Changing the Oil in Your Car
02 Mar 2011
I bought a small truck and drove it for 16 years over 250,000 miles without major repairs and it was still running when I sold it to buy a van. The key to making a vehicle last a long time is regular maintenance. Invest a small amount in maintenance and avoid large repair bills.
So how do you maintain a vehicle so that it lasts? Start with regular changes of oil and oil filter. If you drive, no matter where you drive, you will get dirt in the oil. And that can make a mess for moving parts in an engine.
The best place to start might be manufacturer’s recommendations about when to get oil changes. Usually they recommend every 3,000 miles or three to six months. But if you understand why, you will be better able to gage when to change the oil.
The reason you change the oil is not just because oil gets dirty, but because an engine will eventually start to function less efficiently and dump unburned gas into the crankcase which holds the oil. This will dilute oil and cause it to degenerate. The diluted oil doesn’t work as well, causes parts to wear out, which then becomes more expensive as you get less fuel efficiency, more emissions and the vehicle starts to burn oil. If you have a new engine without wear and tear, it will probably run efficiently and you could change oil every 7,500 miles. But as the miles add up, you would need to change it more often to ensure a smooth running engine.
If you are going to keep your car for more than four years, you will save money by investing in regular oil changes. And even if you are going to sell it after 4 years, a smart buyer would want to know if you maintained the car.
What about the oil filter?
A mechanic may tell you to change the oil filter every time the oil is changed, and perhaps you think that’s an unnecessary expense. Maybe a salesman or manufacturer has told you to only change it every other oil change.
Replace the oil filter every time you get the oil changed. Here’s why: At one time quart-sized filters were used on most vehicles. Manufacturers found they could use pint-sized filters and save some money and space. But if you have a smaller filter, obviously there is less capacity there to filter the oil. It simply won’t last for 6,000 or 15,000 miles.
Where Do You Get the Oil Changed?
There are lots of oil change places on corners where you can quickly get an oil change. But an owner of a brand new pick up availed herself of one of these places and it wound up costing her several thousand dollars to get the engine rebuilt. The guy doing the oil change didn’t put the filter on correctly. The oil leaked out, the moving parts in the engine protested by breaking, and disaster occurred.
Businesses that specialize in oil changes are usually just fine, and they should know their stuff, because that’s all they do. But maybe it’s a place you don’t know and maybe the one guy who does your vehicle has a hangover that day.
A solution is to find an auto repair shop that has been in business for a while and has regular customers who keep returning. It may seem extravagant to have your oil changed at a garage, but they usually offer a competitive price because they want your business. If you keep returning to the same place, they will become familiar with your vehicle, and thus be able to offer even better service and advice. How do you find a reliable place? Ask around – friends will be happy to tell you their experiences with good mechanics. In the long run, it will benefit both your car and your wallet.
Learn more about changing the oil in your vehicle. Stop by 3A Automotive Service’s site where you can find out all about vehicle maintenance and what it can do for you.
