The Importance of Regular Oil and Filter Changes

Your Oil Change is All-Important for Engine Longevity

Keeping fresh oil in your engine is one of the most important activities that you can perform for your vehicle. When you stay on top of your vehicle’s scheduled oil changes, you are more likely to be rewarded with outstanding reliability, optimized fuel economy, and preserved performance, even as your vehicle ages.

Although an oil change may be a very simple service, it plays a very large role in the life of your vehicle. In fact, if you were to ever neglect necessary oil changes, you could cause permanent damage to your engine that could result in thousands of dollars in car repair costs

Here at Ramona Tire, we provide all the automotive services that your vehicle will ever need. Our certified mechanics perform quality maintenance services on all makes and models of vehicles, and we welcome you to take advantage of the many benefits that await you here.

Let's find out about the importance of regular oil changes, so you can be sure to schedule an appointment at Ramona Tire for trustworthy maintenance services for your vehicle.

Understanding the Role of Motor Oil in Your Engine

The inside of your engine is quite a volatile environment. Thousands of explosions occur every minute inside its cylinders, and its moving parts revolve thousands of times per minute. This movement creates friction, which generates extreme heat. If these metal parts get too hot, they can essentially self-destruct and cause irreparable damage to your engine.

The oil's job is to constantly provide lubrication to the many moving parts inside your engine while keeping heat under control and removing contaminants that may have entered your engine during the combustion cycle. The oil does a great job and can even withstand temperatures up to 500ºF. However, as time progresses, and the oil is constantly exposed to high heat and contaminants, it begins to oxidize and lose its protective properties. 

If your vehicle continues to run after the oil has lost its protective properties, heat can build up among the moving parts, and these components can become damaged. If left unchecked, the parts can eventually self-destruct and ruin your engine.

The Benefits of an Oil Change 

The purpose of an oil change is to replace your engine’s oil before it oxidizes and stops providing adequate protection. Here are a few of the many benefits of a routine oil change:

Understanding the Types of Oil That Cars Use 

Now that we've covered why your vehicle needs an oil change, let's cover the different types of oil that can be used in your vehicle. There are three main types of oil:

Conventional Oil

Conventional oil is often referred to as old-school oil because it is the type of oil that has been used for generations. Although conventional oil usually costs the least, it also offers the least amount of protection for your engine. Due to conventional oil’s relatively short lifespan, it needs to be changed the most often.

Synthetic Blend

Synthetic blend oil uses conventional oil as a base to lubricate and protect your engine. However, as the name suggests, synthetic blend oil is added for additional protection. This type of oil is generally used for high-mileage vehicles that need more protection than conventional oil can offer.

Synthetic Oil

Synthetic oil is chemically engineered to offer the best protection for your engine. This type of oil is able to withstand high temperatures and maintain its viscosity throughout various temperature ranges. Because of synthetic oil's resilience, it is often the most expensive of the three types but needs to be changed the least often. 

How Often To Get Your Oil and Filter Changed

Oil change service intervals are based on time and mileage but will vary depending on the type of oil that your vehicle uses.

• Conventional Oil: Every 3,000 to 5,000 miles or three to six months
• Synthetic Blend Oil: Every 5,000 to 7,500 miles or six to eight months
• Full Synthetic Oil: Every 7,500 to 10,000 miles or eight to twelve months

How To Know What Type of Oil Your Car Takes

Not every engine is compatible with all three types of oil. Because conventional oil will oxidize and lose its protective properties at a much lower temperature than synthetic oil, many high-performance engines cannot use conventional oil. In order to determine the type of oil that your vehicle needs, we recommend that you check your owner's manual, where you will find the oil type and viscosity recommended by your manufacturer.

Trust Ramona Tire for Your Oil Change 

At Ramona Tire, we can meet all of your oil change needs. Our ASE-certified mechanics can perform a proper oil change and install a high-quality oil filter on your vehicle. We service all makes and models of vehicles, and we use top-brand oil for the best protection for your engine. In addition to our competitive oil change prices, we also offer additional savings through our auto repair and oil change coupons.

Schedule service at Ramona Tire, and protect your engine with a quality oil change from Ramona Tire today.