Oil Change Service Guide: Everything You Should Know About Your Car’s Oil
You depend on your engine to crank up and run smoothly every time you turn the key. One of the easiest ways to ensure it can consistently do this is by making sure your vehicle’s engine has clean motor oil, keeping sensitive components protected and running properly. This is why regular oil change service is so important.
Making an oil change part of your vehicle’s preventative maintenance routine is one of the least expensive and most effective ways to prolong the life of your engine. But, things can get confusing quickly when you start trying to determine how often it should be done or what type of oil is best for your vehicle. If you need assistance making these decisions, we’ve got you covered. This guide will make things more clear and it breaks down what you need to know about your engine’s oil.
The Critical Role Motor Oil Plays in Engine Protection
The motor oil running through your engine plays a vital role in keeping it running smoothly, efficiently, and safely. It does this in four important ways:
- Reducing friction and preventing excess wear: The oil forms a layer of lubricating protection over all of the sensitive components within the engine. This reduces friction between the
moving parts and prevents metal-on-metal contact. - Cleaning throughout: As it cycles through the engine, the motor oil picks up dirt, debris, and combustion deposits, preventing these things from building up and causing damaging blockages. The oil renders these things harmless until your next oil change when the dirty oil is removed.
- Eliminating excess heat: Your engine generates a lot of heat while it runs. The motor oil safely absorbs excess heat away from sensitive areas, redistributes it throughout the engine, and helps prevent the engine from overheating.
- Preventing corrosion and rust: The layer of protection formed by the motor oil also keeps excessive corrosion and rust from forming on the engine components.
But, motor oil doesn’t last forever. Over time, as the oil circulates through the engine, picks up dirt and debris, and absorbs heat, it becomes less and less effective. So, not having a regular oil change service done can mean sticking pistons, engine clogs, overheating, and even a seized-up engine.
Avoid further costly repairs by keeping up with the suggested oil change routine for your vehicle. This ensures your engine will always have the protection it needs to run at its best.
Our technicians at Ramona Tire & Service Centers will be glad to help you determine what the best oil change service schedule is for your car or truck.
What Happens During an Oil Change Service?
Now you know how critical an oil change is to your engine. But, other than the fact that new oil is put in, do you know exactly what an oil change service entails?
Here is exactly what your technician will do during a full-service oil change:
- Check the current oil level and condition of the oil
- Drain the old oil out of the engine from the bottom
- Remove the old, dirty oil filter
- Install a new oil filter
- Put new, clean oil into the engine. (See below for the different types available)
- Lubricate the vehicle’s chassis
- Perform a multi-point vehicle inspection
Different Types of Motor Oil
There are several different types of engine oil available today. Each type has a different level of viscosity (thickness), different additives, provide different levels of engine protection, and vary in cost. The main types of engine oil are:
Conventional
Conventional motor oil, sometimes simply referred to as “standard oil”, is a natural crude mineral oil that is partially refined to improve the viscosity and protective properties.
This oil will be the most budget-friendly option, while still being effective at protecting your engine. But, it is not as refined as other types of oil available, so it will not provide the same levels of protection that you’ll get from synthetic oil, for example. It can also become dirtier and less effective quicker.
Full-Synthetic
On the other hand, synthetic oil is entirely manufactured in a lab or factory, highly refined, and contains the best elements of oil and additives. This type of oil goes through a highly controlled manufacturing process and must adhere to stringent standards. Thus, it provides the highest levels of engine protection.
Compared to a conventional oil change, a full-synthetic oil change will be more expensive. Usually, you can expect to pay $20 to $40 more for synthetic oil, depending on the amount of oil your vehicle requires. But, synthetic oil does last longer, so your oil changes will be less frequent compared to conventional oil.
Synthetic Blend
A synthetic blend oil is a refined oil that is a hybrid mixture of both full synthetic oil and conventional oil. It uses the best aspects of each type of oil.
Synthetic blend oil offers better performance and more engine protection than conventional oil, but not as much as full-synthetic. Typically, it also lasts longer than conventional oil. When it comes to the cost of a synthetic blend oil change, it will be slightly more expensive than conventional oil, but less than full-synthetic.
High-Mileage
High-mileage oil was formulated specifically for engines that have more than 75,000 miles. Engineered similarly to synthetic oil, this oil provides extra protection for older engines with unique additives that include viscosity modifiers, seal conditioners, specialized cleansers, and anti-corrosion agents.
Increased oil burn-off and corrosion are problems that can frequently plague older engines, both of which can lead to increased engine wear. So, high-mileage oil provides the extra protection necessary to improve the overall performance of the engine and extend its life.
How Often Should Oil Changes Be Performed On Your Vehicle?
The specific type of vehicle and driving habits both impact the recommended service interval for oil changes. In order to find your vehicle’s manufacturer-suggested oil change schedule, the first place you should look is the owner’s manual. Recommendations can vary between every 3,000 and 10,000 miles under normal driving conditions.
The type of engine oil being used, as mentioned above, also has an impact on how often the oil will need to be changed. For example, if your engine is running with full synthetic oil, you will usually need to have an oil change done every 5,000 to 7,500 miles, which is less frequent compared to conventional oil.
But, some driving habits can cause your engine’s oil to lose its effectiveness even faster. These include:
- Frequent stop and go traffic or short trips
- Frequent towing or hauling heavy loads
- High-mileage driving
- Higher temperatures (like we experience here in Southern California)
Here at Ramona Tire & Service Centers, we recommend coming in for an oil change service every 3,000 miles or 3 months, whichever comes first. This keeps your engine’s oil performing its best and ensures that any minor issues are handled before they can become bigger problems.