank and can cause a lot of damage very quickly.

src: forums.swedespeed.com

If the foam is lighter in colour this could be down to water or coolant contamination. If this is the case, then there is a chance you may have a leaking gasket head or a crack in the engine block.

Solution: If you think you may have overfilled with engine oil make sure you drain it off and refill the tank. If you see evidence of light coloured foam, see a professional mechanic as soon as you can.

More after the jump...

Jargon Buster: Translating your Oil Bottle

Grab your average bottle of motor oil off the shelf in your local retailer and you're confronted with a whole lot of jargon, acronyms and random numbers which will probably mean very little to you unless you're in the know. And let's face it, your owner's manual isn't much more help either. Sure it might give you a list of numbers and letters that translate into an oil spec that's suitable for your vehicle, but wouldn't you like to know what it all really means?

src: giphy.com

Do you know your 0w/20 from your 5w/40? What's the real difference between mineral and synthetic oil? ACEA? API? Well here's my jargon busting guide to translating your oil bottle.

Grease is the word

Grease is the word in my technical feature this week!

src: giphy.com

Umm... No. Not the cheesy musical from the '70s but the stuff you use to lubricate all things 'automatic, systemati-' *ehem* I mean automotive, mechanical and industrial.