Has it been a while since your last oil change in Hays County, TX? If so, your car might be dealing with problems, such as rough idling or reduced fuel economy. But these signs aren’t the only way to tell you’re overdue for an oil change — you may also notice an active oil change light on your vehicle’s dashboard.
Fortunately, you don’t have to panic when your oil change light (or oil pressure light) activates. By knowing what to do and where to go in this situation, you’ll be able to keep your vehicle running smoothly and stop potential engine trouble in its tracks.
Understanding Your Oil Lights
Depending on what oil-related problem your vehicle is dealing with, one of two lights may activate on its dashboard:
Oil Change Light
When you think about your vehicle’s “oil light,” there’s a good chance that the oil change light comes to mind. This light lets you know when it’s time to visit a local auto shop for an oil change service.
If your oil change light turns on for a few seconds when you start your vehicle, there’s nothing to worry about — this process is simply a way of testing the bulbs in your dashboard. On the other hand, you’ll definitely want to set up an oil change appointment if this light stays on for more than a few seconds.
Oil Pressure Light
Though you should never ignore an active oil change light, this isn’t usually a sign of an impending emergency. That’s not the case for your oil pressure light, however; if it activates on your dashboard, you need to take action immediately.
When an engine runs as it should, it gets a steady flow of oil from the oil pump to keep its moving parts lubricated (among other benefits). Without that flow of oil, your engine could get seriously damaged — and if something gets in the way of this process, your oil pressure light will alert you to the problem.
Don’t Rely Solely on Monitoring Systems
Your oil change and oil pressure lights can make it much easier to tell when your vehicle needs professional attention. However, these systems (and the sensors they rely on) aren’t perfect. With that in mind, you’ll want to:
Create an Oil Change Schedule
It’s easy to assume that changing your oil every three months or 3,000 miles is ideal — after all, this is the standard advice most drivers receive on this topic. Even so, this oil change interval might not be the best fit for your own needs.
Factors that can affect your ideal oil change schedule include:
- Your car’s age. Typically, older vehicles will need oil changes more often than newer cars.
- How you drive. Do you regularly drive long distances under 50 mph or travel on dirt roads? These are two examples of severe driving habits, which you can counteract by getting oil changes twice as often as usual.
- What temperatures you drive in. Hays County’s brutal summer heat can have an impact on your car’s oil, making it wise to increase your oil change frequency.
- What oil type you use. The fact is, some oil types deliver better results than others. For example, a full synthetic oil change will last considerably longer than fresh conventional oil.
Check Your Oil Manually
To perform a manual oil check, park your car and give it a few minutes to cool down. Then, turn it off and locate your dipstick in the oil reservoir under the hood. After wiping off any leftover oil, put the dipstick back in the reservoir and pull it out to find your vehicle’s current oil level.
If your oil level falls in a cross-hatched area or between two markings on the dipstick, you should be OK for now. If it’s lower than that, you’ll want to set up an oil change soon — even if your oil change light isn’t active.
How Can You Reset Your Oil Change Indicator?
After you get an oil change, you won’t need your oil change light to stay on. To deactivate this light and start your oil life calculation system’s countdown to your next oil change, you must reset this system after your service appointment.
Performing a manual reset of your car’s oil change light isn’t complicated — all you have to do is hold down a few buttons on your vehicle’s instrument panel. (Since the exact buttons vary between vehicles, check your car’s manual for a more detailed explanation). On the off-chance that your vehicle requires specialized equipment to reset this system, you can ask the mechanics at your go-to auto shop for assistance.
Where to Get an Oil Change in Hays County, TX
Are you looking for a full-service oil change in Hays County, TX? If so, you’re in the right place. The ASE-certified mechanics at Reliable Automotive can take care of a synthetic oil change service for you, along with any other maintenance or repair work you might need.
Better yet, we offer highly affordable prices — and that’s before our customers get additional savings with our online coupons. Get started by scheduling an oil change today!
