Answerpail Q&A - Recent questions and answers in Vehicles/Transportation

Answered: What is the world's no. 1 engine oil brand?

Tue, 19 May 2026 16:11:33 +0000

The world's no. 1 engine oil brand is Mobile 1.

Mobile 1 engine oil brand is owned by ExxonMobil and is widely recognized as being the world's no. 1 motor oil brand, especially when it comes to synthetic motor oil.

Mobil 1 engine oil dominates the retail sales and is also the factory fill oil for many high performance vehicles.

Shell engine oil brand, which includes Shell Helix as well as Pennzoil is also the worldwide leader in engine oil, when it comes to total global lubricant market share.

Pennzoil is also known for it's innovative "Gas to Liquid" PurePlus technology, that yields exceptionally clean base oils.

Other popular engine oil brands are AMSOIL, Valvoline and Castrol engine oil.

AMSOIL, engine oil is praised highly among car enthusiasts for it's pioneering work in extended drain synthetic engine oils.

Valvoline engine oil is also one of the oldest names in engine and motor oil since as far back as 1866 and remains a favorite brand of engine oil for racing applications as well as engines with high mileage.

And Castrol engine oil is also a historical engine oil that is very popular.

Castrol Edge engine oil is also regarded very highly for it's strength under extreme heat and pressure.

For budget oils, Walmart's engine oil brand is also good and I use it in my vehicles without any issues.

The same with the Walmart brand transmission fluid.

As long as you change out your engine oil and transmission fluid often enough, most any engine oils will keep your engine running smooth.

And most transmission fluids will work just fine in your transmission as long as you use the correct transmission fluids.

Answered: How tight should a new oil filter be installed?

Tue, 19 May 2026 15:19:37 +0000

A new oil filter when installed should be installed only hand tight and do not use any tools to tighten the oil filter as it could cause leaks.

You can overtighten an oil filter and overtightening of an oil filter can lead to leaks of oil as it compresses the gasket too far.

Oil filters do only need to be hand tight.

When you install an oil filter, you place a bit of oil on the rubber gasket of the oil filter.

And also ensure that you wipe down the area where the oil filter seals to the engine so that you remove any old oil and possible debris that could cause a leak.

Once you clean the mounting surface of the oil filter and apply some oil to the gasket of the oil filter, you simply need to spin the oil filter on until it snugs up.

Then use your hand to continue turning the oil filter until you cannot turn it any more by hand.

Hand tight on an oil filter should always be enough tightness to seal the oil filter and prevent leaks.

Once you have the oil filter installed, make sure you fill the oil back up on your vehicle after ensuring you have installed the oil plug.

Then once the oil is filled back up, start the engine and let the engine idle for a few minutes and look around the oil plug and oil filter for any possible leaks.

If there's no leaks, then everything is okay and you can shut the engine off and let it sit for a few minutes.

Then once the vehicle is sitting level, check the oil again and add any more oil a bit at a time until it reaches full.

Then start the engine again to allow the oil to circulate and then shut the engine off and check the oil again, to ensure that the oil is to the full level, but not overfull.

If the oil is too overfull, then you need to drain it.

But if you overfilled the engine oil by less than 1/2 a quart, you're usually okay.

Answered: Can you overtighten an oil filter?

Tue, 19 May 2026 15:17:33 +0000

You can overtighten an oil filter and overtightening of an oil filter can lead to leaks of oil as it compresses the gasket too far.

Oil filters do only need to be hand tight.

When you install an oil filter, you place a bit of oil on the rubber gasket of the oil filter.

And also ensure that you wipe down the area where the oil filter seals to the engine so that you remove any old oil and possible debris that could cause a leak.

Once you clean the mounting surface of the oil filter and apply some oil to the gasket of the oil filter, you simply need to spin the oil filter on until it snugs up.

Then use your hand to continue turning the oil filter until you cannot turn it any more by hand.

Hand tight on an oil filter should always be enough tightness to seal the oil filter and prevent leaks.

Once you have the oil filter installed, make sure you fill the oil back up on your vehicle after ensuring you have installed the oil plug.

Then once the oil is filled back up, start the engine and let the engine idle for a few minutes and look around the oil plug and oil filter for any possible leaks.

If there's no leaks, then everything is okay and you can shut the engine off and let it sit for a few minutes.

Then once the vehicle is sitting level, check the oil again and add any more oil a bit at a time until it reaches full.

Then start the engine again to allow the oil to circulate and then shut the engine off and check the oil again, to ensure that the oil is to the full level, but not overfull.

If the oil is too overfull, then you need to drain it.

But if you overfilled the engine oil by less than 1/2 a quart, you're usually okay.

Answered: Do oil filters only need to be hand tight?

Tue, 19 May 2026 15:15:34 +0000

Answered: How late can you pay your auto insurance premium before they cancel your policy?

Mon, 11 May 2026 20:23:37 +0000

For most auto insurance policies you can pay up to 20 days to 25 days late before they cancel your policy.

