Oil Change Service in Dublin, CA

There are many things you can do to keep your vehicle operating at peak performance. One of those is to get regular oil changes, which can ensure that your engine gets the perfect lubrication it needs. So, you might be wondering, how often do I need an oil change? Wonder no more with our helpful guide discussing how often your vehicle might need an oil change, along with different types of oils available on the market today. Keep on reading to learn more.

How Often Do You Need an Oil Change?

Various vehicles can have different oil change requirements. The type of oil you use in your car also affects how often you need an oil change. Researching your specific vehicle's oil needs can help you determine the best oil change schedule to keep your automobile in optimal condition. Here's some general guidance about how often your car might need an oil change:

• Depending on your engine oil type and driving habits, your engine oil might need to be changed every 3,000, 7,500, or 10,000 miles.
• If you don't drive often or far, you might need to change your oil every three, six, or 12 months.

There are other ways to tell if your oil needs changing rather than just relying on your mileage or timeframe. Checking your oil by using a dipstick can help you gauge the oil level and color. If the color is amber and within acceptable levels, then you might not need an oil change. If the color is dark brown, black, or another color, it might be worth to get it changed.

Many new vehicles have done away with the use of dipstick to check the oil level and color but instead use sensors to determine if oil levels are too low or if you need an oil change. With the use of these sensors, you'll be notified via a message on your instrument cluster screen or with a yellow illuminated oil can that sometimes tells you to change your engine oil soon.

Other Oil Change Symptoms

There are also a few other telltale signs of needing an oil change, which can help you prevent a simple oil change from becoming a big problem. Some key symptoms to be on the lookout for include:

• Blue exhaust smoke.
• Engine starting problems.
• Engine running issues.
• Engine overheating.
• Oil leaks.
• Car emits a burnt oil smell.
• Oil pressure gauge is reading too high or too low.
• Engine noises or knocking sounds.

If you notice any of these symptoms, getting your oil changed and engine checked right away is important. Getting regular oil changes helps prevent these symptoms and keep your money in your wallet rather than pay for engine repairs.

Impact of Too Much or Too Little Oil

Too little oil in your engine can cause extensive damage to your car, sometimes requiring a completely new engine. This is because oil helps to lubricate all the moving parts of your vehicle's engine, and when there's no oil, there's no lubrication. Lack of lubrication can cause excessive wear on your engine's metal components and can lead to a seized engine. While it might be tempting to overfill your oil to prevent this, it can do more harm than good, too.

Too much oil circulating through your engine can increase the pressure on the crankshaft because the engine is sealed and the pressure has nowhere else to go. Overfilling your engine oil can cause the oil to froth and create air pockets, resulting in your engine parts not getting the lubrication they need. Too much oil can also cause oil leaks, spark plug issues, and catalytic converter problems.

Different Types of Oil

There are many types of engine oil that come in different temperature and viscosity ratings. The following are different classes of engine oil to choose from:

• Conventional: The most commonly used motor oil, conventional oil is refined crude oil and works well for many different vehicles.
• Synthetic blend: This type of motor oil combines conventional oil with a synthetic type, which offers the lower cost associated with conventional oil and some of the benefits of a full synthetic.
• Full synthetic: This is highly refined conventional oil combined with powder additives and carrier oil that evenly coats your engine with lubricant.
• High mileage: If your vehicle is older and has over 75,000 miles, it might benefit from high-mileage oil that has conditioners, detergents, and other additives to help prevent costly engine breakdowns.

Aside from the classes, there are also different oil weights, which actually refer to the oil viscosity. This is usually represented by two numbers that are separated with a “W,” such as 5W-30. The higher the number, the thicker the viscosity. The first number represents the viscosity when starting the engine on a cold start-up. The second number represents the viscosity as the engine warms to 212 degrees Fahrenheit.

How Dublin Hyundai Can Help

Getting your engine oil changed at Dublin Hyundai can result in better engine performance, better gas mileage, less harmful emissions, and extended engine life. Our highly trained technicians have many years of experience in keeping your vehicle's best performance. They also excel at oil changes and oil filter replacements.

Plus, you can bundle your oil change service with other options, such as getting all your other essential vehicle fluids checked and having a free multipoint inspection. This lets you stay on top of your vehicle's maintenance and resolve any potential future problems so you can save big. Speaking of savings, we also offer many different service deals, so you can get the most out of your oil change service without breaking your budget.

Is Your Next Oil Change Coming Up?

Are you nearing the mileage for your next oil change? Don't wait, and schedule your service now at Dublin Hyundai so you can keep your engine performing at its best. Stop by or contact our service team, and we can get you in whenever you're ready. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

A Mechanic Opening the Oil Filler Cap of a Car Engine by Fatih Erden is licensed with Pexels License