It’s no secret that motor oil can protect your vehicle’s engine from overheating. Even so, it’s easy to underestimate the role oil plays in controlling engine heat — this fluid is responsible for up to 40% of all engine cooling.
But since your oil will eventually degrade, you can’t afford to rely on the same oil for too long. Instead, you’ll need regular oil changes to manage your engine’s heat (and provide additional performance benefits for your vehicle).
How Can Oil Changes Keep Your Engine Cool?
As a car’s engine operates, its moving parts will inevitably generate heat — and that warmth could cause your engine to overheat if left alone. Fortunately, motor oil can help by absorbing and redirecting this heat.
That said, even the best motor oil doesn’t have an infinite life span. At some point, your oil will get dirty; when that happens, it will lose its heat-management abilities. If you leave your oil unchanged for long enough, it could even reflect heat, making it harder for your engine to run like it should.
When your oil starts to break down, there’s only one way to resolve this situation. You’ll need to schedule a full-service oil change at a trustworthy Hays County, TX auto shop before things can get worse.
Other Oil Change Benefits
Fresh motor oil’s ability to manage engine heat is definitely helpful, but this is far from the only advantage oil can deliver. Regular oil change service will also:
Keep Your Engine Clean
A clean engine is a functional engine, and motor oil can help keep it that way. As fresh oil circulates in your engine, it traps dirt and debris before neutralizing these materials with the help of your oil filter. But when your oil filter gets clogged and your oil starts collecting contaminants, it’s time to set up an oil change in Hays County, TX.
Lubricate Engine Parts
If your engine’s moving parts aren’t thoroughly lubricated by clean motor oil, they’ll start grinding against each other — and that can do a lot of damage to your engine’s inner workings. Motor oil will become less effective at lubricating these parts over time, but an oil change service can help set things right.
Boost Your Fuel Efficiency
Thanks to oil’s heat management and lubricating abilities, engines can run as smoothly as possible when they have access to fresh oil. As a result, they won’t have to burn as much fuel to function — lowering your vehicle’s fuel consumption and helping you save money at the pump.
Keep Rust at Bay
When rust has an opportunity to develop inside your engine, there’s a chance that rust flakes will break off and contaminate your oil. That’s why most leading oil brands include additives designed to stop internal rust before it can get a foothold.
What Oil Type Is Best at Heat Management?
Though any type of motor oil can prevent your engine from overheating, you should know that switching to a different type of oil can affect your ability to control engine heat — for better or worse. Here’s how three widely used oil types stack up in terms of heat management:
Conventional Oil
Conventional oil is the most popular and affordable motor oil type on the market today. But while you might assume it also delivers the best performance, that isn’t the case. Conventional oil won’t be able to cool your engine as effectively as other products in this category.
Full Synthetic Oil
Full synthetic oil is formulated with the goal of reaching extremely high-performance standards, meaning it can keep friction to a minimum and transfer heat as quickly as possible. And while it technically costs more than conventional oil, full synthetic oil also has a much longer life span — allowing you to wait longer between one synthetic oil change and the next.
Synthetic Blend Oil
Finally, synthetic blend oil is a mixture of the two oil types described above. This allows it to serve as a midrange oil option in every possible way, including heat-management capabilities.
Enjoy the Best Oil Change in Hays County, TX
When you need an oil change in Hays County, TX, you deserve the best. With that in mind, you’ll want to look for a local auto shop that offers perks such as:
- Qualified mechanics. No one knows more about car repair and maintenance than ASE-certified mechanics, so you’ll want your go-to auto shop to employ these workers.
- Full-service oil changes. In addition to changing your oil, the technicians handling your oil change should take care of additional maintenance services as part of this job.
- Money-saving opportunities. Truly great auto shops offer deals in the form of online coupons, helping customers take care of their vehicles without breaking the bank.
- Handy locations. Do you live in San Marcos, Buda, or Kyle? If so, you deserve an auto shop that provides the services you need within your community.
If you want to benefit from all these advantages and more, Reliable Automotive has you covered. We offer the best synthetic oil changes in all of Hays County, and we have the strong local reputation to prove it. Get started by scheduling your oil change today!
