Oil Change Benefits: Guide to Maximizing Vehicle Performance
Oil Change Benefits Go Beyond Engine Health
Regular maintenance is the key to getting the most out of any vehicle — even the most advanced sports car on the market will quickly encounter problems if you don’t take care of it. As one of the most prominent maintenance tasks, oil changes can go a long way toward keeping your vehicle’s engine in good shape.
However, there are many other reasons why you should prioritize oil change service. In this article, we’ll take a look at additional oil change benefits, such as improved performance and heightened fuel efficiency. We’ll also share several valuable tips that can make your oil changes as effective as possible.
What is an Oil Change Service?
Oil changes are a relatively basic auto maintenance task — the mechanics responsible for this work will remove your vehicle’s old motor oil and replace it with fresh oil. But when you neglect an oil change service, your car will have trouble operating properly (if it doesn’t stop running altogether).
Engine protection is perhaps the most widely-known benefit of oil changes. Motor oil enhances your car’s health by performing essential tasks such as:
- Cleaning your engine. When dirt and other contaminants have a chance to build up in your vehicle’s engine, they can cause serious problems. Fortunately, motor oil can trap these materials.
- Managing engine heat. Car engines will always generate heat while operating, which can be an issue for sensitive components in your engine. Oil can redirect heat, keeping these parts safe.
- Preventing rust formation in your engine. When your engine has fresh motor oil, it will have a significantly lower risk of developing rust.
- Lubricating moving engine parts. The moving parts in your car’s engine must be lubricated to work correctly — this is yet another way motor oil can help your vehicle.
Of course, your oil needs to be clean in order to do these jobs. For example, dirty motor oil can’t lubricate moving parts effectively — and these parts will quickly start to grind against each other as a result. To avoid this issue and many others, you’ll want to get oil changes on a regular basis.
Other Ways Oil Changes Help Vehicles
While it’s easy to understand how oil changes can protect your engine, this service delivers many other benefits. When you make oil changes a priority, you’ll also enjoy perks such as:
Improved Performance
Skipping oil changes will harm your vehicle’s overall performance before you know it. On the other hand, following a reliable service schedule for this task is an excellent way to keep your car running as smoothly as possible.
An improperly lubricated engine will suffer from excessive friction, causing unpleasant noises while you drive. In addition, the heat produced by poorly lubricated engines is energy that should have gone towards generating horsepower and torque. By prioritizing oil changes, you can address both of these issues.
Enhanced Fuel Efficiency
Engines with sufficient lubrication don’t need to work as hard as poorly lubricated engines to get you from point A to point B. That means these engines can use fuel more efficiently, helping you get as many miles as possible from your next tank of gas.
Warranty Protection
Believe it or not, oil changes are vital to maintain your vehicle’s warranty. If your new or certified pre-owned car comes with a dealer’s or manufacturer’s warranty, you’ll need to keep up with maintenance services if you want to hang on to that coverage. Of course, regular oil changes fall under this umbrella.
Oil Quality: The Key to Successful Oil Changes
Oil changes can help Southern California drivers maximize their vehicles’ performance while lowering their odds of needing expensive auto repairs. But some oil changes are more effective than others — and one factor determining the success of your next oil change is the quality of your motor oil.
If you make a point of using high-quality oil, you’ll get the best possible lubrication, making it much easier for your car to run smoothly. Conversely, using low-quality oil in your vehicle can lead to problems like subpar lubrication, poor fuel economy, and oil leaks. You’ll also have to get oil changes more often when you use low-quality oil.
Which Oil Does Your Vehicle Need?
When planning an oil change, it’s wise to consider oil viscosity. Different vehicles need different viscosity levels; with that in mind, be sure to check your car’s manual for guidance. You’ll also need to account for local weather conditions, as oil viscosity can change based on temperature.
Additionally, you’ll want to determine what oil type best fits your vehicle’s needs before getting an oil change. Currently, the most popular types of motor oil are:
- Conventional oil. This product starts out as crude mineral oil, which is enhanced to improve its performance in terms of engine protection and viscosity. While conventional oil is more affordable than any other oil type, it won’t perform quite as well as competing options.
- Full synthetic oil. Unlike conventional oil, full synthetic oil is created in labs and factories to deliver the highest possible level of performance. Though you can wait longer between oil changes while using this product, those oil changes will also be more expensive.
- Synthetic blend oil. If you’re looking for a compromise between the strengths of full synthetic oil and conventional oil, give synthetic blend oil a try. This oil type mixes those products together, delivering better performance than conventional oil at a lower price tag than full synthetic oil.
- High-mileage oil. When your car has been in use for 75,000 miles or more, its engine’s needs will change. The manufacturing process for high-mileage oil is very similar to the methods used to make full synthetic oil, but this product is designed specifically to keep aging vehicles up and running.
Know When You Need Oil Change Service
Even if you find the perfect oil type for your vehicle’s needs, you won’t be able to maximize your car’s well-being if you don’t get frequent oil changes. At the same time, it’s best not to replace your oil too often — doing so won’t cause performance problems, but you will end up overpaying for oil changes you don’t yet need.
Creating a custom oil change schedule for your vehicle can help you avoid these extremes. At the start of this process, consult your car’s manual — this will contain advice about your car’s ideal service schedule. From there, you’ll need to consider what type of oil you use:
- Cars that use conventional oil should get oil changes around every 3,000 miles.
- If your vehicle uses synthetic blend oil, you may be able to wait about 5,000 miles between oil changes.
