Maybe no one ever took the time to explain the basics of an oil change and other routine maintenance procedures that are necessary for your car. Or maybe you are new to driving and are on your way to learning. Or maybe you have heard rumors that you should be changing your oil yourself to save time and money, or to make sure the job is done right.
Whatever the case, here are a few tips to consider, some oil change ideas.
At its most basic level, motor oil (also called engine oil) is used inside your engine to lubricate all of the moving parts that would otherwise make metal to metal contact and wear down quickly. Without oil, your engine would not run very long. With the wrong oil, problems can develop - premature wear, sludge buildup, and engine failure. Even with the right oil, your engine can run into trouble if you do not replace it often enough.
You see, motor oil is used to create a thin and slick barrier between engine components like the pistons and cylinder walls (and a host of other parts). When your engine is running, the oil is subject to some pretty harsh conditions, like high heat and shearing forces. Over time, the oil will break down and lose its ability to lubricate. It gets thicker and no longer flows into small spaces like it should. It gums up the parts it is supposed to protect. And eventually it turns to thick black sludge and clogs up vital passageways.
Motor oil also helps to keep the inside of your engine clean, prevents corrosion, modifies its viscosity (thickness) and more. But over time, these functions decline as well. So, your vehicle manufacturer recommends that the oil (and oil filter) be replaced at regular intervals.
How often your oil needs to be replaced depends on a number of factors. The vehicle manufacturer’s recommendation is one factor. They suggest (in your vehicle owner’s manual) intervals usually somewhere between every 5K to 7.5K miles. Some even tell you to wait 10K miles or more. It really varies by vehicle make and model.
Another factor is whether the oil you use is conventional or synthetic. Conventional oil is distilled from crude oil pumped from deep underground. It is the type of oil that many drivers think of automatically since it has been used in new and pre-owned cars for decades. But conventional oil has limitations. Because of its natural origins, conventional oil is composed of molecules that are irregular in shape and size. Those molecules do not always move well together.
Synthetic oil, on the other hand, is engineered artificially in a lab and is made up of incredibly uniform molecules. That makes synthetic oil much more consistent and able to be manufactured to a thinner or lower viscosity - the kind needed in many modern engines. Synthetic oil is also more stable across a wide range of temperatures. It begins its life as a highly-refined base oil to which high-quality additives are introduced. Additives that have advanced capabilities. For these reasons and more, synthetic oil is capable of a far longer service life than conventional oils. In recent years, the automotive industry has been moving to synthetic oil in many new cars, trucks, and SUVs.
Besides the manufacturer’s recommendation and the differences between conventional and synthetic oil, another factor that influences how often you change your oil is your driving conditions.
While no manufacturer recommends less than 5K miles between oil changes under normal circumstances, nearly all automakers suggest a shorter duration for what they call “special” or “severe” conditions. Those can include the following:
Interestingly, these conditions resemble the daily commute of a good many drivers and are the reason why many repair shops continue to suggest having your oil changed every three thousand miles. Ironically, while synthetic oil has given the ability for extended oil change intervals, “special” driving conditions dictate more frequent changes.
Once you have determined the recommended interval between oil changes, it is time to change your oil. But what is the right way to do so? You might consider the following list a general “how to” set of oil change instructions:
You might get the picture that changing your oil yourself just might be an idea you would like to let pass. Sure, it can be done. But for all of your trouble, you will likely spend more money than you would if you had a repair shop perform the service. Unless you have considerable experience, it certainly can take more time. And what about all of the variables that accompany an oil change on modern vehicles? With so many oil products to consider, and with vehicle-specific filters (and even tools) to buy - not to mention what happens if you put the wrong fluid in the wrong place - the margin for error is higher than it was decades ago when it was more common for an auto owner to change their own oil.
But you also miss out on other things. Oil changes at a reputable shop are an easy way to develop a relationship with a business you can trust for times when your car needs more complex services and repairs. And many shops offer a courtesy inspection of all major vehicle systems while the oil change is being done. You are not going to get that in your driveway.
As it turns out, perhaps the “right” way to change your oil is to schedule an appointment with a qualified technician at a trusted repair shop.
