Car Maintenance 101: The Routine Oil Change To Avoid Car Repair

Ahh, who doesn't love that new car smell? Everyone loves the feeling of confidence in a new vehicle, knowing that it is going to run perfectly when you put your key in the ignition. You can keep your vehicle running smoothly by making sure that routine maintenance is performed in a timely fashion. The owner's manual can provide specific information regarding your make and model, but the most basic need of a car is to have its oil changed regularly.

Changing the oil is likely the most important step in keeping your car running well. You should consult the manufacturer's specifications for how often you need to have an oil change, but most experts agree that you should change the oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles. As the oil is used, the viscosity lowers and the oil becomes polluted with dirt and other contaminants. By changing the oil frequently, you can lower the potential of these damaging pollutants affecting the performance of your vehicle.

You can change the oil in your vehicle yourself, but the process is slightly messy and takes a little bit of time. There are many car repair shops that offer oil changes as one of their primary services. The benefits of taking your car to a repair shop usually outweigh the slight cost savings of doing it yourself. Most of the time it is quicker, and the disposal of the oil and filter are taken care of by the car repair shop.

When you take your car to the repair shop for an oil change, you can expect to have the old oil drained and replaced. Also, the maintenance technician will replace the oil filter with a new one. Many establishments also check the other fluids in your vehicle and add more where necessary. You might also expect to have your tire pressure checked, your windows cleaned and the floor vacuumed. While these services are not part of the oil change itself, many places offer them for an extra fee or sometimes, a complimentary part of the service package. 

During the oil change, your maintenance technician will likely remind you of other items that need to be checked. Often he will check spark plugs, transmission fluid and other items and advise you when these items need to be replaced or otherwise maintained. Once the oil change is done, you will receive a window sticker as a reminder of when you will need to return to the car repair shop to have your next oil change performed.

One last word of merit: choose a reputable mechanic to perform maintenance on your vehicle. Ask friends and family for the names of car repair shops that they trust with their own vehicles. When you find one that you like, stick with them! Mechanics, like all other business people, appreciate your loyalty. If they have done a good job with your vehicle, give them the satisfaction of your repeat business. Also, if they are unable to service your vehicle down the road, they are likely to refer you to someone else who will give you the same customer service experience that they would offer you.