As most local drivers already know, waiting too long between one oil change in Hays County, TX, and the next can cause problems for your vehicle. But even if you haven’t noticed any obvious red flags, it still might be time for oil change service.
No matter how smoothly your car seems to be running, it needs immediate professional attention once its oil change light or oil pressure light turns on. If you’re wondering what these lights mean or what to do when they illuminate, read on for our complete guide on this subject.
Your Oil Warning Lights: A Closer Look
Many vehicles don’t have just one dashboard light meant to indicate oil-related problems. Instead, you might see one of two lights activate in situations like these:
Oil Change Light
The oil change light lets drivers know that their vehicles are using motor oil that’s no longer fully functional. When this light turns on, you’ll need to stop by a local auto shop to get a full-service oil change.
Does your oil change light turn on for a second or two when you turn on your vehicle? If so, there’s nothing to fear — this is just a method used to test the bulbs that illuminate your dashboard warning lights. However, an oil change light that stays lit for more than a few seconds is something you’ll need to address.
Oil Pressure Light
Though you should take steps to deal with an active oil change light, this isn’t as time-sensitive as other warning lights. Take your oil pressure light, for example: When this light illuminates, there’s a good chance that you’re facing a much more urgent situation.
An engine that’s running correctly will receive a constant flow of oil from the oil pump, allowing its moving parts to stay lubricated. If anything interrupts that oil flow, your engine could suffer from serious damage as a result. When your vehicle is dealing with low oil pressure, your oil pressure light will let you know there’s an issue to address.
Other Ways to Protect Your Car’s Oil
Thanks to your vehicle’s oil change and oil pressure lights, you’ll usually know when your car encounters problems involving motor oil. But since these systems and their sensors can fail, you can’t rely on them exclusively. Instead, be sure to:
Follow a Schedule for Oil Changes
Many drivers stick to the conventional wisdom for oil changes by scheduling this service every 3,000 miles or three months. Of course, this is just a suggestion — not a law. Therefore, you may benefit from following a different oil change schedule.
While trying to determine your ideal oil change interval, consider factors such as:
- The type of oil you use. The various oil types on the market differ drastically in terms of performance and life span. If you use conventional oil, you’ll have a shorter oil change interval than you would with synthetic oil changes.
- The conditions you drive in. Hays County is infamous for its hot summers, and these temperatures can affect your vehicle’s oil. To counteract that, consider getting oil changes more frequently than you would otherwise.
- The way you drive. If you commonly tow heavy loads or drive on dirt roads, you have severe driving habits. The best way to deal with this situation is by doubling your oil change frequency.
- The age of your vehicle. Generally speaking, the older a car is, the more often it will need oil changes.
Check Your Own Oil
Manual oil checks are a quick, accurate way to gauge your vehicle’s oil level. To take care of this task, put your car in park and let it cool down for a few minutes before turning it off. Next, find your dipstick in the oil reservoir under your vehicle’s hood, take it out, and wipe off any oil left on it.
Then, put your dipstick back into the reservoir and remove it once again. At this point, you’ll be able to determine your vehicle’s oil level — if it’s between two markings on your dipstick or within a crosshatched section, you’re probably in good shape. But if your oil is below this area, it’s wise to set up an oil change ASAP.
Resetting Your Vehicle’s Oil Change Indicator
When you get an oil change, your oil change light has done its job — so you don’t need it to stay illuminated. To turn this light off after an oil change, you can simply reset your oil life calculation system.
In most cases, manually resetting this system involves holding down a few buttons on your car’s instrument panel. (The buttons in question vary from one vehicle to the next, but your car’s manual can tell you exactly what you need to do.) If you need special equipment to reset your oil life calculation system, the mechanics at your auto shop can help.
Get the Best Oil Change in Hays County, TX
Scheduling a synthetic oil change in Hays County, TX, might seem complicated — there are many auto shops in this area, and some are more qualified than others. Fortunately, you can make this process far easier by choosing Reliable Automotive for the job.
