Oil Change Service in Vancouver, WA

Following the recommended oil change service schedule is critical to your vehicle’s engine running optimally. The oil works to keep the thousands of internal engine components lubricated, clean the engine as the oil cycles through it, and prevent overheating by absorbing the excess heat caused by friction.

As the oil circulates through the engine, it works to pick up dirt and debris. Over time, this makes it less able to effectively lubricate and absorb heat. If the old, dirty oil is not regularly changed, excess sludge can build up in the engine and cause enough damage to completely seize the engine.

Also, because of the heat-absorbing properties of the oil, trying to run your engine with low oil levels can be highly damaging. Without regular oil changes, the engine’s oil level may become low without you realizing it. If you try to run your engine without a sufficient level of lubrication, metal components can get excessively hot very quickly due to excess friction. This causes premature wear and can lead to total engine failure.

So, maintaining a regular oil change schedule will save you thousands of dollars in a replacement engine. An oil change service is one of the fastest and least expensive maintenance services there is, yet it is one of the most important in extending the life of your vehicle.

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If you have not been following a regular oil change service routine and are wondering if your engine oil needs to be changed, there are a couple of ways to determine if it should be replaced. Of course, you can go by your vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations, which is often between 3,000 and 5,000 miles, or every three months. But you can also look out for:

• The “Low Oil” or “Check Engine” light is illuminated on your instrument panel.
• The oil level is shown as being low when checking it with the oil dipstick.
• When checking the engine oil using the dipstick, the oil comes out in globs, is very dark, is milky-looking, and/or feels gritty between your fingers.
• Your engine sounds louder than usual.

Your best bet for optimal performance is to stick to your vehicle manufacturer’s recommended oil change schedule. When you get an oil change done at an auto service center, they will usually place a sticker on the inside of your windshield. This sticker reminds you when your next oil change is due based on the recommended interval for mileage or time.

Are you due for an oil change? Visit the Vancouver oil change experts here at Gaynors Automotive. Schedule your oil change appointment today!

The engine’s oil filter plays a crucial role in keeping your oil cleaner longer by filtering dirt and debris out of the oil as it circulates through. But the oil filter does reach a point where it can no longer absorb any particles, and it will be dirty oil flowing through the engine.

Changing the oil filter during every oil change means that the new, clean engine oil can effectively do its job and stay clean longer.

Full synthetic oil is specifically designed to offer several significant advantages compared to other types of oil, including:

• It lasts longer than conventional oil because it is much more resistant to oil breakdown.
• Tolerating higher temperatures compared to other types of oil helps to extend the life of your engine.
• Better protection for your engine from the strain that hauling heavy loads or towing causes.
• Significantly reduces the chance of sludge buildup that occurs when oil breaks down.

To help give your engine the maximum protection, we use Valvoline Full Synthetic Oil here at Gaynors Automotive. Schedule your appointment for a complete synthetic oil change at our location nearest you today!

Your vehicle manufacturer’s recommended minimum oil specifications can be found in your owner’s manual. But it might be a good idea to upgrade to a higher quality type of engine oil. Not all oils are created equally. Different types of motor oil have different viscosities and levels of performance for engine protection. There are three factors in determining the best kind of oil for your vehicle:

• The age/total mileage of the vehicle: Many newer vehicles require full synthetic motor oil. Alternatively, when a vehicle ages, the spaces between internal engine components grow larger, making it harder for the oil to effectively reach critical parts in the engine. In this situation, technicians will usually recommend switching to a high-mileage or other high-viscosity oil.
• The type of vehicle: Different types of vehicles require different types of oil. For example, a sports car or similar high-performance vehicle needs a high-performance oil. While a pickup truck that frequently tows or hauls heavy loads will need a different type of oil.
• Your driving habits: Where and how you drive both significantly impact your vehicle’s oil life. If you take a lot of short trips or frequently drive in heavy stop-and-go traffic, you may need higher-quality motor oil to prevent excess wear and tear on the engine. Also, colder temperatures, like we sometimes experience here in the Vancouver area, affect the oil’s viscosity (the rate it flows). This means you may need to use a different oil in the winter.

