bmw service center - Motorwerkes

Viscosity, the Weather, and Your BMW

10 October 2016

Remember last week’s article on synthetic motor oil? We briefly touched on the importance of viscosity, but it’s a key characteristic to keep in mind for both oil and other fluids in your BMW. This is especially true now that it’s getting colder out there.

Going with the Flow

Many critical mechanical components in your BMW rely on the proper flow of fluids. Your transmission needs its fluid to stay lubricated, not to mention to receive power properly from your engine via the torque converter. A power steering system needs its hydraulic fluid to flow cleanly and freely in order to transmit power successfully, and similarly, your brakes rely on efficient flow of brake fluid to transfer and amplify pressure into power for effective braking. What these and other fluids have in common is that their viscosity determine their success in performing their responsibilities.

Cold Weather

The higher the temperatures these fluids are subjected to, the lower their viscosity. Meanwhile, the lower their temperatures, the more viscous they become. As winter hits and ambient temperatures drop, it’s good practice to keep in mind how the fluids in your BMW will be affected and how this will in turn affect the performance of the vehicle, not to mention the integrity of its parts. If you don’t pay much attention to regular fluid changes and do not use approved fluids, issues like locked-up power steering, dragging brakes, or excess stress on your engine during cold startups could be just around the corner.

Tips for Proper Care

Ideally, your BMW won’t get to the point where you experience the worst consequences of poorly-flowing fluids. Thanks to synthetic fluid technology, viscosity problems are usually quite simple to prevent. The number one tip is to follow your owner’s manual and get recommendations from a local BMW certified technician as per your vehicle. Depending on a number of factors, you may need to switch to an oil with a viscosity rating that renders it less resistant to flow. As for other fluids, always be aware of how they will be likely to perform in particularly cold conditions and ask your technician which types will perform best on a cold drive!

Notice anything unusual with your engine, transmission, or other fluid-reliant components? The BMW certified technicians at Motorwerkes can provide you with specialized advice and more. Call (403) 768-3167 to give your vehicle what it really needs!

Taking Care of Your BMW’s Windshield Wipers During Summer

1 August 2016

Whether you’re on a summer road trip or you’re just driving around Calgary, you’re always relying on your BMW’s wipers in one way or another. Let’s take a look at how you can care for them, so they’ll do a great job for years to come.

How They Work

Windshield cleanliness and visibility are important for both safety and a pleasant driving experience. Mechanically, your wipers need to achieve a substantial amount of back-and-forth velocity to get the job done. This is accomplished by an electric motor providing rotational motion to a worm gear drive. The worm gear reduces the speed provided by the electric motor while multiplying its torque. The resulting rotation is converted into back-and-forth motion by a linkage system. The speed at which your wipers are moved typically depends on what setting you’ve selected with your wiper switch, but many BMW models have rain sensors that control their wipers automatically.

Wear and Tear

In order for all this engineering to give you the best results, everything has to be in good shape. The first thing to deteriorate or degrade is usually the rubber of the blades. This is especially pertinent during summer, as you’ll probably be using your wipers to clear off materials that are far more abrasive than just moisture. Dust, dirt, plant debris, and the summer heat accumulating on the glass can take their toll on the blades of your wipers over time, not to mention your windshield itself. If you have any chips or cracks from oncoming pebbles, this can also cut into the rubber, damaging them further.

Maintenance Tips

If you haven’t kept an eye on the condition of your blades, they’re probably squeaky, leaving streaks, and not keeping things as clean as they should. If you notice any of these signs, it may be time to replace the blades. It’s recommended to do so at least once a year. Keep both your windshield and blades as clean as possible through manual washing. This will prevent buildup of grainy materials, bits of plants, and other unpleasant stuff. And don’t forget to pay attention to the mechanical state of things. Bad joints, corrosion, and other signs could mean the need for repair. Wipers are just one of many components that you can have checked out by a local BMW expert!

The Motorwerkes team is here to look after every aspect of your BMW. Need a checkup or an oil change before taking that road trip? Get in touch with us by calling (403) 768-3168 today!

The Importance of Using Supreme Fuel

21 September 2015

Depending on your vehicle, you may or may not already be using supreme fuel. Some require it, some only recommend it, but in general it holds a number of benefits for the condition of your engine. Let’s have a look at how exactly it works and why it’s important to give your vehicle the best fuel it can get.

When Combustion Goes Wrong

The engine in your vehicle relies on a smooth cycle of combustion to keep its crankshafts moving and the wheels turning. In order for this to work, the air/fuel mixture in each cylinder must be ignited by its corresponding spark plug at precisely the right moment during every cycle. If the mixture ignites prematurely, you’ve got pre-ignition, which leads to “knocking” or “pinging.” This is an aggressive, audible change in pressure that the cylinder was not designed to handle. With thousands of cycles happening every minute, knocking can take a disastrous toll on the integrity of your engine.

Where Supreme Fuel Comes In

Compared with regular fuel, the high octane rating of supreme fuel indicates that a higher temperature is needed for combustion. Supreme is therefore more resistant to pre-ignition. This is particularly important if you have a love for high-performance vehicles, as the cylinders of these engines are designed with higher compression ratios. This means that your combustion chamber and cylinder can get a more efficient degree of mechanical energy out of a given cycle. With a high ratio comes greater risk of knocking, so the use of supreme fuel is critical.

What About Regular Engines?

While high performance engines absolutely require supreme fuel, many people argue that it is useless for lower-ratio engines that don’t need it. This isn’t necessarily true, especially if your car is a bit older. Over time, carbon deposits accumulate on the inside of your cylinders, and this affects your compression ratio. You may have found that as your vehicle has aged, you’ve begun to hear that dreaded knocking sound. Using supreme fuel could be a great way to keep up with the aging of your engine and stop pre-ignition at the source. This will ensure a much longer life!

If you’re looking for an excellent service or performance centre specializing in BMWs, Motorwerkes is here for you. Our dedication to providing the best possible customer experience is second to none, so give us a call at (403) 768-3162 today!