At Reliable Automotive, we offer exceptional full-service oil changes and many other auto repair services, all of which are handled by ASE-certified mechanics at affordable rates. When your oil change light activates, take care of the situation by scheduling an oil change online today!
Ensure Your Engine Will Thrive With Quality Oil Change Services
Most drivers have heard of oil change service, and they understand it’s required to change their oil every few thousand miles. However, not many drivers understand why an oil change is performed, nor do they understand how often they’re supposed to receive an oil change, and what a major role this preventative maintenance service plays in their engine’s longevity.
At Reliable Automotive, our experts are here to help your engine live its longest life, and one of the many ways we do this is by performing quality oil change services on your vehicle. Our ASE-certified mechanics perform synthetic blend and full synthetic oil changes on all make and model vehicles to ensure that no matter what you drive, your engine can enjoy the best protection.
Schedule an appointment at Reliable Automotive today, and count on us for a quality oil change in Hays County, TX.
Motor Oil & Your Engine
Your engine’s motor oil is essential to your vehicle’s operation. While calling your oil the lifeblood of your vehicle may sound a bit drastic, this statement is actually quite true. Without clean and fresh oil in your engine that is changed regularly, your engine would quite effectively self-destruct.
While your engine may seemingly operate smoothly, its inside is quite a hostile environment. Each minute, thousands of explosions occur within your engine as your cylinders fire one by one. While this occurs, the many components that move inside your engine get extremely hot. As your engine operates, oil is pumped around its many moving parts to cool them, clean them, and minimize friction.
Without oil in your system, your internal parts could overheat, and lead to irreversible damage in your engine.
Understanding the Importance of Oil Change
Some drivers believe that as long as they have oil in their engine, that their engine is lubricated and protected. However, this is not at all true. While your oil does provide fantastic cooling, lubricating, and cleaning properties, these abilities are finite, and your oil will eventually lose its ability to protect your engine.
Over time, your oil begins to oxidize. Oil oxidation can also happen if your oil has reached a specific temperature. This means that its chemical properties have changed and can no longer protect your engine. Oil changes are so significant because they ensure that your engine enjoys continuous protection throughout its life.
Three Different Levels of Protection
Did you know that three different types of oil can be used in your engine?
1. Conventional Oil
Conventional oil is refined from crude oil and offers adequate protection for many types of engines. For comparison’s sake, this type of oil offers the lowest degree of protection for an engine, and it’s not compatible with some high-performance and turbocharged engines due to its limited protection. While conventional oil provides protection for your engine, it oxidizes once it reaches temperatures of about 275°F.
Conventional oil has the tendency to leave behind sludge or residue if it burns or oxidizes, leaving your engine coated with harmful contaminants. For this reason, it is recommended to perform a conventional oil change service every 3,000 to 5,000 miles.
2. Synthetic Blend Oil
As its name suggests, synthetic blend oil is a mixture of conventional oil and synthetic oil. Often formulated for high mileage engines, this type of oil offers added protection thanks to its synthetic additives, and also features specialized detergents to help with carbon buildup and engine sludge that is common in higher mileage engines. This type of oil also may feature added sealants to prevent gasket leaks that are also common in high-mileage engines. This type of oil can withstand temperatures of about 400°F and is recommended to change every 5,000 to 7,500 miles.
3. Full Synthetic Oil
Although full synthetic oil sounds like it was created in a mad scientist’s lab, the truth is that synthetic oil is also derived from crude oil, or natural gas. This type of oil is chemically modified to offer the highest degree of protection for your vehicle. Full synthetic oil offers a full spectrum of protection. Not only does synthetic oil feature enhanced performance in below-freezing temperatures, but it can also withstand extreme heat and protect your engine up to temperatures of 500°F.
Because of synthetic oil’s outstanding ability to protect your engine, this type of oil typically only needs to be changed every 7,500 to 10,000 miles.
