Oil Change Breakdown: Filters, Oil Types, and What To Maintain

Southern California vehicles need a great deal of maintenance work to avoid breakdowns and continue functioning as effectively as possible. Few auto maintenance tasks are more well-known than oil changes — but despite this, most drivers in the area don’t fully understand this type of service.

Are you interested in learning more about oil change services? If so, you’re in the right place. This is our complete breakdown of everything you need to know about oil changes, from the role oil filters play in your engine to advice on finding the best oil type for your vehicle.

Oil Changes 101

Motor oil doesn’t have just one indispensable role in your engine. Instead, this fluid performs four essential functions:

• Protecting your engine from rust. The layer of protection that motor oil provides will lower the likelihood that rust and corrosion will form in your engine.
• Redistributing heat. As a side effect of their normal operations, engines generate considerable heat. Motor oil can absorb and redistribute this warmth, moving it away from sensitive areas and preventing the engine from overheating.
• Cleaning your engine. While traveling through your engine, the oil will collect foreign contaminants like dirt and combustion deposits — preventing these materials from creating blockages.
• Cutting down on friction. A layer of clean motor oil will keep your engine’s moving parts thoroughly lubricated.

The Importance of Filter Replacement

Over time, motor oil becomes dirty and loses effectiveness; the same is true for oil filters. These filters are responsible for removing contaminants, dirt, and carbon deposits from your oil, but they get clogged after trapping enough foreign particles. Once that happens, it’s harder for oil to pass through your oil filter. The only way to resolve this issue is to replace your oil filter.

To make sure your auto shop will replace your oil filter during an oil change, confirm whether they offer “full-service” oil changes. These oil changes go beyond the basics with the addition of services like filter replacement, chassis lubrication, and multi-point vehicle inspections. That means full-service oil changes deliver the best possible value when you need oil change services.

Which Oil Type Do You Need?

If you haven’t put much thought into oil change services before, you might not have noticed the oil type you’ve been using. Different oil types can provide different benefits to local drivers. The oil types that should be on your radar include:

Conventional

AKA standard oil, conventional oil is partially refined crude mineral oil. You won’t have to pay much for this kind of oil, and it can protect your engine — as long as you don’t expect it to perform as well as synthetic options. In addition, conventional oil needs to be changed more often than synthetics.

Full Synthetic

On the other end of the spectrum, full synthetic oil is formulated in a lab or factory and is required to meet exceptionally high standards. That means it provides better engine protection than any other oil type. While this level of performance comes with a higher price tag, full synthetic oil won’t need to be replaced as often as conventional oil. 

Synthetic Blend

If you’d like to get the best of both worlds, try synthetic blend oil. This oil combines the two varieties discussed above, allowing it to perform better than conventional oil while being less expensive than full synthetic oil. The only catch is that this oil won’t excel in cost or functionality.

High Mileage

Has your car been on the road for 75,000 miles or more? If so, it’s time to switch to high-mileage oil. This product resembles synthetic oil but includes additives meant to help older engines deal with corrosion and oil burn-off.

Know When It’s Time for Oil Change Services

To get the most out of your oil changes, you should think about how you schedule this work. Depending on the type of car you own and how you drive it, you might need an oil change as often as every 3,000 miles or as rarely as every 10,000 miles. Your car’s owner’s manual is the best place to start when creating an oil change service schedule. 

As mentioned above, the type of oil you use can affect your ideal oil change frequency. You’ll also want to consider these driving habits, all of which can have a negative effect on your motor oil’s life span:

• High-mileage driving
• Driving in high temperatures
• Regularly taking short trips or driving in stop-and-go traffic
• Often hauling or towing heavy loads

As a rule of thumb, the team at Ramona Tire & Service Centers encourages drivers to schedule oil changes every three months or 3,000 miles. That way, our professional mechanics will be able to address any issues your vehicle may have as soon as possible.

Get the Best Oil Changes in Southern California

Are you overdue for oil change services in Southern California? If you are, there’s no need to panic — just visit your nearest Ramona Tire location for a full-service oil change performed by ASE-certified mechanics. Plus, you’ll be able to save on this work by taking advantage of our convenient online coupons. Getting started is simple — book your appointment right away!