How do you feel when your oil change reminder comes on? If you’re anything like most of us it’s not exactly a joyous occasion. Changing your oil takes time and time is money. It may require you to change up your schedule and sometimes during the process, other issues with your car are found.
Here at Kneble’s Auto Service Center in Mays Landing, we understand those feelings, and today we want to help you understand why it’s such a vital service. At the same time, we’re going to allay some of your concerns about what can feel like not much more than an inconvenience and show you how keeping up with your oil change schedule will save you money and time!
Transcript:
When customers confess they are overdue an oil change, I immediately get worried. Hi, I’m Nancy at Kneble’s Auto Service Center. The most important fact that I try to emphasize to our customers is that oil is like the blood in your body. Without the proper amount of oil and consistency, your vehicle will die. The function of oil is to keep those moving parts of the engine lubricated and absorb heat from the engine so that overheating doesn’t occur. Over time, the oil breaks down and gets dirty, and hence, routine oil changes are needed. The most frequent question I get is, “How often should I change my oil?” Now, before this can be answered, you need to know what type of oil the manufacturer recommends for your vehicle. Excluding diesel oil, there are two options. There is synthetic blend and full synthetic.
So once you have that answer, we recommend, for the synthetic blend to have it changed every 5,000 miles, and for full synthetic oil, we recommend changing it every seven to 10,000 miles. Now I know what you’re thinking, “Can I use a full synthetic oil, even if the manufacturer recommends synthetic blend, so I can go longer between oil changes?” The answer is yes. Since full synthetic has better properties than that synthetic blend oil. So if you don’t think you have time in your schedule for a synthetic blend oil change every 5,000 miles, then tell your technician to switch your oil to the full synthetic oil, giving you a long time between oil changes. Don’t neglect oil changes for your vehicle so it won’t let you down. Thank you for watching and check out a new video every Wednesday at 12:30, where we discuss a different topic. Thank you.
What Does Oil Do Inside Your Engine?
Your engine’s oil could be compared to the lifeblood of your vehicle. In the same way that blood does so much for our bodies, oil does the same for your car. Without the right amount of the correct oil in good condition, major problems will arise.
For example, in the same way that blood removes carbon dioxide from our muscles and helps us expel it; Oil helps to cool the internal components of your engine like pistons, bearings, and valves by extracting and transferring some of the heat away from those components to keep them from overheating. Some vehicles even use it to cool other major components like turbos as well.
Additionally, it lubricates parts allowing for more efficient operation, leading to better fuel economy. So in the same way that you wouldn’t want a deficiency with your blood to linger and grow, you don’t want to allow your oil to degrade and start to fall down on the job so to speak. Changing your oil in the correct intervals ensures that it remains up to the task.
What Is The Interval All About?
Multiple features of your car have a service interval including all your fluids as well as filters and braking components. These intervals are set at specific times by the company that made your car to ensure that the components are cared for before they might become a problem. Your motor oil is the shortest amongst all of them which is why it’s the one we’re all most familiar with.
Over the course of time and use motor oil breaks down and can become contaminated with water, dust, dirt, debris and other deposits from the parts they’re interacting with. For instance, it will gather microscopic metal particles over the many thousands of miles it’s in your engine. It may also become contaminated with small amounts of fuel as it slips past the piston rings inside your engine over time. These contaminants degrade the oil and stop it from doing its job by changing its viscosity. Viscosity measures how easily a fluid flows. To illustrate, Honey has a much thicker viscosity compared to water. Oils that are too thick or too thin won’t travel through your engine properly, which in turn leads to the oil being worse at every job oil does.
Once it’s been broken down and can’t do its job as well the internal parts of the engine will degrade faster and a vicious cycle begins where both the oil and engine components begin to break down more rapidly. Changing your oil at the correct interval ensures that it is replaced before it’s contaminated so that your motor is happy and healthy.
Synthetic Oil VS Blended Oil
You’ve surely heard the term “Synthetic Oil”. Often times it’s prefaced by the word “Full” or “Fully”. The reason for that is that not all motor oils are created the same. Originally the oils used to lubricate engines were mostly made from crude oil or mineral oils with other additives. Those oils were notorious for breaking down quickly in high heat applications or not flowing well at low temperatures due to their high wax content.
Modern Improvements In Motor Oil
Today we’ve learned how to create man-made oils that stand up to heat and cold better so they can maintain the moving parts regardless of the temperature. The oils sold today for use in engines are designated into Fully Synthetic and Synthetic Blends. Synthetic blends are a combination of mineral oil and some synthetic oil. The vast majority of cars today use a synthetic blend and need to have their oil changed roughly every 5,000 miles.
Synthetic oils can go longer between changes because they’re capable of standing up to heat cycles and hard work better than conventional or even synthetic blends. The molecular structure helps prevent it from gelling together and creating sludge and at the same time stops it from breaking apart and thinning out. These oils can go up to 10,000 miles of regular use.
What Kind Does Your Vehicle Use?
This is a question for your owners’ manual. Check inside to find out what the manufacturer of your car suggests. You’ll find out what “weight” oil it recommends and if they recommend conventional, synthetic or a blend of both. The weight is important as again, each different weight has a different viscosity and will flow differently so you want to use the type that your engine is designed for. Additionally, if your motor is made to use synthetic you want to continue to use synthetic.
If your engine is designed to use conventional or a synthetic blend I have extra special good news for you. You can switch to a full synthetic oil and get all the benefits of a full synthetic oil. That means double the time between oil changes. It also gives your motor a more consistent flow and oil that will keep it happier and healthier over time. If you’re still not sure which oil to use just ask us, we’ll be happy to help you figure it out!
Why Kneble’s Auto Service Center?
At Kneble’s Auto, we value your time. That’s why we offer the freedom to send us an appointment request if you don’t have the time to call. Our customers are valued individuals who receive quick and friendly service every time they come in regardless of what service you might need. You don’t have to take our word for it either, our customers, even brand new ones will tell you themselves.
Finally, consider the time you would lose if a delayed oil change caused major mechanical problems for your vehicle. You don’t want that and neither do we. So the next time that maintenance reminder comes on, don’t fret, give us a call or send us an appointment request and let us help you take care of your car.
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