Riverside Oil Change Service: Benefits of Scheduled Services vs. Ad-Hoc Changes

Trusted Oil Change Services in Riverside

An oil change is one of the most essential services you'll perform on your vehicle throughout its time on the road. Because your oil works to protect the vital internal components of your engine, it's crucial to ensure that it always operates with optimal protection with routine oil changes. However, some drivers argue that performing a routine oil change at a certain mileage or time intervals is unnecessary, perhaps because they only drive their vehicles seasonally or perhaps they only drive their vehicles a few times a week.

Other drivers will perform oil changes periodically, or ad-hoc, without set intervals and believe this provides adequate protection. At Ramona Tire, we're not only the tire experts, but also the experts in all things automotive-related. Whether your vehicle needs an oil change and tire rotation, or perhaps you require auto-related repairs, our ASE-certified mechanics are capable of handling all your vehicle's needs. 

Schedule an appointment at Ramona Tire and experience a trustworthy Riverside oil change service today.

Unpacking the Importance of Oil in Your Engine

In order for your engine to operate reliably, it needs continuous lubrication and cooling for its many internal parts. Should these many internal parts operate without oil, they would quickly overheat and lose their shape. Because of the high speed at which these parts turn within your engine, the slightest misshaping of your engine parts could cause catastrophic damage to your engine.

Regular oil changes are vital to engine health. Your motor oil does a fantastic job of providing the necessary cooling and lubrication that your engine needs to operate. However, your oil can only perform these tasks for so long. Over time, your engine oil gets dirty as it continuously flows through your engine, and will eventually need to be changed. The frequency of your oil change will largely depend on a few factors, including:

• Oil type
• Usage
• Driving habits
• Operating environment
• Operating conditions 

The Benefits of Scheduled Oil Change Services

Performing a routine oil change on your vehicle at the recommended time and mileage intervals ensures that your engine operates with continuous protection throughout the year. If you notice, When you have a routine oil change performed on your vehicle, a sticker will generally be placed on the top left corner of your windshield with mileage and time intervals.

These mileage and time intervals are designed to ensure that even if you don't drive your vehicle extensively, you still receive a timely oil change within a certain period of time. Performing an oil change at whatever interval comes first helps provide the best protection for your engine. 

The time and mileage that you'll perform an oil change will rely mainly on the type of oil that your vehicle uses:

• Conventional oil. Conventional oil offers the most basic protection for your engine and can withstand temperatures of up to 275ºF. It is recommended that you perform a conventional oil change every 3,000 to 5,000 miles or every three to six months.

• Synthetic blend. Synthetic blend oil protects your engine up to temperatures of 400°F and often requires an oil change service every 5,000 to 7,500 miles or every six to eight months.

• Full synthetic oil. This type of oil offers the best protection for your engine and is compatible with virtually every motor. Able to withstand temperatures of up to 500°F, synthetic oil is typically required for high-performance or turbocharged engines. This type of oil typically requires a change every 7,500 to 10,000 miles or every eight to twelve months. 

The Dangers of Ad-Hoc Oil Changes 

Some drivers typically don't keep track of their service intervals and will perform an oil change whenever it feels right. While some drivers may feel as if this is the best method to protect their engine, their engine could be suffering engine damage without their knowledge.

There's no service light or notification that comes on to notify you once your oil has oxidized. Oil that has been left in your crankcase for an extended period of time, or oil that has been left in your engine beyond its useful life could cause your engine to operate in harsh conditions. These conditions can include high friction, high temperatures, and irreversible engine damage.

Some drivers believe that because they can see oil on their dipstick, everything is fine. However, this can be a false sense of security.

Oxidized oil is not fully capable of lubricating your engine and can cause scarring or even cause small metal shavings to appear in your oil. Once this occurs, you may notice a small change in your engine that never gets better. This is because minor to moderate damage has occurred, and you're simply unaware.

To offer your engine the best protection throughout its life, don’t skip oil changes. We recommend performing a full synthetic oil change according to your vehicle's manufacturer recommendations to ensure that your vehicle always enjoys absolute protection – even if it has high mileage. 

How to Tell When It's Time for Service

Because of the high-friction environment, once your engine oil has oxidized, it may operate differently when you've passed the recommended service interval. Here are a few ways to tell when your vehicle is due for an oil change:

• Checking the time and mileage since your last interval
• Your engine may be idling roughly
• Your engine may overheat for no apparent reason
• Your oil light may be illuminated
• Your oil levels may be low
• You may notice exhaust smoke upon startup or operation
• Your engine may stall or be difficult to start
• Your engine may seize

Experience Peace of Mind at Ramona Tire

At Ramona Tire, we provide trusted oil change services in Riverside on all make and model vehicles. Each of our mechanics is ASE-certified and uses high-quality parts and fluids on your car to ensure that it's always running its best.

Whether your vehicle is receiving routine services, such as an oil change and tire rotation, or needs necessary repairs, our certified mechanics can get your vehicle repaired and back on the road without a fuss. Striving to keep service affordable, we even offer money-saving auto service coupons that allow you to receive trusted auto care while enjoying low, affordable prices. Schedule an oil change at Ramona Tire in Riverside, CA, and trust your vehicle is in the hands of the experts.