Why is an Emissions Test Necessary?

Why is an Emissions Test Necessary?

by | Dec 21, 2018 | Emission Test

An emissions test can be beneficial to provide more information on the overall state of your vehicle. In some cases, an emissions test is a mandatory legal requirement to operate your vehicle on the road.

What does an emissions test measure?

An emissions test is performed to assess the amount of hazardous materials your car is releasing into the air.
Emissions tests are a provincial requirement that help to limit the levels of pollution that are being emitted by vehicles. This helps to improve the air quality for everyone in the province.

Reduce your Carbon Footprint

Controlling the emissions produced by your vehicle is a responsible way to limit your contribution to air pollution.
Making sure your car is not producing excess pollutants also helps to improve the efficiency of your vehicle’s performance.
Passing an emissions test is not only good for the environment, but also your automobile.

Where can I get an official emissions test in Ontario?

If you are looking to have a certified emissions test done in Ontario, an excellent choice is Valvoline Express Care Brampton.

Emissions Test Brampton

Car owners in Brampton, and throughout the GTA, can get an authorized emissions test at Valvoline Express Care.
Valvoline Express Care offers an authorized Ontario emissions test that has been certified by the Ontario Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change.
The quick and convenient emissions test at Valvoline Express Care is a stream-lined process to get your car tested and you back on the road in a timely manner.

What does the emissions test consist of?

When you bring your car in for an emissions test at Valvoline, you can expect a thorough and efficient inspection of your vehicle.
The process includes:

  • Visual inspection of the vehicle
  • Examining the catalytic converter to ensure there are no issues (and that one exists on your vehicle)
  • Making sure there are no missing gas caps or other components
  • Checking for defects in the fuel system
  • Looking for smoke emitting from the tail pipe or other places on your car
  • Inspection of the onboard computer
  • Any visually obvious issues that would contribute to hazardous emissions

What should you know about harmful emissions?

It seems that there are no imminent changes coming to prevent the use of gasoline to operate motor vehicles. This means that automobiles will continue to emit pollutants for the foreseeable future.
There are two main types of emissions:

  • Exhaust emissions
  • Evaporative emissions

Exhaust Emissions

These emissions occur when the engine is running, and exhaust is being emitted from burned fuel. This includes the release of VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds).
VOCs include harmful waste products like:

  • Hydrocarbons
  • Carbon dioxide
  • Nitrogen oxides

Excessive amounts of these by-products being released into the air can lead to the increased production of green house gases.

Evaporative Emissions

These types of emissions occur when the car is stationary or not in operation. These typically include vapors that escape into the air from the fuel system.

Benefits of an Emissions Test Brampton

There are many good reasons to have an emissions test done on your vehicle to make sure you are not discharging excess pollution.
The main advantages include:

  • Environmental responsibility
  • Driving legally
  • Vehicle care

Environmental Responsibility

Pollutants emitting from your exhaust can cause numerous problems for your surrounding environment.
Harmful exhaust emissions can be detrimental for:

  • People around you
  • Wildlife
  • Damaged soil
  • Polluted lakes and streams
  • Contamination of the local water supply

Driving Legally

Find out if you meet the emission requirements to legally operate your vehicle in Ontario. Vehicles that produce excess intoxicants are deemed to be unroadworthy.

Vehicle Care

Aside from being good for the environment, an emissions test can also be good for your vehicle. Keeping your vehicle operating at an optimal level will preserve the value, increase performance, and keep you and your passengers safe.
 

6 Advantages of Routine Oil Changes

6 Advantages of Routine Oil Changes

by | Dec 6, 2018 | oil change brampton

Making oil changes a part of your routine vehicle maintenance should be top priority for vehicle owners.
Especially for drivers in Ontario, keeping your car operating at a high level can be the difference between easy travel, and getting stranded on the side of the road in the dead of winter.
It is somewhat shocking to hear about the large number of drivers that feel like routine oil changes are more of a suggestion than a mandatory activity.
I suppose in a manner of speaking oil changes are not mandatory, if you don’t mind jeopardizing the safety of your vehicle, your passengers, yourself, and other drivers on the road.
Clean oil plays a huge role in the performance of your vehicle. Oil becomes less effective as time wears on. Oil that has been left unchanged for an extended period can cause severe damage to your engine, and can even result in the engine ceasing to function altogether.
Once this happens you can expect to pay for a tow truck, and alternative ride home, and massive mechanic bills.

Oil Change Brampton

A superb option for drivers in the Brampton and GTA area is Valvoline Express Care.
Valvoline Express Care is a professional automotive service provider that focuses on getting your car into the best shape possible to optimize performance and retain value.
To achieve this optimal form, regular maintenance is required.
This maintenance includes everything from oil changes to rust proofing, and should not be neglected in an attempt to save money. Believe me, you will end up paying way more in the long run.
Oil changes are absolutely crucial though, and here’s why.

6 Advantages of Regular Oil Changes

There are many benefits to having consistent oil changes done by a professional.
6 of the best advantages are:

  • Performance
  • Fuel economy
  • Engine life
  • Maintenance checks
  • Preserving value
  • Maintaining warranty

Performance

This is one of the biggest pluses of routine oil changes. The more frequently you change the oil in your car, the better it runs.
Old oil becomes dirty and inefficient over time, which compromises vehicle performance and engine protection.
Clean oil is required to provide lubrication for the engine’s metal components that are constantly rubbing against each other.
Without lubrication, the engine can overheat and suffer irreparable damage.

Fuel Economy

Clean oil allows the engine to operate more efficiently because it doesn’t have to work as hard.
Increased engine efficiency equals improved fuel economy.

Engine Life

This is a serious factor for car owners that are not interested in dishing out thousands of dollars for an engine replacement.
You are probably hoping that the engine lasts as long as your vehicle does. In order to make this happen, you must take good care of the engine by replacing the oil on a consistent basis.

Maintenance Checks

When you get your oil changed, it is a prime opportunity to have a routine check up done on your entire vehicle.
Preventative measures are extremely important with automobiles, don’t wait until it is too late and you have to spend obscene amounts of money for repairs.
Also, a good automotive technician can look at your used oil and see if there is any indication of other issues.
For example, if there are metal shavings present in your used oil, it is a strong sign that there are further engine problems.

Preserving Value

A well cared for vehicle will fetch a much higher price when it comes time to sell than a neglected one.
All the money you put into your vehicle for regular maintenance will come back to you in the end.

Warranty

A lot of warranties become void if the vehicle owner doesn’t keep up with mandatory routine maintenance.
Check the details of your warranty to see if it applies.