With so many options for oil, picking the right one for your vehicle can be confusing. Talk to your local Gaynors Automotive technician about which type of oil may be best for your vehicle and driving habits. No matter what oil change you need, our team is here to help!

It’s a good idea to get in the habit of checking your oil between oil changes and topping it off when needed. But this should not take the place of routine oil changes. When you top your oil off to bring the level back up to normal, the new oil won’t clean the old oil.

The new, clean oil just mixes with the old, dirty oil, and you won’t get nearly the optimal performance from the new oil. It will not be able to effectively reduce excess heat caused by friction, properly lubricate the engine components, or absorb dirt and debris. This puts significantly more stress on the internal engine components and pistons.

If you see that your oil level is low, topping it off to temporarily bring it closer to the normal range is fine. But make sure to bring your vehicle to your closest Gaynors Automotive location as soon as possible for a full oil change service.

Schedule your appointment online today!

Yes, it will! Clean oil allows the engine to run optimally and keeps it protected from dirt build-up and metal-to-metal friction. And as the oil circulates through the engine, it absorbs harmful dirt and debris.

The full extent of the improvement after an oil change may not be fully noticeable to you, but there are some specific things where you may see a difference. More than likely, you’ll notice an improvement in your vehicle’s gas mileage due to better lubrication in the engine. Fresh oil also reduces friction and boosts compression, which can slightly improve the vehicle’s acceleration, as well as overall operation. Lastly, an oil change service will help remove deposits and build-up that can reduce the efficiency of your engine, clearing the path for your engine to run at its best.

A professional, full-service oil change involves a lot more than just putting fresh, new oil into your vehicle’s engine. When you bring your vehicle in for an oil change, the mechanic will also be providing valuable additional services that will help keep your car, truck, or SUV running safely and optimally.

During a full-service oil change here at Gaynors Automotive, your mechanic will:

• Drain the old, dirty engine oil from the bottom of the engine.
• Remove the old, dirty oil filter.
• Install a new, clean oil filter.
• Refill the engine with the proper amount of new Valvoline oil. (See above for the different types of motor oil available.)
• Rotate your vehicle’s tires, upon request.
• Lubricate high-wear areas like the chassis, door hinges, and hood.
• Inspect the level and condition of the other system fluids, including the brake fluid, transmission fluid, and power steering fluid.
• Top off the windshield washer fluid and coolant if needed.
• Check the tires’ air pressure and adjust as needed.
• Inspect the lights, battery, wiper blades, belts, and hoses.
• Check the engine air filter and the in-cabin filter.
• Inspect the vehicle’s brake system, suspension system, and other system components.

Both lubricating high-wear areas and the inspection of the rest of the vehicle can help save you lots of problems down the road. Lubricating your chassis helps keep the suspension and steering components protected and the inspection can catch any small issues within other vehicle systems that need to be addressed. These things help keep your vehicle operating at its best and prevent small issues from becoming much bigger and more expensive problems.

Schedule an appointment at your closest Gaynors Automotive location today to get the top oil change in Vancouver and keep your engine running in optimal condition.

Make sure to check out our latest oil change coupons to help make your service visit even more affordable.

In general, for the service itself, an oil change will typically take about 30 to 45 minutes. Compared to other vehicle maintenance services, bringing your vehicle in for an oil change is an easy time commitment.

A full-service oil change will typically also involve other routine inspections and minor maintenance tasks. So, for example, lubricating the chassis, checking the tire pressure, rotating tires, and checking the vehicle fluids will take a little bit more time.

