Slick Decision
Ah, the most basic of the basic maintenance services performed on a car – the oil change.For some, the earliest memories we have of cars include riding to see your grandparents on Sunday, fighting with a sibling over who would sit in the middle of the backseat – and watching Dad make a complete mess of the driveway as he changed the oil in the family car.
For many reasons, it is no longer a rite of passage for adults to perform this task. We may not have the space, the tools, the time, or the desire to allow our children to hear us use such foul language when we can’t get the filter off or can’t find the right wrench. So, it has become common to take our car to the professional for the most basic of maintenance services – the oil change.
But a question does arise: if it’s so basic, why are there so many differences depending on where you go?
In case you were unaware, engine oil does a lot of things that keeps your car moving. “Along with keeping the engine lubricated, it reduces engine wear by removing particles that are produced as an engine operates, regulates the engine temperature, and reduces the friction that naturally occurs due to all the moving parts,” according to Paul Pasquale, owner of Living The Dream Auto Care in Canton and Mansfield. “Regularly changing a car’s engine oil is necessary to ensure proper engine function, as well as to ensure that a vehicle engine lasts for as long as possible.”
So, there is no question as to why – but when and where?
A common belief is that an oil change should occur every 3 months or 3,000 miles. Well, yes and no. The manuals for many new cars suggest changing the oil from 5,000 to as much as 7,500 miles – particularly if synthetic oil is recommended. Also, driving conditions – and how you drive, as well – along with the age of the vehicle, can affect when the service is necessary. Simply put, the tougher you are on your engine, the more frequently oil changes should occur.
However you drive, though, there is a benefit to staying with the 3month/3,000 mile program: you get to see your auto technician on a consistent basis. (What?!) This is where the where comes in.
Most service centers that do oil changes also do inspections. The inspections differ, however, in degree of thoroughness. Anyplace that advertises a 10-minute oil change would be hard-pressed to conduct more than a superficial inspection of any of the components of the vehicle.
At the other end of the spectrum, a complete inspection may take an hour – but potential problems with the vehicle can be identified and averted. The process can be seen as similar to going to the dentist (sure, another fun place to visit) for a cleaning and x-rays. Finding out about a cavity is far less painful than dealing with a tooth that, left untreated, became abscessed.
Places such as Living The Dream Auto Care do complete inspections for free with an oil change. And while finding out about, oh, a torn axle boot is not a joyous occasion, neither is losing a wheel during rush hour. Ouch! Give me the abscessed tooth.
If you’re going to go somewhere to get an oil change, get a complete inspection at the same time – to ensure more miles of worry-free driving. And look for the other amenities, as well. If you’re gonna wait an hour, you may as well find a place that is inviting.
Computer access, cable TV, fresh coffee and snacks, and – they even wash and vacuum the vehicle for free with the service. And they advertise the cleanest bathrooms of any shop in the state. Give them a call at (774) 719-2631 in Mansfield or (339) 237-4711 in Canton to schedule an appointment.
If you’re still committed to the oil change in the driveway, please watch the foul language and the spilled oil. There are children around.
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