The Key to Long Engine Life is Regular Oil Changes at Valvoline

The Importance of Regular Oil Changes

Getting regular oil changes is one of the most important things you can do to maintain your vehicle and keep it running smoothly for years to come. But it's easy to let this routine maintenance slip through the cracks when life gets busy. If you're someone who tends to put off oil changes, doing so can end up costing you in the long run.

The Dangers of Neglecting Oil Changes

An engine requires clean oil to properly lubricate its moving parts and prevent excessive wear and tear. Over time, oil breaks down and becomes contaminated with dirt, debris and metal shavings from the engine. This contaminated oil can't properly protect your engine components and leads to a few problems:

• Increased engine wear - Dirty oil can't lubricate as well, causing more friction and wear on critical engine parts like pistons, cylinder walls and bearings.
• Reduced fuel economy - Contaminated oil creates more drag inside the engine, forcing it to work harder and use more fuel.
• Engine overheating - As oil breaks down it becomes less effective at cooling the engine, potentially leading to overheating issues.
• Sludge build-up - Dirty oil leaves behind deposits that clog small passageways and interfere with proper lubrication.
• Higher emissions - Worn engine parts and suboptimal fuel combustion lead to higher hydrocarbon, nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide emissions.

Ignoring oil changes allows these problems to compound over time. This accelerates engine wear and tear, decreases performance and fuel economy, and ultimately shortens the lifespan of your engine.

How Often Should You Change Your Oil?

Most automakers recommend changing your engine oil every 5,000-7,500 miles or about every 6 months, whichever comes first. This interval provides a general guideline, but your driving habits and conditions can impact how often you need an oil change.

Here are some factors that may require more frequent oil changes:

• Frequent short trips - This prevents the engine from reaching full operating temperature long enough to evaporate moisture contamination in the oil.
• Extensive idling - Idling puts extra stress on the oil and produces more contaminants from incomplete combustion.
• Towing or hauling - The added engine workload requires more protection from clean oil.
• Driving in dusty or dirty conditions - External contaminants get sucked into the engine through the air intake.
• High-mileage vehicles - Older engines with more wear require extra protection.
• Turbocharged/supercharged engines - The increased heat and pressure necessitates more frequent oil changes.

Consult your owner's manual or talk to a certified technician about tailoring your oil change frequency if you regularly drive in these conditions. Don't take a one-size-fits-all approach.

The Benefits of Regular Oil Changes

Changing your oil at the manufacturer's recommended intervals provides some key benefits for your vehicle and wallet:

Longer Engine Life

Regular oil changes remove contaminated oil containing metal shavings and grit that act like sandpaper inside your engine. This prevents excess wear that can lead to costly repairs down the road. Keeping your engine properly maintained can help it last 200,000 miles or more.

Improved Fuel Economy

Fresh oil reduces friction and drag on engine components. This allows the engine to operate more efficiently and get improved gas mileage compared to using old, dirty oil.

Enhanced Performance

Contaminated oil can hinder engine performance. Newer oil cleans out sludge, keeps critical components lubricated, and enables the engine to run smoother.

Avoiding Expensive Repairs

Neglected oil changes can lead to serious engine issues like seized pistons, worn bearings, and low oil pressure. Properly maintaining your vehicle's lubrication prevents these costly breakdowns.

Higher Resale Value

Vehicles with complete maintenance records typically have higher resale value. Regular oil changes show you've taken good care of the engine over the years.

Choosing the Best Oil Change Service

With regular oil changes being vital for your car's health, you want to choose a trusted provider that makes the process fast, affordable and convenient. National chain shops like Valvoline Instant Oil Change are a great option offering several advantages:

Quality Products

Reputable national chains use top-rated oils that meet vehicle manufacturer specifications. This gives you peace of mind the oil meets strict standards for quality and performance.

Trained Technicians

Chain shops employ ASE-certified technicians that are trained on factory service procedures and have experience performing hundreds of oil changes. You can trust they'll get the job done right.

Efficiency

Oil change chains focus on performing common maintenance services as quickly as possible for customer convenience. Most have drive-thru service bays to get you in and out in 30 minutes or less.

Additional Services

Many chains offer extra services beyond oil changes like wiper blades, air filters, serpentine belt replacement, and fluid flushes while you wait.

Nationwide Coverage

Major chains have thousands of locations across the country. You can get consistent fast service and pricing wherever you happen to be.

Digital Inspections

Leading providers use digital inspections to show you vehicle issues and recommend maintenance services. This transparency builds trust.

Warranties

Reputable oil change shops stand behind their work with warranties in case anything goes wrong shortly after a service.

Coupons & Discounts

Chains frequently offer coupons, rebates and seasonal discounts to help make oil changes more affordable.

Valvoline Instant Oil Change

With over 1,400 locations across the United States, Valvoline Instant Oil Change is one of the largest and most trusted oil change chains. They have over 25 years of experience specializing in quick, convenient preventive maintenance services.

Valvoline technicians receive over 200 hours of hands-on training to deliver top-quality services. Their state-of-the-art maintenance facilities allow them to serve around 8 million customers per year.

Some key benefits of choosing Valvoline Instant Oil Change include:

• No appointment needed for drive-thru oil changes in about 15 minutes.
• Highly trained technicians certified by the ASE.
• Premium and synthetic blend Valvoline motor oils.
• Complimentary 30-point maintenance check on every visit.
• Vehicle maintenance recommendations you can trust.
• Nationwide warranty valid for up to 24 months or 24,000 miles.
• Discount coupons and frequent buyer rewards program.

Valvoline Instant Oil Change takes the hassle out of essential maintenance. Their fast, convenient service makes it easy to stay on top of regular oil changes so you can keep your vehicle running strong for years and miles to come.

Maintain Your Vehicle Properly

There's no reason to put off critical routine maintenance like oil changes. With reputable national chains like Valvoline, you can get fast, affordable service from trained technicians using top-quality products. Keeping up on oil changes will extend the life of your vehicle and avoid expensive repairs down the road.

Don't wait until your engine starts making concerning noises or suffers a breakdown. Be car care aware and get on a regular oil change schedule. Your vehicle and wallet will thank you.

FAQs

How often should I get an oil change?

Most automakers recommend changing engine oil every 5,000-7,500 miles or about every 6 months. Check your owner's manual for your vehicle's specific interval. More frequent oil changes may be needed with short trips, extensive idling, towing, and driving in harsh conditions.

Can I go longer between oil changes with synthetic oil?

While synthetic oils are higher quality, they still break down over time. Follow the manufacturer's recommended change interval even when using synthetic oil. Extending changes with synthetic isn't worth the engine damage risk.

Should I get additional services during an oil change?

It's a smart idea to replace filters and inspect other fluids when getting an oil change. Many shops offer complete maintenance checks to advise you on any additional services needed to keep your vehicle running optimally.