“Michael, what do I need to know about changing my car's oil?”

Well, it's time to change the oil again! The oil change is routine enough, but there’s more to it than you might think. I have some thoughts for you I want to share.

Let's look at when to change the oil and filter. Many cars now have maintenance reminders that give you a heads up that the time has come. Most of these systems don't tell you what all is due, but the oil change is always on the list of service needs. Almost all manufacturers recommend changing them annually, no matter how many miles you drove your car. When burning gasoline, it causes small amounts of water in the oil, which can be detrimental to your engine. Low mileage engines can have a significant amount of water in them. Considering the current level of technology, if you don't prefer to do an annual service, maybe consider doing an eighteen-month service. Most of the carmakers are recommending what we used to believe to be OVER EXTENDED mileage intervals. At the time, some engines were not ready for this, and there were hard lessons to be learned. Now, I believe that when using the proper oil and filter, the extended intervals are fine. If you do the math, that means every third service is free!

         When it comes to oil, each manufacturer knows what's best for their engine, so check the owner's manual or visit the car maker's website. When reading up, avoid the enthusiast and oil manufactures websites. Here is another thing to think about; almost every oil maker has the same basic specification, which is the viscosity or weight of the oil, such as 5w-30 or 0w-40.  If you look at the various oil companies, you may be surprised at the number of different oils with the same weights. Be aware that many fast oil change businesses sell the correct weight of oil, but it may not be the oil you need. As necessary as the weight of the oil is, the most crucial consideration is the chemistry of the oil. If the oil meets the specifications, then it earns OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) approval. To secure the endorsement of the carmakers the oil needs to be formulated precisely for your engine. 

Next, let's look at the oil filter. A few years ago, I had a client that was a Shell Oil filtration engineer. He said that two things had to happen for a long, trouble-free engine life. One, you must use the correct oil, and two, the filtration must be as high quality as you can buy. If you have poor filtration, the quality of the oil doesn't matter.  Not all oil filters are the same, there are great ones, some that are okay, and some are junk. Usually, the factory filters are the best. The European filters, as a whole, are excellent because of the higher standards. In the bottom of the bucket are the "offshore" products. Even though these filters are inferior, many fast lube places sell these. Really! Here's a hint for you, if the shop can't provide the correct oil, filter, or reset the maintenance reminder system, you might be in the wrong shop.

If we do these two things, then most likely, there will be many miles of happy motoring. If you are not doing the best you can with the oil and filter, then you may be risking the life of your engine. We often see the results of not being informed, making a poor choice between brands, or relying on someone unsure of what your car needs. I have said many times that, for some of us, changing the oil and filter is just as good as getting a haircut, but it lasts longer.  The oil and filter service provides an opportunity for us to inspect your car while it's in the shop and on our lift. Checking the tires, belts, and brakes will hopefully keep you out of the repair shop until the next service.