₦airaland Forum

Yes, you can use ur driver 's licence from the US in Nigeria. Make sure it is the International version of it. Go and obtain it there and that gives you access to our smooth roads.

SP 111. Same for hyuandai, Kia.

What year is your rodeo? You can use dexron iii which is not available in the open market. Don't use iiid oil. We can get it for you if you can send us a mail with your location

There is nothing extraordinary about maintenance. Ensure first of all that there is no sludge in your engine, check the transmission fluid if it is an auto gear andif it has burnt smell or the colour is black, then change the oil. Be careful not to use any type of ATF. Honda uses ATFZ1 and unless otherwise stated like using Dexron 111, any other oil is not good for your car. Change the air filter regularly and dont let the local mecs tropicalise your vehicle by removing the thermostat.If you have sludge, use engine flush before you drain the old oil. Check your tyres if they are good for Nigerian Roads. Most vehicles are equipped with winter tyres and they are very dangerous for our roads. Look for the speed rating and the temperature A on the tyre. A typical Nigerian Spec tyre is stated as follows: 195/55/15/84H. H is the speed rating of 210km ph. If you are in Lagos or Abuja, you can come to our quick service outlets. You are also lucky that the car runs on unleaded Regular fuel. Happy Motoring.
Rescue and Recovery Nigeria Limited

With the growing trend of failed automatic transmissions, it is imperative that you use the right transmission fluids for your vehicle. There are no fake transmission fluids in Nigeria, it is the motorist who is not aware of the fluid that their vehicles require and as such uses any fluid that is cheap and affordable. You find people using Abro on a Murano and you begin to agonise on their behalf. Why is this common like finding a motorist with a blackberry phone putting Dexron 11 ATF on a vehicle that requires Type IV when he can easily google the type of ATF to use or like a gentleman that used Dexron 111 on a 2008 Mercedes Sclass. Why buy a car you cannot maintain? As we prepare for the festive season associated with mass movement, do this for your vehicle: check if there is sludge in your engine, if your ATF is black or has a burnt smell, if your gear has shifting problem, and also check if your tyres are winter or all season tyres with reduced speed capability. If you are buying new tyres, ensure that they are all traction A, temperature A. Change your air filter regularly and if you need further assistance on the above issues, send us a mail and we shall respond as soon as possible. nigeriaarc@hotmail.com or info@arcnigeria.com
Rescue and Recovery Nigeria Limited

In Nigeria, we use unleaded Regular and many cars require this grade of fuel. But majority of the other cars requires a higher fuel, premium unleaded. What do you do if you are faced with this problem? Octane Booster is your best bet. Many people still believe that we use leaded fuel and there are many new cars that is programmed to work only on leaded fuel and they are being sold brand new in Nigeria.

In an extreme driving condition, all engine oils must be changed at 3000 miles or 3 months. Failure to do so will result in sludge in your engine. Our weather condition is extreme, dusty and hot, you need no expert to tell you when to change your oil. In maiduguri, majority of the motorists add oil treatment to their oil because of the excessive heat. Mercedes is programmed for 20,000 kilometers before service, that is in Europe and America but when it comes to Africa, it is a different ball game. Most garages advise that you service your car at every 3000mls or 5000 kms or 3 months. I know a guy that uses over 3000 mls in two weeks and he comes for service because he is following the best counsel.
Oil Sludge: an expensive but preventable disaster
Every year, more of my customers suffer through unnecessary and very expensive engine re-builds due to oil sludge. The causes are complex but sludge damage can be prevented.
The oil sludge problem is reaching epidemic proportions on many 1997 and newer cars, with the following cars greatly affected:
 Audi - 1997-2004
 Chrysler - 1998-2002
 Dodge - 1998-2002
 Hyundai - 1998-2004
 Lexus - 1997-2003
 Toyota - 1997-2003
 SAAB - 1999-2003
 Volkswagen - 1997-2004

What is oil sludge?
Oil sludge is the breakdown product of over-stressed oil in your engine.
Oil that is stressed by contaminants and oxidation-or has to work thousands of miles longer than it was designed to-will break down into a gel that sticks to your engine parts. As the sludge sticks, there is less good oil to circulate and do its protective job. This coating of gel also stores heat instead of releasing it which stresses the radiator and cooling system.
Although at first the motor oil level may appear OK, a sludgy engine is being damaged with EVERY stroke. Your engine may lose oil pressure, get terrible gas mileage, and other components might mysteriously fail such as timing belts, idle speed controls, and gaskets.
Sludge begins to appear in the oil pan and valve covers. Oil filler cap inspection as an indicator of sludge build-up is not conclusive, as normal engines can have a small amount of sludge and condensation present at this 'high point' of the crankcase.
Why is oil sludge affecting more cars?
My research and experience concludes that both environmental and financial pressures have combined to affect your oiling system. Here's how:
Environmental pressures:
1. In the struggle to pass tougher federal emissions specifications, car manufacturers have raised engine operating temperatures and increased exhaust gas recirculation (EGR). In 1996, tighter federal emissions standards were enacted. Fuel mixtures have to run leaner, and leaner mixtures cause higher combustion temperatures. When nitrogen in the air is raised to higher temperatures it is converted into new contaminant cocktails. By 1997, sludge is appearing as a major problem.
2. New "long-life" antifreeze was introduced in 1995 to reduce the amount of chemical pollution in our environment. But longer 100,000-mile radiator service intervals often leads drivers to neglect their cooling systems. Worn-out coolant takes on an electrical charge that chemically acts like acid on engine parts. Depleted coolant also results in higher engine temperatures.
3. Federal pressures for more fuel economy in cars and trucks led car manufacturers to design engines for lower viscosity motor oils. Lighter oils tend to break down faster under urban driving conditions.
Financial pressures:
1. Some manufacturers recommend oil change intervals longer than 3,000 miles to market their cars' quality or to appeal to buyers on a budget. Consumers, already paying on auto loans, are reluctant to spend money for maintenance and embrace these extended intervals.
2. Quick lube shops competing for your business cave into pressure for bargain oil changes. To cut costs, they might buy single weight oil in bulk or use recycled oil. They use cheaper, less durable oil filters. Low-wage, inexperienced technicians sometimes make servicing mistakes when trying to work faster.
A very short history of oil change intervals
With oil prices so high in the early 1970s, and with engine designs evolving, Mobil introduced the Mobil 1 synthetic oil for gasoline engines. At the time, Mobil was promoting 20- or 25,000-mile oil changes with synthetic products, but they soon backed down from this.
In the 1980s, Toyota came out with a 10,000-mile oil change policy, in part to brag about the quality of their cars but mostly to market low maintenance costs. After receiving thousands of warranty claims for engine repairs from angry customers worldwide, they backed off of this absurd recommendation and went back to 3,000 mile intervals.
Improvements in motor oil chemistry in the 1990s encouraged many car makers to promote long oil change intervals. The long intervals actually worked OK until 1996, with very few sludge-related engine failures reported and many happy customers driving up to 10,000 miles between changes. After 1996, tighter emissions standards added pressure to the oiling system, and problems appeared.
Now in the 2000s, oil sludge buildup and sludge-related engine failure is a costly and frustrating nightmare for many. What's going on?

