For the best advice and synthetic oil products, get in touch with us at ;The ;Superior Synthetic ;in Mason City

Today however, we've put together some of our seasoned tips on how to get the most out of your battery and accessory belt.

Safety First When Checking Your Battery

A battery, like other parts of your vehicle, is subject to wear and tear and should regularly be checked. In particular, pay attention to the battery’s trouble spots, shown here. A battery that’s kept clean lasts longer.

Before you work on your battery, be sure to read ;all ;the safety measures involved:

• Never work on a battery with a lit cigarette in your mouth. ;Batteries are filled with sulfuric acid that generates hydrogen gas. If you get acid deposits on your skin or clothes, wash them off with water immediately.
• Disconnect the battery whenever you work on it, but be sure to shut the engine off first! ;On most modern vehicles, computers control functions of the engine, fuel and ignition systems, automatic transmissions, and other stuff. Be extremely careful not to inadvertently send a shot of unwanted voltage into one of the computers and destroy it.
• Always remove the negative cable from the battery if you plan to work on wiring under the hood. ;This prevents you from possibly damaging electrical components or receiving a shock.
• When removing and replacing both battery cables, always remove the negative cable first and replace it last. ;If you attempt to remove the positive clamp first and your wrench slips and touches something metal, your wrench can fuse to the part like an arc welder.
• Tie the cables back while you work on the battery. ;Don’t allow anything made of metal to connect the terminal posts; this can damage the battery. If the cables are connected to the posts when something else interferes, you can destroy the onboard computers.

The Superior Synthetic ;is the one to call for ;Amsoil synthetic oil in ;Mason City

For all your ;AMSOIL Synthetic oil ;needs ;in Mason City, ;call ;The ;Superior Synthetic ;at ;(641) 420-6677 ;or ;shop online. ; And to check your accessory belt... ;

Your Vehicle's Multi-Accessory Belt Check in Mason City

Many cars have accessory belts that drive the alternator, the power steering pump, the air conditioning compressor, the water pump in many cases, and other parts of a modern vehicle. Newer cars have a Serpentine multi-accessory drive belt. If you drive an older car, you have to check the separate belts.

Accessory Belts

If you can’t get to an accessory belt easily to check it yourself, have it checked when you have the vehicle serviced or if the belt gets noisy or any of the equipment it drives begins to malfunction. It isn’t easy to figure out whether a belt is at the right tension just by looking at it, and often it’s obscured by a shield or cowling. If the belt is loose, you’ll hear squeaky noises when you accelerate sharply. With the hood up, the gearshift in Park or Neutral, and the parking brake on, have a friend accelerate the engine while you listen. Be sure to keep your hair and clothing away from the belt. Because tensioners are spring-loaded, they can be unsafe to deal with yourself. Check your owner’s manual or a service manual for your vehicle’s make, model, and year to see what’s involved in adjusting your accessory belt. If you can’t reach the adjusting mechanism without removing other parts, if adjusting the belt requires special tools, or if it looks as though releasing the tension may be risky, you should have a professional deal with it.

What to Look For

If you can see an accessory belt easily, here’s what to look for:

• If the belt “gives” more than 1⁄2 inch when you press on it but otherwise is in good condition, it may just need to be adjusted.
• If the belt is glazed or has oil on it, the slick surface will slip where it winds around the pulleys and it won’t be able to efficiently drive the components connected to it. Your engine may overheat because the water pump isn’t operating properly, or the air conditioner may fail to cool the interior of your vehicle. Have the belt replaced.
• If you see chunks missing from the belt or many cracks across its surface, or if it’s frayed or tearing, debris may be embedded in it, or one of the pulleys may be out of alignment. The safest move is to replace the belt.

Squeaky Rubber

If the belt squeaks, it may have been contaminated by water, coolant, oil, or another fluid. If it’s just water, check around the water pump and the hoses to see where the leak is, and eliminate the cause of the leak. The water will dry up on its own. The belt needs to be replaced if the contaminant is coolant, oil, power-steering fluid, or some other substance or if the belt has broken, is frayed, or has large cracks or pieces missing.

For the Best Synthetic Oil in Mason City

For all your ;AMSOIL Synthetic oil ;needs ;in Mason City, ;call ;The ;Superior Synthetic ;at ;(641) 420-6677 ;or ;shop online. ;The Superior Synthetic ;is the one to call for ;Amsoil synthetic oil in Mason City. ;