Common Oil Change Questions Everyone Should Know

Everyone who owns a car should at least have heard the term “oil change”, and if you have been on the road for over a year, you should have gotten several yourself. Cars need to have their oil changed regularly, and it is important that responsible car owners understand not only why, but how to best to go about getting a cheap oil change so that your car and wallet stay healthy. To make understanding all you need to know about oil changes as simple as possible, this list of common oil change questions should be a trustworthy guide for any driver, young or old.

What is an Oil Change?

No matter how experienced a car owner you are it never hurts to start at the fundamentals. The professionals at Kelly Blue Book state that an oil change is “one of the most basic aspects of automotive ownership.” The process of an oil change is as simple as its name entails.

During the process, the oil will be naturally drained, not siphoned, from the bottom of the vehicle into a pan so that no oil remains inside to interfere with the fresh oil. Once drained you close the drain at the bottom of the vehicle you replace the oil filter and then go under the hood to fill it up with fresh oil by pouring it into the oil spout, which should be clearly marked. So simply put; its just drain from bottom and fill from top. This is also a good time to change a dirty filter and lubricate other parts of the vehicle, if needed. Overall, the process is quick, and usually, you can find someone to do a cheap oil change without much effort.

Why is Getting an Oil Change so Important for my Car?

This should also be common knowledge, but is important none-the-less. Cars are metal-based machines with many moving parts, and as anyone who has seen the Wizard of Oz knows, metal without oil is not very mobile. Engine oil keeps the vehicle moving through consistent lubrication, but if the oil is not changed regularly, then the oil can thicken into sludge which will do the opposite. This can slowly eat at your car’s engine, and cause irreversible damage. Many before have tried to test the limits of their oil, and each one has caused themselves more time and money than that simple and cheap oil change once every few months would have cost.

How Often Should I Get an Oil Change?

While many will insist that you get an oil change every 3,000 miles, in most cases that is being overly cautious. Unless you drive an excessive amount on a daily bases, such as a delivery truck or taxis, or have to face extreme conditions like numerous uphill roads, dusty dirt roads, and constant snow, then the average driver will most likely be safe to get an cheap oil change every 5,000 to 7,500 miles or so. Even those that drive less should probably not try to push over 8,000 miles without one. At the end of the day you won’t damage a vehicle by getting an oil change too often, so if you are questioning whether you should or not, the answer should nearly always be yes. There are also a few signs you can look for to determine if your vehicle is in need of an oil change such as knocking sounds or vibrating coming from the engine.

How Much Will an Oil Change Cost?

Considering how simple and necessary a process an oil change is they are actually fairly cheap to have done. An oil change can cost anywhere from $40 to $80, but many drivers can find someone to get a cheap oil change for around $25. Prices may vary if they are adding additional services like filter changes, which many will, or if they need to use a unique type of oil. Considering this is done several times a year for most people, that is far from an enormous price tag to assure your vehicle is running healthy.

Is It Cheaper to Do It Yourself?

Honestly speaking, anyone is capable of doing an oil change themselves if they wanted to, but at the end of the day, it usually isn’t worth it. Getting the proper oil plus a filter can cost on the low side $20 to $30 which is what some places will charge for a cheap oil change anyway. So you aren’t really saving anything by doing it yourself when it comes to money, plus you will have to get down and dirty under the car to get the old oil out and then properly dispose of it. Basically if doing it yourself is rewarding for the soul then great, but if you just need to get it done, take the 30 min let the professionals take care of it.

What Kind of Oil Should I use?

The simple and best answer to this will always be to check your owner’s manual. This is an amazing resource many drivers often fail to utilize to its full potential. Not only will the manual tell you exactly what types of oil work best for your engine, but it can tell you the best times to change it and every other type of regular maintenance your vehicle will require. A driver could make an entire detailed calendar that marks every time their vehicle should be serviced from the details in that book alone. Those who lost this book can often find a digital copy online for even some of the older models.

What is the Difference between Conventional and Synthetic Oil?

For some reason, this has been a confusing topic for many car owners who are wondering if they should pay more for synthetic oil. Synthetic oil is oil that has been refined, distilled, purified, and broken down in order to remove anything that makes it less suitable for a vehicle engine. Many will proudly say that synthetic helps your car run better and is probably better for the environment since it lasts roughly two times longer than conventional oil, but you most certainly will be paying a little more out of pocket each oil change for the luxury. Whether this is just a slight or major improvement is more up to how the driver feels after seeing how their vehicle runs on synthetic oil, but if you aren’t super concerned about it, feel free to just save some cash with conventional oil.

Where To Get A Cheap Oil Change? – McCluskey Chevy!

At McCluskey Chevy we don’t just sell new and used cars, we also have a team of professionals that are ready to take care of the vehicle throughout its life. You can count on us to service your vehicle with care at an affordable price. We offer lube, oil, and filter changes, as well as alignments, rotations, repairs, replacements, and even general checkups to make sure you are driving a vehicle you can depend on. We at McCluskey Chevy want to be your one-stop automotive experience. Buy from us, sell to us, service with us, and we guarantee to fight for your constant automotive satisfaction.