The Oil Change - What Your Car's Engine Needs

A car isn't going to go without gasoline, but it isn't going to go very far without a regular oil change. Providing proper lubrication for the moving parts of your engine is one of the most important things you can do to make sure that you don't run into unexpected, expensive auto repair. While no one can count on a car to last forever, the more you can do to keep it running well, the better. Heading into your favorite shop for a regular oil change is one of the easiest and least costly ways that you can do just that. Here are some of the things you should know about your engine's lifeblood.

Types

When you get an oil change, you're going to be faced with a simple choice: do you go with synthetic or mineral? If you make your decisions based on cost, you'll always go with mineral. It's less expensive and it comes straight from the ground. It is a pure version of lubrication and it has been used in motor vehicle engines since the beginning of the automobile. Still, synthetic offers a few advantages over this cheaper version. Chemical engineering allows it to be better for your engine, burn cleaner, and resist the acidity and debris that can cause sludge. While using synthetic is no excuse to stretch the time between changes, it can give you a safety net, if you accidentally stretch it too far.

Viscosity

One of the other choices you need to make for your vehicle is that of viscosity. Viscosity is sometimes referred to as "weight." 10W-30 is an example of what you might see written on a container. Check your owner's manual to see which viscosity is appropriate for your vehicle. Keep in mind that the same type in June may not be what your engine needs in December. This is where having a good oil change shop can really come in handy. They will take the time to make sure that you get the lubrication that's best for your car and your driving conditions. You may not get the same level of mechanical care from a place that specializes in 10-minute jobs.

Frequency

Today's vehicles can certainly go longer without an oil change than those of decades past. Having said that, don't fall into the trap of believing you can go half a year without bringing it in. You may or may not be able to get away with this, but it's not worth testing. Follow the recommendations in your owner's manual for the proper interval and adjust this based on your driving conditions.