Oil Changes in Vancouver: Guide to Understanding Oil Change Intervals

If you’re a driver in Vancouver, WA, you may already know how oil changes protect your vehicle. But while waiting too long between oil changes can have severe consequences, you might not know how often your car needs this crucial service.

If you’re ready to maximize the value of your oil changes then read on to learn all about finding the ideal interval for your vehicle — and determining when you require an oil change service ahead of schedule.

How Motor Oil Impacts Your Car’s Engine

Roughly five quarts of motor oil are stored in an oil pan located at the bottom of your engine. Once you start your vehicle, your oil is pumped from the oil pan and flows through your engine, generously coating all its moving parts. This includes your valves, crankshaft, and even your piston walls.

As your oil travels through your engine it reduces friction and provides cooling for the many parts that generate immense heat. Even when contaminants, such as carbon deposits, begin to build up in your engine, your oil can capture them and trap these contaminants in your oil filter.

As long as your oil is changed regularly, it will continue to protect your engine and promote longevity for your motor.

How Oil Type Influences When Your Car Is Due For An Oil Change

To keep your car running smoothly without overpaying for maintenance, you’ll need an oil change schedule that’s right for you. However, this involves more thought than simply finding a standard recommendation and following it to the letter.

When scheduling your next oil change, you’ll need to account for several factors — including the type of oil you use. Today’s most common oil types are:

Conventional Oil

Conventional oil originates as crude mineral oil, but this substance isn’t used in vehicles as is. Most commercial conventional oil is partially refined, boosting its viscosity and protective properties.

While conventional oil is cheaper than other oil types, it doesn’t offer an equally high level of performance — or an equally long life span. When you use conventional oil, you’ll need to schedule oil changes every 3,000 miles.

Full Synthetic Oil

Unlike conventional oil, full synthetic oil is an entirely artificial motor oil. This product is manufactured in laboratories and factories; as a result, it can protect engines more effectively than any other oil type.

Full synthetic oil costs more than conventional oil, but lasts considerably longer. If you use full synthetic oil in your vehicle, you’ll only need oil changes every 5,000 to 7,000 miles.

Synthetic Blend Oil

Full synthetic oil and conventional oil each come with pros and cons, which makes it challenging for some drivers to choose one of these options. Synthetic blend oil — a combination of the two oil types discussed above — can help.

If you use synthetic blend oil, you’ll get better performance than you would from conventional oil and pay less than you would for full synthetic oil. It’s best to get synthetic blend oil changed every 5,000 miles.

How Often Should You Check Your Oil Between Services?

Following an oil change service schedule that considers your oil type is a great idea. But that doesn’t mean things can’t go wrong between services — and if you’re facing problems ahead of schedule, you’ll need to know how to deal with them. A big part of this is understanding how (and when) to check your oil.

In the past, drivers had to check their oil once a week or so. Though you shouldn’t need to check your oil this frequently these days, it’s wise to inspect your oil every other week and ahead of any road trips you have planned.

The method you’ll use to check your oil can vary based on your car’s age. Most newer vehicles come with monitoring systems designed to measure oil levels automatically. If you drive an older car, you’ll have to measure your oil level with your vehicle’s dipstick.

When An Oil Change Emergency Can Arise

Once you’ve figured out how often you need to check your oil, you’ll want to read up on the red flags associated with oil trouble. Your car might be at risk of an oil change emergency if you:

• Have a low level of oil. All vehicles need a certain amount of oil to work correctly. If your oil level is dangerously low, don’t wait until your next scheduled oil change — bring your car into our Vancouver auto shop for service right away.
• Have dirty oil. Even if you have sufficient oil, it can’t do its vital job if it’s visibly dirty. If you find yourself in this situation, set up an oil change immediately to avoid severe engine trouble.
• Notice smoke coming from your exhaust pipe. Old motor oil is a common cause of exhaust smoke.
• Hear unusual engine noises. Do you hear a ticking sound when your engine turns on or knocking noises while it runs? Dirty and thin oil can create sounds like these.
• Feel vibrations. Unclean oil often causes vibrations in vehicles, especially when they’re idling.
• Spot an active dashboard warning light. Oil problems can activate your vehicle’s check engine light, and so can many other issues. You’ll need help from professional mechanics to find out why this light turned on.

Find The Best Oil Change Vancouver Has To Offer

No matter what oil change interval best suits your vehicle, you shouldn’t go just anywhere in Vancouver to take care of this critical maintenance task. Instead, you should find an auto shop boasting full-service oil changes, ASE-certified mechanics, and valuable oil change coupons.

At Gaynor’s Automotive, we deliver all these perks and more. If you’re ready to start planning your next oil change, set up an appointment today!