Helpful Tips For Having Your Vehicle's Oil Changed

One thing that you should educate yourself about as a car owner is having your oil changed. Although you might have taken your vehicle to have the oil changed a few times before, you might not know a lot about vehicle oil changes. If you can remember these tips, you can have the best possible experience with this important vehicle maintenance task.

Have it Done Frequently Enough

First of all, you should make sure that you have your vehicle's oil changed frequently enough. This is an incredibly important vehicle maintenance task for these reasons:

• Increase the lifespan of your engine and other components
• Maintain your vehicle's warranty and value
• Help your vehicle operate more efficiently

These are just a few of the benefits of having oil changes done based off of the manufacturer's schedule and your maintenance technician's recommendations. Your automotive maintenance technician can tell you more about why frequent oil changes are important and can help you determine how often you need to have oil changes done.

Don't Try to Do it Yourself

Some people choose to change their own oil at home. This might seem simple enough, but if you make a mistake – such as adding the wrong oil or not putting in the oil filter in the right way – then you have to worry about vehicle damage. You also have to worry about things like discarding of the used oil, which has to be done in an environmentally friendly and legal way. Plus, changing the oil can be a tougher and messier job than you might think, especially if you don't have access to a lift and if you don't have much experience. Instead, take your vehicle to a knowledgeable automotive repair technician for all of your oil changes.

Opt for the Right Oil Type

Make sure that you choose the right type of oil for your vehicle when having your oil changed. Learn about the differences between synthetic and conventional oil, and find out about the weight of oil that is suggested for your vehicle.

Keep Documentation

It's important to keep documentation about when you have your vehicle's oil changed. This is important if you choose to sell your car or trade it in at some point, since you'll probably find that it's easier to sell and that you will get more for it if you have records of your oil changes. Additionally, you'll need to know when you last had your oil changed so you'll know when you're due to have it done again. Make sure that you notate your vehicle's mileage at the time of your oil change for proper record keeping.

For more information about getting an oil change, contact an auto shop near you.

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