Any of these can cause catastrophic engine failure

Oil that's too thick will keep your engine from starting incold weather because the thick, gooey oil challenges your battery and startermotor to spin the engine fast enough for it to fire. So, check your owner'smanual and choose oil viscosity accordingly."However, many people are surprised to learn that winter weather also putsextra demands on your oil filter," Nunez said At 20 degrees F, most oils havethe thickness of maple syrup. This pressure could compromise oil filters at their weakest pointand could manifest itself as a blown-out sealing ring, a split crimp, or evena burst canister. Any of these can cause catastrophic engine failure.According to Nunez, premium oil filters like Purolator's PureOne are built andtested to withstand virtually all real-world pressure spikes.Internal ValvingPurolator engineers have developed a special spring-loaded bypass valve sothat, if the filter goes unchanged for an extended period of time and isblocked with debris, unfiltered oil can flow to the engine, providing at leastsome lubrication - albeit with dirty oil.

Instead of a reliable coil spring,some filter manufacturers may scrimp by substituting "spring" steel that maynot return to its original shape after cycling. The result can be unfilteredoil for as long as the filter is in place, with potentially catastrophicresults.Filter MediaFinally, most important, the filter must remove the smallest particles whileoffering the least resistance to oil flow. According to Nunez, Purolator's topgrade PureOne filter has been developed to hold as much as 13 grams of debris,the equivalent of 31 standard size paper clips, while still providing minimalresistance to oil flow.So, treat your car to fresh oil and a new oil filter in winter. It takes onlya few dollars, but the life you save may be that of your engine.SOURCEPurolator FiltersShahla Siddiqi of Target Communications Inc., 1-610-279-1234,, for Purolator Filters. Dr. Vince Mosesso, the medical director of the Sudden Cardiac ArrestAssociation, offers heart healthy Valentine's Day gift ideasWASHINGTON, Feb. 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ February is American HeartMonth, symbolized by the celebration of Valentine's Day and a great time tolet your loved ones know you care.

While many will splurge on jewelry, flowersand other luxuries, why not give a gift to help that special someone stayyoung and healthy at heart"Every two minutes, someone in the U.S. dies of sudden cardiac arrest becauseof risk factors like a previous heart attack, heart disease, diabetes, smokingor obesity," says Dr. Vince Mosesso, the medical director of the SuddenCardiac Arrest Association. The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association strives to lessen thesestatistics by offering heart healthy gifts this Valentine's Day Dr.