You asked, we answered. In this #cartalk video blog, our Auto Tech Team answers the top automotive questions we receive on our website. We took a dive into our Google Analytics to identify the top questions people have regarding auto care. And in this video, our automotive experts answer them for you. From questions like “How often should you balance your tires?” to the difference between motor oils, take a look at the video below to get inside knowledge from our team.

Top Car Maintenance Q&A Video Transcript

“Hey there, welcome back to another edition of #CarTalk.

In the automotive industry, we get a lot of questions about your vehicle. And some of those questions just go unanswered. But we want to take this opportunity to answer some of the most frequently asked questions that you have submitted to us. I’m Joe Hyde, Director of Automotive Technology for Christian Brothers Automotive. Let’s talk about cars.”

What is the difference between a wheel alignment and a wheel balance?

Mitch, Automotive Support Specialist: “One of the common questions we get is: what is the difference between a wheel alignment and a wheel balance? Wheel alignment are adjustments to your front suspension and steering to ensure that your wheels are straight ahead and when you’re driving down the road with a steering wheel centered, you are tracking in a straight path and not drifting off to the left or right. A Wheel balance is performed to your wheel and tire assembly to account for any imperfection or imbalance within the tire wheel. This will help to ensure that you don’t have any abnormal vibrations or noises heard while driving down the road coming from the wheel and tire.”

How often should you do a wheel alignment or balance your tires?

Matt, Automotive Support Specialist: “One of the frequently asked questions that we get is: how often should you do a wheel alignment or balance your tires?
In my opinion, you should go about every six months for your wheel alignment or about 8,000 miles for your wheel balance. But then again, it is always best to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations by the owner’s manual to get the services completed.”

How often should I change my air filter?

Joe, Director of Automotive Technology: “Here at CBA, we’re often asked: how often do you need to change your air filter? And really, that all depends on your driving. But most of the time you want to refer to your manufacturer’s recommendation. And when you look at the service schedule of most manufacturers, it’s every 5 to 7,000 miles. We recommend that you have it checked at every oil change interval and your service technician will advise you on the recommended replacing.”

How far and how fast I can drive on my spare tire?

Kyle G., Store Setup Specialist: “One of the common questions that we get asked a lot is: how far and how fast I can drive on my spare tire? We recommend for you to look at the side of the tire if it’s a miniature or donut-style tire. It’ll tell you on there the max mileage, whether it’s 40 miles or 50 miles, and the max speed that you can drive. We also always recommend to refer to your owner’s manual for your manufacturer recommendations.”

What is the right motor oil for my vehicle?

Kyle K., Automotive Support Specialist: “Here at Christian Brothers, we often get asked: what is the right motor oil for my vehicle? Inside your vehicle is an owner’s manual and inside the owner’s manual, it will tell you what oil weight and viscosity plus synthetic or regular oil you should use for your vehicle. This is often extremely critical because most engines are designed for a certain oil weight and viscosity for that particular engine.”

Does a clogged or dirty air filter affect your A/C or your fuel mileage?

Joe, Director of Automotive Technology: “Another question we’re often asked at CBA is: does a clogged or dirty air filter affect your A/C or your fuel mileage? Typically we don’t see concerns with your AC with a clogged air filter, but it will in fact affect your fuel mileage. A clogged air filter can actually affect your fuel mileage up to three to four miles per gallon. So you want to make sure that you’re having your air filter checked and serviced, at least every other oil change.”

“These are just some of the many questions we get here at Christian Brothers Automotive. And I’d like to encourage you to reach out to your local Christian Brothers if you have questions that we didn’t cover here today. I’m Joe Hyde, and this has been another car talk moment.”