Another factor in how long an oil change service will take is the specific kind of vehicle that is being serviced. Many vehicles have an oil drain plug and oil filter that are easily accessible on the bottom of the vehicle, but this is not true for all cars. If your vehicle’s drain plug is less accessible, the oil change may take a little bit longer to do.

It is always a good idea to schedule an appointment for a specific day and time to bring your vehicle to an auto repair shop for an oil change. Then you won’t have to add any additional time needed due to waiting for the mechanic to even be able to get to your vehicle if you just walk in.

For a long time, the general suggestion was that vehicles should not go more than 3,000 miles without an oil change. But, as vehicle technology/manufacturing and oil technology have improved over the years, engines can often now go longer than that before the oil becomes too dirty and can no longer perform its job effectively.

A typical vehicle on the road today can usually go anywhere from 5,000 miles to 7,500 miles before needing an oil change service. However, many vehicles that use full synthetic engine oil won’t need an oil change until every 10,000 miles to 15,000 miles.

If you are frequently towing heavy loads or constantly driving in stop-and-go traffic, you’ll likely need to reduce the intervals between oil changes. The specific type of engine, local climate, and the quality of the engine’s fuel management system all impact a vehicle’s recommended oil change interval as well.

Keep in mind that most modern cars have a built-in, computerized oil life monitor. So, check and see if your vehicle does. This feature monitors the number of vehicle startups, what temperature the vehicle was started at, how long the engine idles, etc. All of this information is factored in and the vehicle will alert you when it is time for an oil change. This takes the guesswork out of how long your vehicle can go before the next oil change.

If you do not have routine oil changes done as recommended, the engine oil will eventually become a thick, tar-like sludge. This will clog up engine components and can even lead to your engine totally seizing up, which would mean a very expensive replacement.

When you take your vehicle in for a professional oil change service, the cost of replacing the oil filter is included in the cost of the service.

The oil filter should always be replaced during each oil change. Replacing the oil but not the old filter can mean that any dirt or debris picked up by the oil as it circulates through the engine will not be filtered out. This would lead to a need for an oil change much sooner than usually necessary.

So, that is why changing the oil filter is included in a full-service oil change. The combination of fresh, clean oil and a new, clean oil filter helps ensure that your engine is as protected as possible.

The two biggest differences between these oils are how they are made and what they are made of. Full synthetic oil is entirely created in a lab, highly refined, and does not contain any crude mineral oil. Since the manufacturing process is extremely controlled, the oil molecules in full synthetic oil are much more uniform in size and shape.

Alternatively, synthetic blend oil is a mixture of synthetic oil and conventional oil, containing a small amount of crude mineral oil. The goal is to capture the best aspects of those two types of oil. Different synthetic blends will have different percentages of synthetic and conventional oil.

Full synthetic oils break down more slowly than conventional oils and will last much longer in your engine. Synthetic oil change intervals range from 6,000 to 10,000 miles, depending on the specific type of full synthetic oil and the vehicle.

A synthetic blend will provide more longevity than you’d typically see with a conventional oil but not as long as with full synthetic. Synthetic blend oil will usually last between 5,000 and 7,500 miles.

In terms of price, full synthetic oil will be the most expensive type of oil. A synthetic blend will be slightly cheaper, but will be more expensive than conventional oil.

An easy way to picture these different types of oils is:

• Full synthetic oil = Best
• Synthetic blend oil = Better
• Conventional oil = Good

The answer to this will largely depend on the type of vehicle and the particular auto service shop you go to.

The type of oil that is being used will also impact the price of an oil change service. For example, a full synthetic oil change will cost more than a conventional oil change. Also, consider that trucks (and some SUVs) use more oil than cars, so oil changes for those vehicles will naturally cost more.

In comparison to other vehicle maintenance and repair services, an oil change is one of the most affordable ways to help keep your vehicle running at its best and prevent further and more costly problems down the road.

To help make an oil change service even more budget-friendly, we regularly have oil change coupons available. Make sure to check out our coupons page to save money on your next oil change in Vancouver.