Synthetic oil is produced in a lab, which means the only stuff in it is what they put in it. Despite the high-tech refining of crude oil, there are still contaminants in the oil that can build up and eventually damage an engine. Changing your oil and filter removes any loose particles that form, but often the build-up occurs in an isolated area of your engine, usually where it gets really, really hot. This build up can clog oil passages and valves, which can eventually lead to reduced engine life.

Your fuel filter is one of those engine components that may only cost $10 or $20, but can protect your engine from thousands of dollars in damage. Fuel filters protect some of the very delicate parts of your engine. Carburetors and fuel injection systems can be clogged up by the tiniest of particles, so a properly functioning fuel filter is very important.

You've got your suntan lotion, a giant cooler and three cheap novels -- you're ready for a summer road trip. You may be prepared, but are you up to date on your summer auto maintenance? Sure, auto maintenance is the last thing on your mind, but it'll jump to the front pretty quickly if you're on the side of the road.

Obviously, the size is the single most important piece of info on the tire - get it wrong and it might not even fit. Size includes the width, aspect ratio and wheel diameter. These three measurements will be universal no matter what brand of tire you're looking at.

The emergence of a number of quality tire manufacturers in the'90s has broadened the market on tires and kept the prices low while quality and innovation continue to improve. These days there are more tire choices than miracle weight loss programs but with a little refresher course on tires, you can trim away the fat and get yourself a set of fairly-priced, safe and durable tires for your car, truck or SUV.

There is so much room for adjustment in terms of size, it would take an encyclopedia to list them all.

Through actual testing of the tire, they rate each one according to how fast you can safely travel on a set of them. It's pretty straightforward when you check the chart. Each letter represents a maximum speed.

The Plus concept was developed by performance-minded car owners and tuners who wanted to be able to put wider, bigger wheels and tires on their cars without sacrificing speedometer accuracy.

Winter is upon us, and winter driving comes with it. While safety is an important consideration all year long, there are certainly some auto maintenance jobs and safety checks that are specific to chilled air and winter driving that are a good idea to check into before we're knee deep in the season.

You've got your suntan lotion, a giant cooler and three cheap novels -- you're ready for a summer road trip. You may be prepared, but are you up to date on your summer auto maintenance? Sure, auto maintenance is the last thing on your mind, but it'll jump to the front pretty quickly if you're on the side of the road.