How to Know When It’s Time to Change Your Oil
Regardless of what type of oil you run in your engine, it’s important to keep your oil changed regularly. Sometimes, your vehicle can be telling you that it’s time for an oil change, and you simply may not realize it. Here are a few signs to look out for when your vehicle is telling you that it’s time for an oil change:
- The service light has illuminated
- The vehicle is idling rough
- Fuel economy has decreased
- Exhaust smoke comes out of exhaust pipes
- Oil levels are low
- The oil light has come on
If your vehicle is displaying some of the above symptoms, we recommend scheduling an appointment for an oil change at Reliable Automotive at your earliest convenience. The longer you run your engine with old, oxidized oil, the more likely you are to cause irreversible engine damage. Keep your engine running its best with the quality oil change service from Reliable Automotive.
Enjoy Quality Oil Change Service in Hays County
At Reliable Automotive, we make oil change service an easy and hassle-free experience. Our technicians are ASE-Certified and are qualified to perform all of the maintenance and repair services on your vehicle that it will need throughout its life – and this includes its oil change. We perform maintenance and repair services on all make and model vehicles, and we strive to offer low and affordable pricing on all of your maintenance and repair services. We even offer service coupons to help you save on your next visit.
Schedule an appointment at Reliable Automotive and trust the certified experts for equality oil change in Hays County, TX.
Protect Your Engine at Reliable Automotive
Your oil plays a vital role in how your engine operates. It’s also responsible for cooling, cleaning, and lubricating many moving components that live inside of your engine. Without enough oil to lubricate these vital parts, your engine will surely self-destruct, which could lead to thousands of dollars in unexpected auto repairs. It may seem like we’re being drastic when we talk about the effects of neglecting their oil change until it happens to you.
At Reliable Automotive, we understand the importance of your oil change service, which is why we have gone to great lengths to provide high-quality and affordable oil change services in Hays County, TX. Every mechanic at our shop is highly skilled, ASE-certified, and uses high-quality replacement parts and fluids to ensure that your vehicle will always run at its best.
For a quality oil change in Hays County, TX, schedule service at Reliable Automotive.
The Role of Oil in Your Engine
When your engine operates, its internal parts move at incredible speed. While this motion is responsible for creating the power to propel you forward, it can also generate intense heat inside your engine. As your oil is pumped through your engine, it provides lubrication for these many moving parts, it works to:
- Provide cooling properties as it removes heat
- Clean the internal parts of your engine
- Coat engine parts to prevent rusting or corrosion
- Capture contaminants, and other deposits that can stick to these internal parts
These contaminants and other deposits are picked up by your oil and trapped in your oil filter before filtered oil flows back to your oil pan.
Your oil circulates through your engine over and over, constantly cleaning your engine parts and protecting your engine from excess friction and heat. However, your oil filter can only capture so many contaminants. After a while, your oil will begin to grow dirty, and its chemical properties will change. Once your engine’s chemical properties have changed, it can’t provide the cooling and lubricating abilities that it once had. This is why performing routine oil changes is so important.
Understanding Oil the Three Oil Types and Their Protection
Oil has a vital role in your engine’s operation and it provides the necessary protection to ensure your engine can continue to run normally. However, there are three different types of oil that can be used on today’s internal combustion engines.
Each type of oil listed below provides a different degree of protection.
Conventional Oil
Conventional oil is made from crude oil and is refined and filtered to provide protection for your engine. Conventional oil offers lubrication and protective properties for your engine up to temperatures of 275°. Once conventional oil reaches this temperature, it breaks down and is no longer able to cool, lubricate, and clean your engine. Due to this type of oil’s level of protection, it is recommended to change this type of oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles.
Synthetic Blend
Synthetic blend oil uses a mixture of conventional oil and synthetic additives to offer added protection to your engine. This type of oil is often formulated for high-mileage engines, and also often features additives to address the specific needs of aging engines. These additives often include detergents to break down engine sludge or gasket sealants to address gasket leaks.
Due to the enhanced protection that synthetic blend offers, it is recommended to perform this type of oil change every 5,000 to 7,500 miles.
