The Dreaded Oil Change

I’m curious … have you found your “auto home?” Did you ponder my advice from last month? Let’s be honest, going into your “auto home” certainly won’t be the feeling you get when you hug your Marine son after being separated from him

for 13-long weeks of boot camp (as I recently did). But it should give you “warm fuzzies” as you walk in the front door. Not because you are excited to spend money on your car but because you know that your shop is honest and will take care of it while you relax com-fortably. I hope you have found this or that you have a place in mind to try … if not, give me a shout and I can hook you up.

Now then, fasten your seat belt and let’s get started on the basics … the dreaded oil change. When was your last one? Is that little oil change sticker looking at you as a reminder that you are long overdue? Are you putting it off for some reason? Not enough time? Inconvenience? You might figure, “It’s already 3 months past-due, what’s another week, right?” Wrong!

Ladies, let me ask you this … would you put off your hair appointment one extra day if it was due or even overdue? And gentle-men, would you mow the lawn two weeks after it’s due? Really, if you did delay either of these, the only repercussions you might have are some straggly hairs or lawn. Now then, if you wouldn’t put off your hair or lawn maintenance, why would you put off more important maintenance that could possibly result in expensive repairs?

Remember how I mentioned blowing up the engine of my first car? This is the reason: I did not have my oil changed. In my particu-lar case, I believe my car was burning oil for some reason and because of that it ran low

and eventually ran out. An engine cannot run with-out oil, just like your body cannot run without water. Additionally, your vehicle does not like dirty oil, and eventually that dirty oil will turn into sludge; a petro-leum jelly. This jelly can clog passages and prevent oil from reaching certain areas of your engine. This causes premature damage to parts of the engine and will lead to expen-sive engine repairs. Either of these situa-tions (lack of oil or the jelly) can be avoided if you get regular oil and filter changes. Even waiting an additional week past when you notice it’s overdue can make a difference.

How often do you change your oil? Your manufacturer will have recommendations on how many miles you can go between changes so your oil can be changed according to how much the engine is used. They will also rec-ommend the number of months between oil changes. This is because the additives in your oil will break down over time and not be as effective. This time/mileage schedule is based on the type of oil recommended. If you are using synthetic oil, generally you can go longer between oil changes. Keep this in mind: If your manufacturer recommenda-tions are based on the use of synthetic oil, and you’re using conventional oil, you will need more frequent oil changes.

Do you even know what type of oil you are using? Or should be using? This can seem more complicated than it really is. Most of you probably use good old-fashioned crude oil with the proper viscosity and grade rec-ommended by your manufacturer. Certainly there is nothing wrong with this option and, of course, it’s the cheapest. But have

you ever considered other options? Based on where you live (cold climates?) and how you drive (stop-and-go traffic?), synthetic oil can benefit you greatly. Synthetic oil keeps the engine cleaner, reduces engine wear at high temperatures, provides better cold-tem-perature starts and improves fuel efficiency. That’s great news considering how expensive gas is these days! Though it’s more expen-sive at the time of the oil change, in the long run it can lead to a healthier vehicle, fewer future repairs and even more time between oil changes (5,000 miles vs. 3,000 miles). Let me put it this way: If you buy a better qual-ity pair of jeans, that may cost a little more in the beginning, but you know they will look better, fit better and last longer, do you choose those? Or do you buy the cheaper pair of jeans that may not wear as well, look as good and need to be replaced sooner? Which is the better option? As you ponder this, think about this in relation to oil. Did you know there are other oil options, such as the high-mileage and semi-synthetic, as well? I recommend you ask which oil is best for you the next time you visit your “auto home.”

Do you know the brand of oil your “auto home” uses? Reputable oil brands can make a difference. Some oil companies will add just a bit of synthetic and call it a partial or

semi-synthetic. Does this really make much difference? The best way an auto repair shop can be sure they’re using quality oil is to buy it from a company with a good reputation. Thereby, selling it to you will leave you and your “auto home” with peace of mind.

You don’t have to be oil-savvy, that is your “auto home’s” job. Ask questions at your next oil change, be open-minded and trust that your “auto home” will not lead you astray. You don’t have to be oil-savvy, that is your “auto home’s” job. Ask questions at your next oil change, be open-minded and trust that your “auto home” will not lead you astray. But most impor-tantly, get in for that oil change on time, every time ... and hug your chil-dren every chance you get.

By Jeana Babcock

Submitted Photo:Jeana Babcock hugs

her son Jake.

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