Oil Changing Services

After your home, your vehicle is the biggest investment you make. Automobiles and other vehicles are essential for transport and, therefore, require maintenance. An oil change is the most important kind of maintenance for any vehicle. It protects the engine and ensures its longevity. Changing the oil ensures that all the engine parts perform well, so you enjoy safe journeys on the road.

Why is the Motor Oil Necessary?

Motor oil is the lifeblood of any vehicle. The vehicle in an engine can’t operate without motor oil. It is crucial for various following functions.

• Lubricates the internal parts
• Minimizes friction between the components
• Reduces heat generated in the engine
• Forms a seal between the piston and around the rings
• Dampens shock in the moving parts
• Act as a seal around the cylinder wall of the internal parts

How often should you Change Motor Oil?

Oil change recommendations vary upon the type and model of the vehicle, as well as driving conditions and how often you drive. Do not make assumptions based on past experiences or guidance from a local mechanic. Things have changed, and so has the schedule at which you should change your motor oil.

Many cars, pickups, and SUVs have reminder monitors that alert when to change the oil. Such systems monitor the number of miles the vehicle has traveled. Advanced monitors can also sense how hard the driver has driven the car and so adjusts accordingly. The most common recommendation depends upon the mileage of the vehicle.

• 3000 miles per 3 months
• 5000 miles per 5 months
• 10,000 miles per 12 months

How to check the car’s motor oil?

If your car doesn’t monitor motor oil, you can easily check it through the following steps.

• Park your vehicle on a level surface. Let the engine cool down for 5 to 10 minutes.
• Locate your vehicle’s oil dipstick. It is usually present towards the center of the engine in the rear-wheel vehicle. For the front-wheel vehicle, you can locate it on the front of the engine.
• Pull the dipstick out and wipe it with a paper towel or lint-free cloth so it’s clean.
• Put the dipstick back in the holder.  Make sure that the dipstick goes all the way down.
• Pull it out again and look at the level of oil in the dipstick.
• If the level is below or at the ‘add,’ ‘low’ or ‘min,’ then you need to change the oil.
• If there are dirty contaminants or gasoline-like smell, you need it to change it.
• If the oil has a milky color, it means the coolant has leaked into the engine oil. To fix this, you need to make some repairs and then change the motor oil.

What do Oil Changing Services do?

Oil changing services have professionals who not only change the oil quick but also detect any underlying problems in the engine, which you may not be able to see. There are experts for changing motor oil in all kinds of vehicles. Professional oil changing services also perform necessary servicing for the maintenance of the car. In case of any fault or damage, they repair any issues with your vehicle’s engines. The following are basic steps of an oil change that these services perform.

Drain the old oil

This is pretty obvious, as anyone will need to discard the oil before adding the new one. The auto-service technician or the expert mechanic will first take out the oil safely in a drain bucket or pan. If the oil drops on the ground, the mechanic uses an oil absorbent powder. A degreaser also helps to remove oil stain from surfaces.

Add new oil and replace the old filter

The mechanic will carefully add the motor oil into the dipstick of the engine and shut the seal tight. The type of oil depends upon the vehicle, driving style, and the climate. The types of oil include synthetic oil, synthetic blend, and high mileage.  Professional mechanics and auto-service individuals always put the right motor oil for your vehicle.

If the oil filter faces clogging, the mechanic will change it.  A clogged filter doesn’t do its job properly, and so the new oil faces the risk of contamination.

Safety Inspection

The technician or mechanic will visually inspect your vehicle to make sure that all engine components are working well. They will also check different fluid levels, including coolant, transmission fluid, and brake fluid. If there is any damage, worn out parts, or leakage, they will report it to you and fix it. Here are the things the technician will look for:

• The parts around the driving seat, including the belt, hoses, steering, suspension, undercarriage, and skid plates.
• Windshield wipers
• Battery
• Any damaged parts

Finally, the technician will turn the vehicle on and let it run for a few minutes. This will help show any underlying leakage that they might have missed during the initial inspection.

Types of Oil used in Oil Changing Services

When you go to an auto store, you will probably see an entire wall of different motor oils. Though there are several brands of motor oils, there are also plenty of motor oil options to get for your vehicle. These are some common types of motor oils.

Multi-grade oil

Multi-grade is the best option to work under extreme hot and cold weather.

Standard/ Conventional Oil

It is the regular petroleum oil that people extract from the ground. The conventional oil has been popularly used for a long time before the advent of synthetic oil.

Synthetic Oil

This oil isn’t pure petroleum. It is made out of lubricant compounds. It has thicker viscosity and can work well under a wider range of temperatures, which is why it very popular. Using synthetic oil can also maximize the time between oil changes.

Synthetic Blend or Semi-synthetic oil

It is the blend of standard oil and synthetic oil. It has some benefits of full-synthetic oil and is a cheaper option.

High Mileage Oil

Specially formulated for vehicles that have a lower tolerance, this type of oil contains seal conditioners and additives to clean the sludge and increase performance.

High-Performance Oil

It is for hard-charging engines and vehicles that withstand extreme friction.

Diesel Oil

It is lubrication oil specially designed for diesel engines.

 Sources: https://www.consumerreports.org/car-maintenance/things-to-know-about-oil-changes-for-your-car/ https://www.jackwilliams.com/blog/oil-change-service/ https://www.firestonecompleteautocare.com/maintain/oil/change-service/