Chapter Nineteen
Oil change translator
Changing your engine oil is a simple task; there are many lube places, repair shops, big box stores that will do it for you, yet many (including myself) let the interval go longer than it should. Some people think it never needs to be done. Years ago, I was training in a repair shop that had an engine torn down. It was obvious at first glance what the problem was, as inches of sludge that looked like cold roofing tar had built up on the interior of the engine causing it to fail prematurely to the tune of $4,500, a lot more expensive than changing the oil at recommended intervals. Years ago, there was an ad that stated "you can pay me now, or you can pay me later." This statement still runs true today.
Routine maintenance will keep your car’s engine lubricated properly. Inside your engine are high" speed moving parts causing your oil to get dirty over time. This dirt builds up and creates friction which can damage moving parts if the dirty oil stays in the system to long.
So which type of oil is right for your car? You will hear all types of recommendations, to keep it safe always follow your car manufacturer recommendations; sometimes you can also find the type of oil required printed on the oil cap under the hood of your car.
Depending on your vehicle’s make and model, you may see one of the following printed on that cap, 5W"20, 5W"30, 10W"40, 15W"40. These numbers refer to the "weight" or thickness of the oil. Motor oil gets thicker when it’s cold and thinner when it heats up, thus 5W"30 oil performs better when it’s cold.
There are many different types of oil out there today:
All" synthetic oils that perform better than your ordinary petroleum" based oil, but their drawback is that they are more expensive. Usually you will see these recommended for luxury and high valued cars and pickups.
There is nothing wrong with running synthetic oil in your car, except for the cost. There are some cases where a vehicle may have a specific need for either a blended synthetic or standard, petroleum" based oil. Always, always follow your owner’s manual.
Synthetic blends are a combination of petroleum" based oil and the synthetic oil. These blends perform well in SUVs and other large vehicles. This oil is less expensive than full synthetics.
High" mileage oil is made especially for cars with 75,000 miles or more on the odometer. Using high" mileage oil in these older vehicles will help you get more life out of your engine.
Premium conventional oil is standard for brand" new cars and should be changed every 4,000 miles, every four months or when your oil" change indicator light comes on " whichever happens first.
When you get your oil changed, you need to be aware of a few scams that can take place.
1. The up sell " telling you that you need a transmission flush, power steering flush, brake flush, coolant flush, differential flush etc… where this may be accurate you need to take control of the situation by having the mechanic explain why. This is one area I will have to spend more time on as it does get quite detailed in making sure you’re not being taken for a ride. In the meantime, contact us if you feel something isn't right, we’ll be happy to help you out.
2. Frequent returns " Mechanic tells you that you need to come in every 3,000 miles for an oil change. Read your owner’s manual as this is not the case like it was years ago.
3. The "no change oil change" " Some mechanics, believe it or not will bring in the vehicle, make it look like they are changing the oil and then kick it out without any oil being changed.
4. The "no filter oil change" " Mechanic says they will change the filter but then only change the oil, leaving the old filter on the vehicle. Drivers going in for an oil change can mark their oil filter with a big red X using a marker, and then look directly after the oil change to make sure the filter has been changed or ask the mechanic to see the new filter on the car.
5. The voided coupon " Shops will offer a cheap oil deal then hit you with hundreds of dollars of work to make up for the low ball oil change. Don’t be fooled by this; if it sounds too good to be true, it is!
6. Always ask the service writer or mechanic to show you what they did and explain to you the process they use when changing your oil.
“Children seldom misquote you. In fact, they usually repeat word for word what you shouldn’t have said.”