Oil Change—What Should The Tech Be Doing?

Everyone knows that an oil change is useful in optimizing engine performance and important for the overall care of a vehicle. For most of us, we adhere to suggestion by running through a quick lube establishment while we are on the go. For safety and assurance, however, you should take the time to know exactly what should happen during the service. It can help you to know if your service provider is indeed being thorough.

This first thing you should see a specialist do before draining the lubricating fluid in your vehicle is to perform some kind of check, whether technical or visual, on the condition of the existing liquid. The condition may indicative of other problems with the car, and it can give mechanic an idea what type of driver you are and/or what type of driving you do. This is important in forming a suggestion for scheduled maintenance on your vehicle. While most still offer the typical three-thousand mile suggestion, an analysis or even just a quick look at the condition of the existing oil will help determine how often you should return for the service.

Next, the professional will move on to the filter. As standard time frames of when to change the lubricants in a vehicle are moving toward longer periods of time, it has become controversial as to whether a filter should be replaced with each maintenance. To be safe, change it. As car manufactures have began to concentrate on the compact generation, even the filter has gotten smaller, which of course means that its longevity is less. It is probable that you can make it through the first and maybe even the second typical three-thousand mile change, but those who are pressing for five thousand miles or hiring preventative maintenance are apt to have filters quit working at optimal capacity sometime after the first but before the second.

Once the filter has been changed, the plan of attack moves from under the car to under the hood. Using a funnel or, more modernly, a nozzle attached to a tank filled with your particular viscosity, the technician will now put new oil in your car. It should be noted that if you prefer a different kind of oil than what you have previously used or if your driving conditions differ as compared to what may be on our customer record, it may be up to you to bring it up. If you frequent the same establishment, in the essence of time, they will usually rely on your customer history. Once the replacement has been made, you should see a typical “check” made on your vehicle to make sure that the right amount of lubricant was used in the process.

After the oil change is complete, the car should be started back up and checked for leaks or other problems. In some cases, this service comes with what is called a lube job. This consists of checking and topping all the fluids, checking tires for wear and balance, and other typical checks. Be aware that if an issue is found with the vehicle during what is deemed a “lube,” it is the checking and finding of the problem that is covered in the cost. The repair will accrue additional charges.