An Oil Change Keeps Your Vehicle Running Smoothly
Car engines are subject to a tremendous amount of internal friction. In order to prevent that friction from damaging engine parts, motor oil is circulated throughout with the use of an oil pump. The oil lubricates to reduce friction, minimize wear and tear, and keep an engine running properly.
Your car will continue to run smoothly if you make a point of addressing regular maintenance issues. One such issue is changing the oil. Motor oil breaks down over time. As it does, it is less effective at reducing friction. An oil change is meant to replace aging oil that no longer does the job it's supposed to do.
Note that car makers establish oil changes schedules for their vehicles. If you don't know how frequently to change your oil, consult your owner's manual. You can also find maintenance schedule information online. Oil is typically changed every 5,000 to 7,000 miles.
Doing Your Own Oil Change
One option for changing your oil is to do it yourself. As far as car maintenance goes, oil changes are one of the simplest projects. You just need to know where to find the oil pan, oil filter, and intake for pouring new oil into the engine. All this information can be found in your owner's manual.
The process begins by draining old oil from the engine. Place a bucket or tub underneath the oil pan and remove the oil plug by unscrewing it. Then just wait a few minutes until all of the old oil completely drains. Clean and replace the plug.
The next step is to remove and replace the oil filter. The filter unscrews with a specialized wrench you can buy with your filter. Replacing the filter is followed by adding new oil through the top of the engine. Check your owner's manual for the type of oil you need and the number of quarts your engine takes.
Oil Change Chains
A second option for oil changes is to take your car to one of the many retail chains that specializes in this sort of thing. Oil change chains can be found in most large and midsize cities. They are capable of changing your oil and doing a multi-point inspection in 30 minutes to an hour.
Taking your car to a chain eliminates the hassle of crawling under your car and getting dirty. However, the convenience comes at a price. You will pay more for the oil at a chain than you would your local auto parts store. You'll also have to pay for the labor.
Most oil change chains will also change your oil filter, rotate your tires, check your other fluids, and even replace burned out headlamps and turn signals. Some will replace your wiper blades as well. All of these additional things cost more, so just be aware before you agree to extra service.
Getting Coupons for Oil Changes
Oil change coupons represent an opportunity for you to save money on an oil change. A lot of the retail chains offer coupons via online sites, newspaper ads, and direct mail marketing. You can also get coupons for oil changes done at big-box department stores, wholesale clubs and at oil change chain stores.
Be cautious when searching for coupons online. While most coupon sites are legitimate, there are plenty of illegitimate sites as well. There are never any guarantees that a coupon you find online will be accepted by whomever you take your car to. Also be sure to pay attention to expiration dates.
A safer bet for legitimate oil change coupons are group shopping organizations. These are organizations that work out special deals with companies to offer discounted prices to their members. You can usually count on their coupons to be legitimate. You can also go and check the websites of your favorite chain. They tend to offer coupons regionally to help drive more customers.
Remember that changing your oil on schedule will help keep your car running smoothly. Regular oil changes are well worth the time and effort because they add miles to your car.+7
