What Your Car Needs When Going In For An Oil Change And Service Appointment

Cars, trucks, and SUVs need regular maintenance to ensure they continue to run properly and provide reliability for years to come. How the oil change and other service needs are handled can impact the vehicle's longevity, so an oil change should never be just an oil and filter replacement. 

Changing The Oil

Every car or truck on the road will eventually need service, and an oil change is among the most common service appointments people take their vehicles in for. Over time the engine oil breaks down from heat and needs replacing. The engine oil can also pick up small particles of metal and debris, so changing the oil filter is also critical. 

While the car is in the shop for an oil change, other services can help to keep your car or truck in great running condition. Most garages use a lift to raise the car and drain the oil. Raising the car allows the mechanic to get a good look at other items under the vehicle. 

Greasing the moving parts in the drivetrain is easier while the car is in the air, so many shops will offer that service as part of the oil change. This is also an excellent time to check the seal on the oil pan, the condition of the engine and transmission under the vehicle, and any other components that are not otherwise easy to see or work on.

Have the shop check the brakes, tires, and exhaust while under the car. The oil change may be the reason for the car to go to the shop, but it can be an excellent way to discover other issues that need addressing before they become more significant problems. 

Specialty Oils

Selecting the oil for your car is often determined by the way you use the vehicle. There are many specialty oil products on the market, offering additional lubrication and protection for high-mileage engines, or additional durability for high rpm (revolutions per minute) engines that you can use. 

Synthetic oils are becoming more popular because they will last longer in the engine, are more resistant to thermal breakdown, and can often extend the interval between engine oil changes. There are also filters with small micron filter screens, so they will catch more debris and dirt as they filter the engine oil. 

If you are unsure which oil to use or how long you can go between each oil change, talk with the service manager at your local repair shop or consult the owner's manual that came with the car. The engine oil manufacturer will also typically have recommendations for oil change intervals when using their product, and in most cars, the recommendations are a good place to start.