Oil Change Schedule: How Often You Should Really Change Your Oil
When you’re thinking about essential maintenance services for your vehicle, oil changes may not even make the list. But while this task may seem too mundane to be worth mentioning, the reason it’s so commonplace is that cars need motor oil to function. That means getting regular oil changes from a trustworthy auto shop like Tate Boys Tire & Service is a necessity.
To make your oil changes as effective as possible, take a few minutes to think about how often you need this service. While certain oil-change-related advice has become widespread over the years, that doesn’t mean all of it’s still universally applicable—not without adjustments to fit your personal situation. Read on for a closer look at the process of creating an oil change schedule that’s right for you.
What Are the Biggest Oil Change Scheduling Factors?
Most people who are even remotely familiar with the ins and outs of auto maintenance have heard of the standard oil change schedule. Replacing your oil after three months or 3,000 miles can be helpful, and it’s definitely better than nothing—but there might be a better way. While you can still use this as a starting point, feel free to adjust your oil change schedule based on the following.
Your Car’s Age
Engine design has come a long way in the past several decades; because of this, modern-day engines are simply better at using oil than earlier models. But the age of your vehicle can affect your oil needs in other ways, too. Due to issues like metal filling/debris buildup, vehicles gradually become less effective at using motor oil over their lifespan. The best way to counteract this situation is by getting your oil changed more regularly as your car ages.
How You Drive
Don’t worry too much about being a “severe driver”—this just means some of your driving habits put additional strain on your car. These habits and more fall under the category of severe driving:
- Traveling on dirt roads
- Regularly towing a trailer
- Driving long distances slower than 50 miles per hour
While these driving habits are relatively common, they can still impact your vehicle. If you are a severe driver, consider getting oil changes every 1,500 miles or every month and a half.
Local Weather Conditions
The way your car uses oil can also vary based on the weather where you live. Tulsa experiences hot summers and cold winters, making it harder for vehicles to get the most out of oil changes.
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The Oil You Use
Of course, everything listed above can undoubtedly affect your oil change needs. But few factors will impact your oil change schedule more than the type of oil you use. No
matter where you get your oil changes taken care of, you’ll need to decide between conventional and synthetic oil. Both of these oil options are viable, but one will need to be changed far more often than the other.
Generally speaking, conventional oil is more affordable than synthetic oil at the time of purchase. However, choosing this oil variety comes with a significant trade off—you’ll need to get another oil change in the relatively near future. On the other hand, synthetic oil’s higher price tag may not be that painful when you consider how long this oil variety can last.
Oil Checking 101
Under most circumstances, a customized oil change schedule will let you take care of oil changes well before your vehicle’s oil level becomes a problem. Still, you might run into situations where this isn’t the case. Knowing how to check your oil manually is wise and will allow you to be ready for any oil-related issues your vehicle encounters.
When you need to check your oil level, park your car and give it a minute to cool down before turning it off. After you’ve done this, locate your dipstick in the oil reservoir under the hood of your car. Remove the dipstick, wipe off any leftover oil, and put it back into the reservoir. Then, pull it back out to see where your car’s oil level is. If the oil level on your dipstick is within a cross-hatched area or between two marks, you don’t need to worry about it for now. But you may be ready for an oil change if it’s lower than it should be.
For most drivers, it’s a good idea to go through this process once a month at minimum. That said, you may not need to do this monthly if you drive a newer car. Many of these vehicles have electronic monitoring systems that can keep an eye on your oil level for you.
Why You Need Professional Oil Changes
Regular oil change service is the bedrock of any auto maintenance schedule. However, this task is far from challenging by professional auto care standards. Because of that, many Oklahoma drivers have considered changing their own oil. While this might seem like an easy way to save money, that’s not true for most Oklahoma motorists.
When you get an oil change from a qualified garage, you can expect it to be done before you know it. In most cases, the Tate Boys team can complete oil changes in well under an hour—and sometimes, our crew can finish this task in just 20 minutes. On the other hand, an untrained driver working alone won’t be able to complete an oil change as quickly as our results might imply.
But the amount of time you’ll need to finish your own oil change is just part of the story. You’ll also need to have access to specialized equipment in the process of changing your oil. And when you’re done, you’ll need to know where you can safely get rid of your old motor oil—suffice it to say, you can’t legally dump this substance just anywhere. When you consider these obstacles and more, it just makes sense for most motorists to get a commercial oil change service instead.
The Top Choice for Oil Change Service
As you can see, oil changes aren’t something most drivers should try to do alone. That said, not every garage has what it takes to deliver excellent oil change service, either. And even if an auto shop can provide great oil changes, that doesn’t mean they’ll charge fair rates for their work.
With that in mind, it pays to do your research before your next oil change rolls around. Specifically, keep an eye out for Tulsa garages that offer:
- Certified mechanics. A shop’s mechanics will ultimately be responsible for your oil change, so it’s wise to get a sense of their qualifications. The best technicians are Automotive Service Excellence-certified, so it’s always a good sign when a garage can say its mechanics have this level of certification.
- Opportunities to save. You shouldn’t have to overpay for any auto maintenance service, especially one as common as oil changes. If your garage is genuinely trustworthy, it will go above and beyond by providing its customers with money-saving coupons and financing options.
- Full-service oil changes. A good oil change isn’t just an oil change—it also comes with other essential services. Look for a shop that can rotate your tires, install a new oil filter, and inspect your vehicle during an oil change.
- The ability to handle other tasks. Even if you only need an oil change in Tulsa right now, that can change before you know it. By finding a garage capable of handling any auto maintenance or repair task, you won’t need to do any research if and when your car runs into serious trouble.
Drivers in northeast Oklahoma rely on Tate Boys to handle their oil changes. Furthermore, they’ve been coming to us for this service since our company was founded in 1988. If you’re due for another oil change, don’t put it off—find your closest Tate Boys shop and request a quote today!
