Who Should Perform Your Oil Change?

A regular oil change is crucial to the health of one’s car. Who should you take it to for this service?

Nearly every operator of a motor vehicle has been taught about the importance of an oil change. Changing this one fluid can prolong an automobile’s longevity for six to seven times that of one without this bit of regular preventative maintenance. How often to do this chore will depend on a vehicle’s make, model and year. It will also depend on how the car or truck is used. If it’s heavily utilized, there will be more wear and tear which equates to more frequent changes. Examples of vehicles with heavy usage include those that tow camping or utility trailers, those that travel mountainous roads, and those that are in extreme hot and cold temperatures. The average frequency necessary for an oil change seems to hover somewhere between 3,000 and 5,000 miles for this service call.

Checking under one’s hood on a regular basis to look at levels and cleanliness will alert the owner of a need for an oil change. So, who should perform this service detail? There are several options:

- The Dealer: The automotive dealership where a person buys their car, such as a Toyota dealer, Ford dealership, et cetera, can certainly perform this duty competently. The upside of having an oil change performed here is that warranty records will be maintained, they know the vehicle inside and out and they employ reputable mechanics. The downside is that they will charge top dollar for it. An auto dealership is quite likely to be the most expensive place to have this done.

- Local auto mechanic shop: Your local repair shop will definitely be able to perform this routine duty for you. A savvy mechanic can complete this job in ten minutes or so. They have all the proper tools and equipment. If it is a shop that you trust, this could be a good option. If you don’t know them well, get a recommendation before you bring in your vehicle, or you may encounter the kind of place that talks customers into additional repairs which may or may not be needed.

- Oil & Lube Shops: There are businesses set up that don’t perform full-on repairs for vehicles but merely do the quick tasks such as oil changes. They are often fast, convenient and inexpensive, but beware of who they hire to perform this duty. While this maintenance task isn’t rocket science, it is important to have a knowledgeable technician. A high school kid with no experience isn’t likely the person for this job. If it’s done incorrectly, it can ruin your engine.

- Do it yourself: This is one task that a handy person can learn to perform for themselves. Many community colleges teach basic automobile maintenance courses that a person might take in order to learn this skill and a host of others. Learning to take care of one’s own vehicle can save tons of money over a person’s lifetime both in service calls and in the longevity of each and every vehicle they own.

An oil change can be performed by different people in different ways. It’s the auto owners’ choice to decide.

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