- When you use full synthetic oil in your car, it could last 5,000-7,000 miles before needing to be replaced.
These recommendations aren’t set in stone, however. Many drivers have severe driving habits or drive older vehicles, both of which result in needing oil changes more often than average. And since Southern California is known for its intense heat, you may want to set up oil changes every 3,000 miles or three months, regardless of what oil type you use.
How To Find an Auto Shop for Your Next Oil Change
It’s crucial to ensure you get high-quality oil in the oil type your car needs, but visiting the right business for this service matters, too. Ideally, your Southern California auto shop will offer more than the bare minimum. Instead, look for shops that deliver:
ASE-Certified Mechanics
No matter what type of service your vehicle needs, you have to be able to trust the people handling this work. ASE-certified mechanics are more qualified than anyone else in the industry — if your auto shop hires them, your vehicle will always be in good hands.
Full-Service Oil Changes
The best oil changes involve more than simply removing and replacing your oil. When a shop offers full-service oil changes, their mechanics will also lubricate your vehicle’s chassis, install a new oil filter, and rotate your tires (if requested).
A Wide Selection of Services
Oil changes are just one of the many services your car will eventually need. Instead of looking for another shop the next time you need to schedule work on your vehicle, find a business that can handle any car maintenance or auto repair service you might need.
Opportunities To Save
Oil changes aren’t particularly pricey by auto service standards, but you’ll still need to pay for one. Truly reputable auto shops make this easier for their customers by providing financing opportunities and valuable auto repair coupons.
Multiple Auto Shop Locations in Southern California
When you need an oil change, you should be able to take care of this service without traveling out of the area. Fortunately, some local auto shops make this possible by maintaining auto shop locations throughout Southern California.
If you’re searching for an auto shop that offers every one of these benefits, you’re in luck — Ramona Tire & Service Centers has you covered! Thanks to advantages like these, we’ve been the area’s top choice for oil changes and other services since 1969. Benefit from our decades of experience and schedule your oil change online today!
Oil Change Benefits Guide: Beyond Engine Health — Improving Overall Vehicle Performance FAQ
How long does an oil change take at an auto shop?
At Ramona Tire, we understand that your time is valuable, so we aim to get your oil changed and your vehicle back on the road as quickly as possible. Since our ASE-certified mechanics are experts at their craft, they are able to perform oil change services swiftly and efficiently. With a scheduled appointment, you can expect an oil change to take between 30 minutes and an hour.
However, our oil change service bays can get quite busy, which is why we recommend making an appointment for the most expedited service. Scheduling an appointment is fast and easy at Ramona Tire. Simply open our online scheduling portal, choose the most convenient date and time for you, or give us a call. While we do welcome walk-ins, it's important to understand that if our service bay is busy, a walk-in oil change can take longer to complete.
What happens if you don't change your oil?
Some drivers will neglect their oil change and not think much of it. The truth is that skipping your oil change can cause permanent damage to your engine and result in thousands of dollars in repair. The severity of engine damage will depend on how long your oil change is neglected. However, it's critical to note that it is never a good idea to skip an oil change. Neglecting timely oil change services can wreak havoc on your engine, and it may cause irreversible damage that involves, but is not limited to:
- Rough engine idle
- Poor engine performance
- Engine stalling
- Exhaust smoke
- Internal engine scarring
- Low compression
- Total engine failure
How much should an oil change cost in Riverside, CA?
The average oil change will cost between $50 and $150. The cost will depend on several factors, including the quantity of oil your vehicle holds, the type of oil filter your vehicle needs, and the type of oil your vehicle uses.
One of the largest factors in your oil change cost will be the type of oil your vehicle uses. Conventional oil is the lowest cost, but it also returns the lowest degree of protection. Because of this limited protection, conventional oil must be changed the most frequently — so while it is often the lowest cost upfront, in the long run, its frequent change intervals may make this type of oil more expensive.
In contrast, synthetic oil provides the most protection for your engine, and it is also the most expensive option. However, because of its longer oil change intervals, synthetic oil can be more cost-effective.
How long can I drive without an oil change?
Some drivers are unaware of how often they're supposed to change their oil. While we recommend referring to your owner's manual, the frequency that your vehicle will need an oil change will largely depend on the type of oil that your vehicle uses:
- Conventional oil — change every 3,000-5,000 miles
- Synthetic blend — change every 5,000-7,500 miles
- Full synthetic oil — change every 7,500-10,000 miles
These change intervals are standard recommendations, but the timing of oil changes also depends on how you use your vehicle. Vehicles that operate in harsh conditions, vehicles that tow, and vehicles that are used for racing may need oil changes more frequently. It's important to not go beyond the recommended oil change interval. Otherwise, you may cause permanent damage to your engine.
What oil is best for a high-mileage car?
One of the most highly recommended oils for high-mileage engines is synthetic blend oil. This type of oil uses a conventional oil base but takes advantage of the additional protections that are found in synthetic oil. Synthetic blend typically employs additional additives such as sealants or detergents that help address the specific needs found in high-mileage engines. These engine types usually battle carbon buildup due to their long lives on the road and suffer gasket leaks, which are common in older vehicles. Synthetic blend oil will specifically address these challenges and help the aging engine perform its best throughout its life.
This oil type also provides superior protection over conventional oil and is a great option for owners who have used conventional oil for their vehicles. Synthetic blend oil changes are typically modestly priced and feature oil change intervals of 5,000-7,500 miles. At Ramona Tire, we also feature oil change specials that help you save the most while taking advantage of the best service.
