Health and Wellness: Taking the stress out of oil changes

By JOE BENZA

Getting your oil changed nowadays can be stressful, overwhelming and expensive. It doesn’t have to be, but if you don’t have all the information needed to make the best decision for your vehicle and your wallet, it can be tough.

Knowing which oil is right for your vehicle is step number one. A quick Google search or checking your vehicle’s owner’s manual is where you’ll find that information.

Some vehicles require a full-synthetic motor oil, this is usually typical of European manufacturers. However, with the evolution of low viscosity motor oil in Japanese and American vehicles today, you may find yourself in a GMC or Toyota that requires full-synthetic motor oil as well.

Always ensure that you are receiving not only the correct type of motor oil, whether it is synthetic or synthetic blend, but also the correct viscosity.

That’s step two. What is viscosity when it comes to motor oil? Simple, if you pop the hood of your vehicle, or check the owner’s manual, you’ll find the viscosity. You may find your vehicle requires 5w30, 5w20 or 0w20 motor oil. These are the three most popular viscosities on the road today.

Toyota just introduced 0w16 motor oil and 0w08 is coming out later this year.

Viscosity is essential for the engine life and performance. It represents the engine’s resistance to flow. Failure to use the correct viscosity motor oil in your engine recommended by the manufacturer can lead to costly repairs later in the life of the engine.

Step three is to find a trusted oil change facility qualified to work on your vehicle.

Despite popular belief, you do not have to take your vehicle back to the dealership for oil changes or other routine maintenance in order to maintain the warranty. The Magnuson Moss Warranty Act of 1975 protects the consumer from warranties not being honored by manufacturers when routine maintenance is performed by independent and aftermarket repair facilities.

It is important that wherever you bring your vehicle for an oil change, that the correct type of motor oil and viscosity are being used as mentioned earlier. Also, it is standard industry practice to replace the engine oil filter at every oil change, so make sure that this is being done as well during your oil change.

How do you find a trusted place that uses the right type of oil, viscosity and changes the oil filter? Again, a quick Google search and reading the Google reviews is a good start. Ask friends and neighbors where they go to get their vehicle serviced.

The overall health of your vehicle is something that you should not take for granted, as even brand-new vehicles need some love and care. Most places offer a full-service oil change with a multi-point inspection. This includes adding windshield washer fluid, checking tire pressure and inspecting your vehicle’s other vital fluids, belts, hoses, battery, etc.

Owning a vehicle is a big investment and a well-maintained vehicle will always be a like-new vehicle. Deferred maintenance can often lead to big repairs later in the life of the vehicle and the single most important thing you can do for your vehicle is change the oil. In conclusion, understand your vehicle’s type of motor oil and viscosity and then find a trusted repair facility to change your oil and oil filter on a regular basis according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.