How Often Should You Change Your Car’s Oil?
The frequency for getting an oil change depends on the type of car, its age, and how often it’s driven. The manual that came with your car will have a recommended oil change frequency. Generally, you should have your car’s oil changed about every 5,000 to 7,500 miles or every six months. There are exceptions and variations to this.
How often the oil needs to be changed depends on what type of oil is used. More and more of today’s new cars are being shipped with synthetic oil or synthetic oil blends, so at Tyler’s we offer synthetic oil or regular oil changes. Because synthetic oils flow more easily in a car improving efficiency, the use of synthetics cuts down on how often an oil change is needed. Plus, synthetics are better for the environment. The downside is that they cost a bit more, but with less frequent oil changes that initial cost is offset.
The type of driving you do also dictates how often your vehicle’s oil should be changed. Your car’s oil should be changed more often if you mostly drive less than 10 miles at a time. When you don’t take highway trips, your car’s engine isn’t getting hot enough to burn off accumulated condensation which can cause the oil to break down. In addition, short trips require more starting and stopping which is hard on an engine.
Frequent oil changes can ease the risk of engine damage. Whether you choose synthetic or regular oil, or regularly drive just around town or across the state, we can set an oil change schedule that fits your car’s needs.
Our Oil Change Service
At Tyler’s Automotive, when you bring your car in for an oil change we do more than just empty the old oil and fill up the car with fresh oil. A car also has oil filters, pumps, and gaskets that we check for wear, damage, and debris buildup. Oil filters trap road dirt and debris so eventually they clog and need replacing, which we do on about every other oil change. Oil pan gaskets have a longer life, up to 20 years, but they can easily be damaged if they’re hit by something kicked up from the road. Oil pumps should last up to 70,000 miles if regular oil and filter changes are part of your car’s maintenance. We’ll take a look at these with each oil change to make sure everything is working as it should.
What sets Tyler’s Automotive apart from places that only do oil changes is that we also offer a free 27-point vehicle inspection with every oil change. And while we do a thorough job, typically we can change your oil while you wait and have you in and out in no time.
Signs Your Vehicle Needs an Oil Change
There are signs that your vehicle needs an oil change. If you check your oil at home with a dipstick and find the oil feels gritty it’s time for a change. The oil should also be a nice amber color and not look like your morning cup of coffee. If you’re on the road and notice any of these issues, it may be time to schedule an oil change.
Schedule an Oil Change Today
We love our customers, both old and new, but we are a busy automotive repair shop so we ask that you schedule an oil change in advance through our online service request form or by calling our customer service.
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