Staying up to date on your car’s regular maintenance keeps your vehicle running at its best. Chief among maintenance services are oil changes, which, if performed on a regular schedule, ensure your engine is properly protected. But why are oil changes needed so often, and what exactly do they accomplish? The Rick’s 36 crew is here to explain the basics of your oil changes and why they shouldn’t be skipped.
What Happens During an Oil Change?
I doubt it will surprise you to know that an oil change service changes your car’s oil. More specifically, your auto technician will drain the old oil from your engine — dirty, sludgy, or just old — and remove clogged filters, then replace them with new oil and filters. Many auto shops offer full-service oil changes, which includes additional maintenance or inspections to simplify your auto care.
What Happens if You Skip Your Oil Changes?
Your engine needs clean oil to work smoothly and safely. Oil lubricates all the moving parts of an auto engine, which minimizes friction, cleans away grit or other contaminants, and prevents overheating. However, the longer the oil is in use, the more it breaks down. The contaminants it picks up make the oil gritty or sludgy, which increases the friction, therefore increasing the heat in the engine instead of cooling it. Since the engine must work harder in these conditions for the same result, your car will have a reduced fuel efficiency, increased emissions, and poorer performance overall. If oil levels drop too low, the dry engine parts will grind against each other, which could lead to major damages or a stallout. Skipping oil changes can sometimes void auto warranties or reduce resale value.
When Should You Get an Oil Change?
On average, cars need oil changes every 3-5,000 miles, though factors like the car’s age, make, and model can adjust this number. Your owner’s manual will contain a recommended schedule for maintenance needs.
The type of oil your engine uses can also adjust your oil change timeline. A car that uses fully synthetic oil may only need an oil change after 6k miles, while cars that require conventional oil — generally older models — may require service every 3k miles. Additionally, your driving habits can contribute to your schedule. If you primarily make short trips with lots of stop-and-go, face rough weather, or pull heavy loads, you may need more frequent oil changes than someone who mainly does highway driving in nice weather.
How Do I Know if I Need an Oil Change?
If you can’t remember when you last had an oil change, it is time to book your service. When your oil change is finished, your certified auto technician will let you know when to come back, usually by placing a reminder sticker on your windshield with a mileage and date. Once you reach the day or mileage listed — whichever comes first — set up your next oil change service.
If you are concerned about your engine oil between services, you can use your dipstick to check its current level and condition. Park your vehicle on level ground, pop the hood, and remove the dipstick — a long metal rod with a colored handle. Take a moment to clean any oil off the dipstick, reinsert it, and pull it back out slowly. The oil should reach up between the stick’s high and low markers and appear as a clear, black/brown substance. Cloudiness, grittiness, or any other color indicates that the oil is breaking down and needs to be replaced.
While many newer cars have a dashboard alert to tell drivers when the oil is low, relying solely on this can lead to engine damage. The low oil alerts have been found to only trigger when the oil is dangerously low, so the engine may already be taking damage. With this in mind, if the alarm does turn on, take your car into your local Stillwater auto shop immediately.
Rick’s 36 Oil Change Service
We know that it can be difficult to make time for auto care in your busy life, which is why we provide full-service oil changes. By including fluid checks, air filter replacements, and tire inspections and rotations as a part of your oil change, we can handle more maintenance in one appointment, saving you time and money. We also currently offer two oil change specials: $56.97 for a full-service synthetic oil change and $31.99 for a full-service standard oil change.
If you are ready to take advantage of our convenient offers, have questions, or need to book your next service, give Rick’s 36 Automotive in Stillwater a call, book with us online, or stop by anytime.
