5 Signs Your Car Needs an Oil Change Service
It’s no secret that drivers in Vancouver, WA (and everywhere else) need to make oil change service a priority. Your vehicle relies on clean motor oil to keep its engine clean, protect it from overheating, and provide lubrication for moving engine parts. But when this oil gets too old or dirty, it won’t be able to function as intended — potentially putting your vehicle at risk of severe damage.
To avoid such issues, you’ll want to know when it’s time for professional oil change service in Vancouver. Keep reading for our guide to the telltale signs that can help you determine when you need to take care of this service.
When Do You Need Oil Change Service in Vancouver?
For the most part, creating an oil change schedule will be enough to help you take care of oil changes when your vehicle needs them. However, establishing one of these schedules involves more than getting oil changes every 3,000 miles or three months. Instead, you’ll want to check your car’s user manual for guidance and take your driving habits into account before deciding on an oil change interval.
But no matter how much thought you put into your oil change schedule, there’s always a possibility that you’ll need this service sooner than you think. With that in mind, keep an eye out for red flags such as:
1. Illuminated Warning Lights
Countless issues in your vehicle can cause your “check engine” light to activate — and dangerously low oil levels certainly fall into this category. However, because this light can point to a wide variety of problems, you should never assume insufficient oil is to blame in this situation. Instead, visit a trustworthy local auto shop for diagnostic service.
2. Changes in How You Travel
When you spend more time than usual on the road, you may be putting more demand on your vehicle than you’d think. If you’re planning to go on a road trip (or just got back from one), checking your oil level may be wise.
3. Strange Engine Noises
When you hear unusual engine noises, your first instinct may be to worry that this component is dealing with serious issues. That’s certainly an understandable reaction, but sounds like “knocking” can also occur when your vehicle is forced to use old motor oil. In that case, scheduling oil change service in Vancouver should be enough to set things right.
Along with that, you may hear a “ticking” noise while starting your car due to oil problems. That can happen when dirty oil takes an abnormally long time to circulate in your vehicle’s engine.
4. Smoke From Your Exhaust
Is there smoke coming from your car’s exhaust pipe? If so, you should know that oil issues (and a few other problems) can cause this issue. When this situation is caused by not having enough oil, you may spot gray or blue exhaust fumes. But even if this problem isn’t related to your motor oil, you should still visit a local tire shop to get it resolved.
5. Visible Oil Problems
Not all signs that you need an oil change call attention to themselves. For example, you won’t be able to see a low oil level in your vehicle unless you know how to check your oil manually. Even so, this is a dead giveaway that your car is due for a Vancouver oil change — regardless of how long it’s been since the last time you got this service.
No matter how much oil is left in your vehicle, this fluid won’t be able to do its job if it’s dirty. With that in mind, Vancouver-area drivers should also take time to assess the condition of their oil while checking their oil levels. If the oil is visibly dirty or has an unexpectedly thick consistency, you’ll want to get an oil change as soon as possible.
Find the Right Oil Type for You
Whether you’ve noticed one of the problems listed above or you’re overdue for a Vancouver oil change based on your service schedule, knowing what type of motor oil is best for your vehicle is a must. There are a few different forms of oil available today, and each of these options has its own pros and cons.
The three most popular varieties of motor oil on the market are:
Conventional Oil
Conventional (or “standard”) oil is made from naturally occurring crude mineral oil. This type of motor oil isn’t normally sold as-is; instead, it gets partially refined, improving its viscosity and ability to protect engines.
Since it’s cheaper than any similar product, conventional oil is still the most popular form of motor oil out there. However, it can’t match other oil types when it comes to performance, and you’ll need to get oil changes more frequently while using conventional oil in your vehicle.
Full Synthetic Oil
In contrast to conventional oil, full synthetic oil is made from scratch in settings like laboratories and factories. As a result, this is an extremely refined product capable of reaching higher performance standards than any other oil type.
When you use full synthetic oil, you’ll benefit from better engine protection than conventional oil, and you can wait longer between one oil change and the next. The only catch is that this oil type costs more than conventional oil.
Synthetic Blend Oil
Since conventional oil and full synthetic oil both have their own perks, it may be challenging to choose one of these options for your vehicle. Fortunately, you don’t have to — instead, you could give synthetic blend oil a try. This product is a mixture of the two oil types described above, allowing it to strike a balance between them.
With synthetic blend oil, you’ll get better engine protection than conventional oil provides at a lower price tag than full synthetic oil. However, this product won’t perform quite as effectively as full synthetic oil or help you save as much as conventional oil.
Get Oil Change Service You Can Rely On
When you need oil change service in Vancouver, you shouldn’t go just anywhere to take care of this vital task. Instead, you’ll want to choose a high-quality business for this job — and that’s exactly what you’ll get while visiting Gaynor’s Automotive.
Gaynor’s Automotive employs ASE-certified mechanics, meaning you’ll get service from the industry’s most qualified professionals while visiting one of our locations. Along with that, we provide full-service oil changes, affordable pricing, and valuable online coupons. If you’re ready to set up an oil change, make an appointment at Gaynor’s today!