Although it can vary depending on your auto insurance company on how long you can go without paying your auto insurance premium before they cancel your auto insurance policy.

Auto insurance companies do provide a grace period for paying your auto insurance premium.

Many auto insurance companies will provide you with a grace period for making late payments on your auto insurance policy premium, in which your auto insurance policy remains active.

The grace period for paying your auto insurance premium can vary from auto insurance company to auto insurance company.

However the grace periods for paying your auto insurance premiums before your auto insurance policy is canceled ranges from 7 days to 14 days, although some auto insurance companies have a 30 day grace period for paying your auto insurance policy premium before cancellation.

Although just note, that while auto insurance companies do often have grace periods for the payment for your auto insurance policy premium, they may charge a late fee that is added after a few days to 10 days of the payment being late.

The exact length of the grace period for the auto insurance policy payments will vary depending on your auto insurance company.

Failure to make the payment before the cancellation date will result in cancellation of your auto insurance premium and you may face higher costs of reinstating the auto insurance policy or even be be denied future coverage from your current auto insurance company.

However during the grace period for the late payments on your auto insurance policy, the auto insurance policy will remain active and you'll be covered for accidents and claims.

You should get a written letter in the mail before your auto insurance policy is cancelled, but sometimes you may just get an email.

Auto insurance companies are often required by law to send a notice to you before canceling your auto insurance policy and usually provides 10 to 20 days notice before the auto insurance policy is cancelled.

If you miss a payment for a renewal of an auto insurance policy you might not get a grace period, depending on the insurance company.

Pay the auto insurance premium immediately if possible to avoid a lapse and late fees, as the lapse could also lead to higher auto insurance premiums later.

If you can't make the auto insurance payment on time, let your auto insurance company or agent know, as some auto insurance companies and auto insurance agents may offer some flexibility on a case by case basis.

Answered: Do auto insurance companies provide a grace period for paying your auto insurance premium?

Mon, 11 May 2026 20:22:05 +0000

Auto insurance companies do provide a grace period for paying your auto insurance premium.

Many auto insurance companies will provide you with a grace period for making late payments on your auto insurance policy premium, in which your auto insurance policy remains active.

The grace period for paying your auto insurance premium can vary from auto insurance company to auto insurance company.

However the grace periods for paying your auto insurance premiums before your auto insurance policy is canceled ranges from 7 days to 14 days, although some auto insurance companies have a 30 day grace period for paying your auto insurance policy premium before cancellation.

Although just note, that while auto insurance companies do often have grace periods for the payment for your auto insurance policy premium, they may charge a late fee that is added after a few days to 10 days of the payment being late.

The exact length of the grace period for the auto insurance policy payments will vary depending on your auto insurance company.

Failure to make the payment before the cancellation date will result in cancellation of your auto insurance premium and you may face higher costs of reinstating the auto insurance policy or even be be denied future coverage from your current auto insurance company.

However during the grace period for the late payments on your auto insurance policy, the auto insurance policy will remain active and you'll be covered for accidents and claims.

You should get a written letter in the mail before your auto insurance policy is cancelled, but sometimes you may just get an email.

Auto insurance companies are often required by law to send a notice to you before canceling your auto insurance policy and usually provides 10 to 20 days notice before the auto insurance policy is cancelled.

If you miss a payment for a renewal of an auto insurance policy you might not get a grace period, depending on the insurance company.

Pay the auto insurance premium immediately if possible to avoid a lapse and late fees, as the lapse could also lead to higher auto insurance premiums later.

If you can't make the auto insurance payment on time, let your auto insurance company or agent know, as some auto insurance companies and auto insurance agents may offer some flexibility on a case by case basis.

Answered: Ignition control module keeps failing on my 1992 Chevy Silverado 1500 truck?

Thu, 07 May 2026 17:47:26 +0000

I had this same issue since back in 2023 with the ignition modules failing repeatedly on a 1993 Chevy Suburban with the same engine and control module.

I had replaced the ignition module with a cheap one from Autozone and it failed the same day, then I got it replace and the next ignition module lasted a week.

After that I just started buying some ignition modules on eBay for around $12.00 to $14.00 a piece as I didn't have the money to buy the GM ignition module for $100.00 or more at the time.

And I thought it was my Suburban causing them to short out.

Well over the next 2 years I kept having those ignition modules go out and then one day 13 month ago on eBay I noticed a listing for a good used 3 year old GM ignition module for $20.00 plus $6.00 shipping and so I decided to buy it.

Well my other cheap ignition module failed me again within a week and I was at Dollar General and had the ignition module with me and replaced it and put some good thermal paste on it and 13 months later it has never failed yet.

So if you're buying and using the cheap modules, they are junk and I recommend getting the GM modules if you can do so as they will fix the issue.

This is assuming that you have the thermal paste on it and it's properly grounded and not shorting out.

If you're using the cheap ignition modules then that is likely your problem.

My Suburban also ran and runs better after I put the GM ignition module on instead of those cheap ones.

I still have 2 of those cheap ignition modules in the Suburban and haven't needed to use them yet and hopefully I don't.