Your car's oiling system is its lifeblood
The oiling system in an engine is similar to the vascular system in a human body. It must absorb and release toxins, transfer heat, and suspend harmful particles until they can be filtered out. Unlike the blood in your body, though, engine oil is not self-renewing and has a limit to how much stress it can safely handle before it needs to be removed and refreshed.
As your car is driven, oil is pumped under pressure from the oil pan up through the oil pump. The oil pump sends oil to the crankshaft and camshaft, and is squeezed into the tiny channels of the motor. The moving parts also splash oil onto other components in the crankcase, and finally it falls under gravity back into the oil pan. Meanwhile, about 20% of the oil flow is diverted to the oil filter for cleaning. On some engines, an external oil cooler is used to dissipate heat from the engine.
Motor oil has a complex chemical job to do. While lubricating your engine's moving parts at high temperatures, motor oil carries combustion by-products, collects airborne contaminants from the air-intake system, and absorbs and releases small amounts of water from engine heating and cooling. Circulating motor oil also suspends acids that are formed by chemical reactions in the crankcase. Sometimes tiny leaks allow some fuel or coolant to creep into the oiling system.
How oil does its job
Motor oil is a refined base stock with chemical additives. These additives work to suspend contaminants, inhibit corrosion, coat metal parts, keep viscosity stable, and slow oxidation.
As you drive, the combustion process allows small amounts of unburned fuel to escape into the oiling system which causes oil contamination. Contaminants are handled by:
 oil additives, which suspend and contain the contaminants to prevent damage to metal engine parts
 the oil filter, which captures large particles that are suspended by the additives
 the PCV system (positive crankcase ventilation) uses a vapor separator to capture the lighter, gaseous contaminants and recirculate them back to the combustion process while the heavier contaminants drain down into the oil pan. So not only is the PCV system an important emissions device, but it's also crucial to keeping your motor oil clean.
As contaminants build up, the oil base itself starts to oxidize and turns the familiar red-brown color of worn-out oil. If not changed promptly, your engine is irreversibly damaged by chemical reactions, heat, and friction.
What makes synthetic oil superior to conventional oil?
I recommend synthetic motor oil to all my customers to prevent sludge. Why?
Synthetic motor oil is made from a blend of mineral oil, natural gas, and special additives. Because this blend is extremely pure from the beginning, it can withstand more torture in your vehicle's engine.
Synthetic lubricants cost just slightly more than conventional oils, but offer the best engine protection because:
 synthetics remain stable at high temperatures (conventional oils break down faster at today's higher engine temps)
 synthetics remain fluid at very low temperatures (conventional oils thicken)
 additive packages are formulated with special chemicals for top cleaning and anti-oxidant protection
Remember, you can switch to synthetics on any car regardless of age or previous motor oil. If your vehicle has been acting up, have your technician check for sludge.
So why don't all cars suffer from sludge?
Some car makers stay with the standard 3-month/3,000 mile oil change interval. Others, such as BMW's longer interval, rarely cause any problems. Why? Their new engine designs call for a 7 or 8 quart capacity, almost twice that of the average car—and they specify full synthetic motor oil.
In addition, some drivers protect their cars by ignoring the recommended longer interval and changing their motor oil every 3,000 miles. These drivers ask for high-quality oil and filters, and keep up with other maintenance schedules.
Remember—any car can suffer an oil sludge problem, and some manufacturers more than others due to various design differences. It's to your advantage to get a technician's advice on what interval your engine and driving habits REALLY requires, and take matters into your own hands!
Rescue and Recovery Nigeria Limited.

All vehicles whether tokunbo or new are required to service their cars at 3000 if it is in miles or 5000kms or every 3 months whenever you use the lowest grade of oil and for synthetic, 6000mls and 10000kms for every 6 months. If there is sludge in your engine, use engine flush and then maintain the service interval. if you are in Abuja, try TOTAL at zone 3, Wuse and you will get quality service.