Articles | Parkside Motors

The Dutch Reach: Save a Biker

For decades now in the Netherlands drivers have been trained (and tested for their licenses) on a behavior that dramatically reduces the risk of doorings. Let's spread this great idea and make Victoria's streets safer for cyclists.

Round-Up: Automatic Transmissions

We have been busy over the last month writing articles that address many of the questions and concerns we are faced at the shop regarding automatic transmissions. Below is a quick round up of our latest work. Spend some time digging around, we think you will like what you find.

Myth or Fact: I Should Coast In Neutral to Save Fuel

There is a ton of false information out there. Some of it is misguided, and some of it is just left over from when vehicles were made in a different way to completely different regulations. This week we decide if coasting in neutral to save fuel is a fact or myth.

Q&A: Why is My Automatic Always in Gear?

This week's question: ""Why is it that my automatic transmission vehicle is always in gear, even when I'm stopped? If I don't keep my foot on the brake, it automatically moves forward without me pressing on the gas. Why?"

Round-Up: Fuel Articles

Over the last month we have been going in-depth with a complex topic. Vehicle fuel options have many myths, misconceptions, and misguided marketing tactics that try to get you to…

Why does my car keep blowing fuses?

Is your vehicle blowing fuse after fuse? There might be a simple explanation. Let's explore the possible causes.

Safety: Floor Mats

Over the last few years there were millions of recalls of vehicles to correct "a possible incursion of an incorrect or out-of-place front driver's side floor mat into the foot pedal well, which can cause pedal entrapment". Let's look at what that means and how to make sure we are not effected ourselves.

Need to Know: Electric Cars & The Environment

This week there was a major development in the short history of electric cars. Elon Musk and Tesla Motors announced their third model, the Model ?, and are attempting to…

Can I Run My Car On Wasted Vegetable Oil?

Following up on last week's article on Bio Diesel, we tackle the question of using Wasted Vegetable Oil as a long term fuel option for diesel vehicle owners. As it turns out, running on WVO this is more complicated task than you might think.

Can I Run My Car On Bio Diesel?

Many of us West-Coasters want to do what we can to make environmentally conscious decisions in our day to day lives. With a resurgence of diesel engine vehicles on the market over the last 5 to 10 years, our options are beginning to grow, and many people who have purchased a diesel vehicle are looking to take the next step to bio-diesel or used vegetable oil to further reduce their carbon footprint.

Need to Know: Engine Break-In Period

There was a time, probably over 10 years ago, when it was important to treat your new vehicle with kid gloves for the first few thousand kilometres of use. Is it still relevant to follow this rule today? We discuss this issue in depth in this week's "Need to Know".

How does a hammer fix a starter?

In this series of Q&A posts we are using google’s autocomplete function to find the most commonly asked questions about cars and giving them each a definitive answer. This week we answer the question “how does a hammer fix a broken starter?”