Oil Change
One of the most important steps for prolonging the life of your engine is receiving an oil change at a regular interval. Most oil changes should happen around 3,000 miles. We drain the old oil, replace the filter, and add new oil. It’s very important to get an oil change at a regular interval, because over time the oil in your engine degrades. When the engine oil degrades it leaves behind metal particles that wear on the engine over time. This can greatly shorten the life of your vehicle.
How Often?
Newer vehicles that see a lot of expressway driving don’t need to have an oil change every 3,000 miles. However, if you do a lot of city driving in your vehicle and don’t often take it to speeds above 55, then the engine doesn’t get hot enough to evaporate the water that can collect in the engine. This means you should get an oil change around 3,000 miles. If you drive your vehicle in hot weather, or in dusty and sandy environments, then you will want to get your oil changed more often. If you drive an older vehicle, you will want to get frequent oil changes.
Checking the oil level
When the check oil light is indicated on your dashboard, then it is important to check your oil level. If you drive an older vehicle, you should also check your oil level whenever you fill up at the gas station. Checking the oil level is easy.
- With the car turned off, just pop your hood, prop it open and locate the engine oil dipstick.
- Remove the dipstick and wipe off any oil that’s on it with a paper towel or rag.
- Reinsert the dipstick and remove it to check the engine oil level.
- Based on what you see, you can either add more oil to the engine, or bring your car to receive an oil change.
