Oil absorbs the heat produced by the friction of moving parts and keeps your engine healthy. Essentially, it acts as the lifeblood of your car, so it’s important to ensure that it stays clean and works effectively. Read on to find out when it’s time to contact your Chrysler dealer for an oil change.
Checking Your Mileage
When it comes to oil, the needs of different vehicles may vary according to age. Make sure that you check your owner’s manual for their specific recommendations for oil according to the make and model, especially if your car is older. This is important, as it could affect your warranty.
The standard recommended interval for new oil used to be every 3,000 miles or three months. However, synthetic oil lasts longer and needs fewer changes. As a rule of thumb, it’s a good idea to include it as part of your regular maintenance check every 5,000 miles, or six months. However, it should definitely be completed every 10,000 miles, or once a year.
Checking Your Oil
Over time, oil becomes contaminated with dirt and carbon from the engine and stops working well. It’s recommended that you check it once a month, as well as before any long journey. Remove the dipstick, wipe it clean, then replace and remove it again.
This will show you the level of the oil, but also its condition. Ideally it should be amber and translucent. Black or dark brown oil is dirty and less effective, and will need changing to protect your car’s health.
Type of Oil
Oil now comes in three types:
- Traditional or conventional motor oil is refined crude oil
- A synthetic blend is conventional motor oil mixed with synthetic-based oil
- Synthetic oil has been developed with a unique blend of additives to meet the needs of your engine.
Synthetic oil needs changing less often. It has been specially formulated to reduce wear and tear and to protect your engine from extreme temperatures, so it’s the best fit for most cars.
The Importance of Oil
When the oil isn’t changed, it gradually becomes sludgier and stops removing the heat from the engine as effectively. This can lead to overheating and sticking piston rings, and shortens your engine’s life. The worst-case scenario occurs when the engine seizes up completely and becomes scrap metal. Scheduling timely maintenance is definitely worth the effort.
A change of oil is a simple procedure, but as with all maintenance, you want to know that your car is in the very best hands. Contact us at Bob Ruwart Motors and schedule an appointment for the peace of mind that comes from knowing that your vehicle is receiving the highest standard of care.
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