Do you know why oil changes are important?

If you need to keep your vehicle for a while, you should understand why oil changes are important.  It is crucial for the health of your engine, saving you money in the long run by preventing major repair.  You don’t save money by neglecting regular oil changes or by stretching out the suggested mileage interval because engine repair is far more expensive than regular oil changes.

Here are five problems to consider regarding oil changes:

1. Understand the purpose of oil.  Oil lubricates the engine so that its parts don’t grind against each other; keeps the engine from overheating; and carries away dirt, dust, and other contaminants that would otherwise clog engine parts.
2. Changing the Oil and Filter.  The oil change interval will vary depending on the model of your vehicle, its age, the type of oil used, and your driving conditions. It used to be usual to change oil every 3,000 miles, but with modern lubricants, many engines today have suggested oil change intervals of 5,000 to 7,500 miles. If your car requires full-synthetic motor oil, you may go as far as 15,000 miles between services!
3. Dashboard Warning Light.   Several vehicles have the dashboard light programmed to come on automatically at 3,000-5,000 miles after the last oil change. Don’t rely on that light as in some cars, particularly older ones, that light might not come on until the level of oil is too low.  It’s vital to follow the manufacturer’s recommendation of oil change intervals listed in your owner’s manual.
4. Viscosity of the Oil.  The viscosity codes (for example, 10W-40) tell you how viscous (how thick or how thin) the oil is in hot and cold weather. Again, it’s vital to follow the recommendations stated in the owner’s manual for the viscosity preferred in particular driving conditions.
5. Conventional, Premium, and Synthetic Oils.  Typically, synthetic oil is required in certain high-tech engines.  Traditional engines will typically use conventional oil. Premium oil offers extra additives that may be useful for special driving wants. There are also blends that combine synthetic and premium conventional oils.  Be sure to ask your mechanic for recommendations on what is best for your vehicle.

Need to know more about why oil changes are important?  Call our ASE Certified technicians at Expert Car Care today for information about our oil change coupons and to Make an appointment. Our auto shop proudly serves residents in the community of West Allis, WI, and the surrounding area.