The Essential Oil Change

It's important to get an oil change regularly, but it may even be more important that you find a good shop to do it for you. While you can always choose whichever 10-minute place happens to be close to your home, many drivers find it helpful to use a full service mechanic, allowing them to forge a regular, ongoing relationship with the shop, which can come in handy if they ever need more expansive work done on their vehicle. It's something to consider, and one of the reasons you may want to find a great shop for your vehicle's lube jobs.

Services

It's not only important to make sure more that an oil change is performed when you bring your car in, but also you may want to see what other services the shop provides. Car maintenance has become a strangely specific business. In years past, you took your car to one mechanic for everything your vehicle needed. Today, there are shops that specialize in tires, shops that specialize in brakes, and so forth. Who wants to go to ten different mechanics for every thing they need done? A much better solution is to find a mechanic who can do it all.

Time

You don't want to wait forever to get your car back from an oil change, but be cautious when picking a place based on their speed. If they don't even bother giving you a seat in their waiting room, are they really giving you the best bang for your maintenance dollar? Put another way, how often do you check your air filter, brake lights, sensors, and fluid levels? If you can't think of the last time you gave your car a full checkup of this variety, you may want to consider getting it done when you get your lube job. A lot of customers get uncomfortable when the service tech recommends additional services, but they aren't always simply trying to upsell for greater profits.

Staff

Taking your car to a mechanic should be no different from any other service-oriented expedition. You wouldn't accept rude service from your grocery store or your hair salon, so why treat rude service from a mechanic like it's par for the course? You should be respected as a customer, whether you're getting an oil change or a new engine. If you don't feel as though your business is appreciated, don't hesitate to find a shop with a different mindset.