How much do you know about oil and how it works in your car? Sullivan’s Auto Service & Tire Pros has this essential information for you about engine oil and oil changes.
When Does Your Car’s Oil Need to Be Changed?
How often your car’s oil needs to be changed depends on several factors. The best source of information about when exactly you should get your car’s oil changed is in the car’s owner’s manual. Beyond that, the recommendations are typically around every 3,000 miles. It also depends on what type of oil your car takes.
What Type of Oil Does Your Car Need?
The type of oil your car needs is something else that you can find in the owner’s manual. That information is going to list out weights as well as whether you should go with conventional oil, synthetic oil, or a blend. Starting from the manufacturer’s recommendations helps you to get the basics right, but other factors, like your own driving habits, might mean a different type of oil is better suited for your car’s needs.
Do You Know How to Check Your Car’s Oil?
Every car owner should know how to check their car’s oil. This is important to do in between oil changes so that you’ve got an idea whether your car has any issues related to oil. Park the car somewhere level and wipe the dipstick clean the first time you take it out of the tube holding it. Put the dipstick back in, pull it straight back out, and don’t let any oil drip back down the dipstick. Check the markings against the oil level and refer to your owner’s manual for how much oil your car should have.
Is Skipping Oil Changes Okay to Do?
Should you ever skip an oil change? Lots of people do, here and there. It’s not a good idea, though, for a lot of different reasons. Your car’s oil is an essential fluid. Engine oil lubricates the engine parts, but it does a lot more than that, too. It keeps the engine clean, and it also helps to keep the engine cooler. Oil that’s old or dirty, or both, can’t perform all of those essential functions.
Having help with your engine oil maintenance takes a lot of the confusion and frustration out of keeping your car in the best condition possible. Sullivan’s Auto Service & Tire Pros in Seaside, CA can be your engine oil experts. Give us a call today to make an appointment.