Getting an oil change used to be a simple car maintenance task. People didn’t have to decide which type of oil to put into their vehicle. Nowadays, however, you can choose between synthetic oil or conventional oil. But, what is the difference between the two and which is better for your vehicle and wallet?

If you are confused about which type to go with, it’s important to educate yourself on the ingredients and the benefits of each. It’s not always an easy decision to make but keep reading to be able to make an informed choice!

What Is Conventional Oil?
This is the oil that people have used in their cars for a long time. Conventional oil is distilled and then refined directly from crude oil. Since it’s a little easier on the wallet, this is the type that most people choose during an oil change.

What Is Synthetic Oil?
Many people don’t know this, but synthetic oil has been around since 1929. Today, it’s used in jets and high-performance vehicles in addition to passenger cars. Synthetic oil is not found in nature like its counterpart, conventional oil. It is artificially made by combining some of conventional oil’s best properties and results in a more refined oil with fewer impurities. It also tends to perform better in cold weather or weather extremes and contains additives that can actually clean your vehicle’s engine.

Benefits of Synthetic Oil
Visually, there is no difference between synthetic and conventional oil. However, how they are made is a clear distinction. Also, they function in your vehicle much differently. Synthetic oil is far better for performance and it protects the engine due to lower levels of friction. Additives help clean the engine of deposits and fewer impurities means it burns cleaner, thickens much more slowly, and has fewer deposits to start. Here are a few more reasons why you might choose synthetic over conventional:

Never ever is a collision fun to get into. And never has it been any less stressful to find out where to take the damaged vehicle then. It is essential to get the vehicle repaired from a reputable auto body shop that knows exactly what to do with it.

Arizona gets to see accidents on a regular basis, which often result in major vehicle damage. For these to function properly again, you must land the right auto body repair shop.

Selecting the right auto body repair shop

In such a scenario, insurance companies might suggest you some auto body shops Tempe AZ. Nevertheless, selecting the best shop for repairing your vehicle is always up to you. Insurance companies usually recommend the shops they are associated with. The discount offers by these shops might lure you, but what you get is either used or generic parts, or after-market parts that cost you less.

On the contrary, reputable collision repair shops like Campus Body Salon use original manufacturer equipment (OME) parts that fit and function well. OME parts are relatively safe too.

Things to look for in a good repair shop

Here are the four major things that will help you identify the right auto body repair Tempe AZ shop for your vehicle’s repair:

SEATTLE, Sept. 8, 2020 - Each year, millions of Americans take to the roads and skies during November and December, whether they're visiting friends and family, or in search of sand and sun. In a typical year, the time to start solidifying those holiday plans would be nearly upon us. However, 2020 is not a typical year. Between changing travel restrictions, health and safety considerations and shifting priorities, potential travelers have a lot to navigate this holiday season.

Nisreene Atassi, Sr. Director at Expedia: "So many people rely on travel during the holidays and winter months – for relaxation, recreation, or as a time to reconnect with loved ones. Like so many other things this year, the holidays may not look the same. But for those who want or need to get away, we don't want the uncertainty and planning process to be a source of stress. We've made several key updates to our site to ensure we are delivering flexible travel solutions and highlighting health and safety information. We want to give travelers the tools they need to be able to make plans they feel confident and excited about this holiday season."

When to book flights and accommodations

Air travel: Early bird catches the fare

In past years, it wasn't unusual for those who booked holiday airfare more than 90 days out to pay more, not less than average. However, average ticket price trends this year indicate that getting an earlier start could potentially pay off.

Looking at average ticket prices for the fall and holiday timeframe, airfare prices dip down in September before beginning to climb in early October through the end of the year. However, average ticket prices overall are still lower than last year, particularly over Thanksgiving. That means early birds will likely see some really great fares compared to last year.

Realizing you have a flat tire is always extremely frustrating. You have to get out of your car, change the flat, and figure out where to go from there. Getting your car to a repair shop as safely and quickly as possible is the best option.

If you’re lucky that day, the mechanic might be able to simply patch the flat tire and send you on your merry way. However, if your tire is damaged beyond repair, you’ll need to buy a new one. This can be costly, and many people wonder, “How long can I safely drive on my spare tire?” Well, the best answer to that question is, “It depends.”

The type of spare tire you have makes a difference. The distance you can safely drive after a flat tire depends on the type of spare your vehicle comes equipped with:

Safe-Saver/Donut Spare
These types of tires were created to save space and weight in your vehicle, not built to last. Check your owner’s manual to find out what the recommended time and speed is for driving on a spare tire. A good rule to follow is to drive no more than 70 miles and no faster than 50 mph before you replace your donut with a new tire. With little to no tread, your spare tire is vulnerable to road hazards and you’ll want it replaced as soon as possible.

On the week, the majority of states saw gas prices decrease minimally – by one to two cents or saw no change at the pump. Though low, the volatility was enough to drive the national average down a penny from last Monday to $2.17. Today’s average is two cents less than last month and 49 cents cheaper than a year ago.

“As we move into the second week of the August, it is pricing out to be the second cheapest start to the month in more than a decade,” said Jeanette Casselano, AAA spokesperson. “Gas prices have high potential to push cheaper, especially with many school districts planning for virtual learning. This could drive demand down in the weeks ahead as school starts at-home.”

In the latest Energy Information Administration (EIA) weekly report, gas demand fell from 8.8 million b/d to 8.6 million b/d while stocks held steady at 247 million bbl.