My First Car: 1983 Datsun 280ZX Turbo

1983 Datsun 280ZX

Do you remember your first car? For car enthusiasts, a first car is more than just a means of getting from point a to point b. When they think about that car, they’re taken back to early solo drives, initial attempts at car repairs and that first-car sense of freedom. Welcome to 1A Auto’s “My First Car” series, in which our founders, management and staff share stories about their first cars. In the first post of the series, 1A Auto Public Relations Manager John MacDonald tells his first car love story.

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What You Didn’t Know About Road Signs

Rocks Falling Road Sign Next Mile

Street signs—They’re everywhere, and for good reason. They can regulate traffic, inform you of distant roads, such as intersections, or warn you about potential falling rocks that you can’t do much about. But did you know that everything about road signs—from their shapes and sizes to their images and colors—are used to convey more than what might seem obvious at first glance? Some may look bizarre and even nonsensical, but it seems that all road signs communicate more than you might think.

How Road Signs Affect Your Subconscious

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How Often Should You Change Your Oil? Every 3,000 Miles?

changing oil under car or truck

When it comes to modern engines, for some, the 3k rule is not much of a debate. According to one of our experts, “Oil and engines have come a long way, [and] the theory of a 3k oil change is long gone.”

After asking some of our experts “Should owners stick to changing their oil every 3,000 miles?”, the answer is likely no, especially if the manufacturer recommends differently, and if the vehicle is newer and uses synthetic oil, but it also depends on the following conditions:

  • Vehicle/Engine Age, Condition, and Type (e.g. oil consumption rate; often carries heavy loads)
  • Driving Conditions (e.g. city vs. highway; warmer environments)
  • Driving Style and Frequency (e.g. high RPMs; average mileage)
  • Type of Oil (i.e. synthetic vs. conventional)
  • Manufacturer’s Recommendations

These factors, along with what you would like to achieve (like making your car last for over 300,000 miles), all influence the answer to the question, “How often should I change my oil?”

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1A Auto’s Best How-to & Diagnostic Videos of 2018

Another year means we’ve empowered another thousands of viewers with our how-to videos. To celebrate the end of 2018, we looked at our top 10 videos of 2018 that helped owners diagnose issues and install new parts on their vehicles. Most videos on this list covered routine maintenance that universally applies to hundreds of vehicles. In case you need one or two of these videos in the near future, we’ve got them all listed here.

How to Diagnose a Bad Water Pump

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