Oil Change

You may notice that your car’s performance has started to lag. You’re not getting the same acceleration as when you first bought your car. The gasoline isn’t lasting as long in your tank, necessitating more visits to the service stations. Maybe the car is making sounds you’ve never heard before, or there is smoke starting to come out of the tailpipe. All of these are signs that your vehicle may be overdue for an oil change.

Getting your oil changed is a major part of your vehicle’s routine maintenance. At Rick Hendrick Honda, our team of trained automotive technicians can perform the oil change your vehicle needs, using the correct oil and filter recommended by your manufacturer.

We can also assist you with other parts of routine service and major repairs. Our goal is to make sure your vehicle is in proper working condition so that you can get the most out of the car, truck, or SUV you depend on to get to work, make school runs, get your job done, or just go out for a fun night on the town.

What an Oil Change Does for Your Vehicle

Oil is the lifeblood of your engine. Without oil, the moving parts in your engine would grind to a halt, and you would be left with a vehicle that cannot take you anywhere. This is why it is vital to make sure you get your vehicle’s oil changed on a routine basis. Some of the many ways oil helps your vehicle include:

• Lubrication: Your engine is made up of many moving parts; oil lubricates these parts to prevent friction. When these parts are not properly lubricated, they can do serious damage to your vehicle.
• Cools Your Engine’s Temperature: Your engine is made up of a multitude of moving parts, which, when all working together, generate an extreme amount of heat. When clean oil is running through it, it can keep that temperature down and prevent overheating.
• Cleans the Engine: Clean oil removes debris away from the engine, as well as prevents the formation of deposits.
• Prevents Sludge Buildup: Over time, your oil can lose its viscosity, which can clog the oil passages. By preventing this with regular oil changes, you ensure the oil flows through your engine properly and performs all its many functions.

When to Schedule an Oil Change

It is important to pay attention to oil changes. This is why it is crucial to make it a routine to stop by for an oil change on your car, truck, and SUV. A great deal depends on several factors, but you should never wait more than 12 months between oil changes in your vehicle. This is why you should make sure to schedule your appointment with us.

General Maintenance Intervals

The general rule of thumb for most vehicles is never to go more than six months between oil changes. This ensures your vehicle always has a clean filter and fresh engine oil, keeping everything well lubricated. Most manufacturers set a mileage indicator for your vehicle when it’s time to get your oil changed. Some suggest every 5,000 miles, while others recommend 10,000 miles. This information should be in your vehicle’s owner’s manual.

Most modern vehicles have an indicator light that signals it’s time for an oil change. This is all part of an oil life monitoring system. When you see this, you should probably schedule an oil change within the week. However, if you see a red oil can light, bring your car in immediately, as this can indicate a problem with the oil system, such as a leak, a failing oil pump, or a clog.

Driver Habits and Conditions Can Affect Oil Life

Your vehicle’s oil change frequency depends on several factors. New cars often need fewer oil changes than older vehicles. Older engines consume more oil, experience more wear and tear, and accumulate more debris. The type of oil your vehicle uses can also affect it. Full synthetic oils often allow you to go up to 10,000 miles between oil changes.

There are a variety of factors that can affect your oil’s longevity, which include:

• Driving Habits: Both frequent short trips and lengthy excursions on the road can shorten your oil’s life.
• Stop-and-Go Driving: Spend a lot of your driving life sitting in traffic? That constant stop/start movement makes your oil work harder and break down faster.
• Towing Heavy Loads: Putting your vehicle’s towing capabilities to the test can put a serious amount of stress on your engine if you do this often, which can result in higher engine temperatures, making your oil work even harder.
• Outside Temperature: When it’s cold outside, your oil can become thicker and harder to circulate through the engine, leading to moisture buildup. At the other end of the spectrum, extreme heat can cause your oil to thin and accelerate oxidation.

Leave Your Oil Change to Our Expert Technicians

When you take your car in for an oil change, you want to go to a service center you can trust. Our team has the experience you need to make sure the job is done right. We follow all recommended procedures from your vehicle’s automaker, so you have peace of mind when you bring your car to us.

Our Team Will Provide You With a Comprehensive Oil Change

Each vehicle has things that must be paid attention to when changing the oil. Our staff has the training to handle your car, ensuring the proper steps are taken. We will follow your automaker’s procedures so that nothing is missed and your vehicle will be in top shape when you leave our service center.

We Use Only Manufacturer-Recommended Oil and Filters

Every automaker recommends a specific type of oil for its vehicles, as well as the right oil filter. Some are fully synthetic, while others are blends. The key is to use the right oil and filter when doing an oil change. Using the wrong oil or filter can cause issues with your vehicle down the road. When you bring your car to us, our service team will take the time to review your vehicle’s specifications, ensuring we use the exact oil and filter recommended by its manufacturer.

Additional Benefits of Routine Oil Change Visits

Bringing your car in for a routine oil change also has ancillary benefits. Not only will it help your car continue to run smoothly with a new filter and fresh oil, but it will also allow us to check for any other issues that may be wrong with your vehicle.

Multi-Point Inspection Opportunities

Your car, truck, or SUV is a complex system of moving parts. This is not just the case with the engine, but also the transmission, drivetrain, brakes, steering column, tires, and electrical system. All of these features need to work together to deliver a safe driving experience for you.

When you bring your vehicle to us for an oil change, our technicians will also perform a multi-point inspection. This will detect any issues that may need to be addressed with other parts of your vehicle. This is all part of our commitment to helping you keep your vehicle in proper working order.

Early Identification of Maintenance Needs

A multi-point inspection allows us to detect any issues with your vehicle, including those that need maintenance now or in the near future. This could be a variety of things, like:

• Unevenly worn tires
• Excessive wear on the brake pads
• Low coolant or transmission fluid levels
• Unaligned wheels

When our service team spots something that needs to be addressed on your vehicle, we will let you know and provide a plan of action to address the matter. This includes providing you with service options for your vehicle.

Come in Today for Your Vehicle’s Next Oil Change

Keeping your vehicle on the road in proper working condition requires paying attention to routine service visits. Your engine’s oil is key to keeping all of the working parts lubricated and functioning properly. This is why it is vital to pay attention to routine oil changes and schedule them at least as frequently as recommended by your vehicle’s manufacturer.

When you bring your vehicle to Rick Hendrick Honda for your next oil change, you will know that its service is handled by trained technicians who will get the job done right and let you know about other maintenance needs on your vehicle. Come to our service center today for your car’s next oil change!