Full Synthetic Oil
Synthetic oil is often derived from crude oil or natural gas. This type of oil is specially formulated to provide a full spectrum of protection for your engine. Able to withstand temperatures of up to 500° and beyond, this type of oil is preferred for many high-performance, turbocharged, and heavy-duty engines.
Because of its highly protective properties, synthetic oil can be used in virtually any engine that requires oil. Synthetic oil changes offer the longest service intervals, at 7,500 to 10,000 miles.
Neglecting Your Oil Changes Could be Costly
Although we often urge drivers to perform routine oil changes on their vehicles, the truth is that some drivers simply don’t. Whether it’s due to a busy schedule, or a general lack of understanding of their vehicle’s service needs, some drivers simply don’t perform oil changes as recommended by your vehicle manufacturer.
Here are some of the signs and symptoms that occur when you have neglected your oil change:
- Rough idle
- Rough operation
- Exhaust smoke
- Engine stalling
- Check engine light
- Reduced compression
- Oil warning light
- Total engine failure
Enjoy Quality Oil Change Services in Hays County
Whether you drive a hybrid or a turbocharged sports car, your engine needs vital lubrication and routine oil changes to operate reliably throughout its life. At Reliable Automotive, we go the extra mile to provide you with quality automotive services that your vehicle will need throughout its lifetime, and that includes quality oil change services.
Our ASE-certified mechanics perform maintenance and repairs on all make and model vehicles, and we offer excellent customer service, no matter what your automotive need is. We even offer money-saving service specials that allow you to take advantage of trusted oil change services in Hays County, TX, without breaking your budget.
Schedule service at Reliable Automotive and trust the ASE-Certified experts to provide quality oil change services.
Is your new or certified pre-owned car still under a dealership warranty? If so, you’re in luck — you shouldn’t have to worry about the cost of repairing it for a while. But if you don’t take care of your vehicle’s maintenance needs, you could end up voiding this warranty on accident.
Taking automotive maintenance seriously is the key to protecting your car’s warranty coverage, and oil changes are a big part of this process. Read on for a thorough explanation of how prioritizing oil change service can help you hang on to your vehicle’s warranty.
The Link Between Oil Changes and Auto Warranties
When your car’s warranty is in place, its manufacturer will pay oil changefor repairs for a pre-established number of miles or years. Luckily, preserving your warranty doesn’t require a great deal of thought or effort on your part. Manufacturers normally simplify this process by providing a maintenance schedule for their vehicles.
By following your vehicle’s included maintenance schedule, you’ll take an essential step toward keeping your warranty coverage in place. Unsurprisingly, oil change service is one of the tasks you’ll find on this schedule. With that in mind, you’ll want to find a local auto shop that can help you take care of this service on a regular basis.
Dealership Service: Do You Need It or Not?
Even if you know when you need an oil change in Hays County, TX, and act accordingly, you could still violate your warranty in other ways. For example, making unauthorized modifications to your vehicle and towing loads that are heavier than its intended capacity could easily invalidate your warranty coverage.
On the other hand, not every supposed risk to your car’s warranty is actually a threat. For example, one widespread rumor claims that getting auto service anywhere other than your dealership could be enough to void your warranty — a claim that is completely untrue.
In the United States, dealerships cannot legally alter or cancel warranty coverage based on an auto buyer’s choice to go elsewhere for maintenance and repair work. That means Hays County residents are free to get the services they need at a local auto shop instead of a dealership (which is fortunate since dealership service tends to be overpriced).
Finding the Best Oil Type for Your Car
While oil change service can go a long way toward protecting your vehicle’s warranty, that isn’t the only benefit this service provides. Fresh oil can lubricate moving parts in your engine, keep your car from overheating, and help your engine stay clean. But even the best oil eventually gets dirty — and at that point, scheduling an oil change is the only way to keep your vehicle running like it should.
If you’re overdue for an oil change in Hays County, TX, you’ll need to decide what oil type is best for your vehicle. The two most popular types of oil available today are:
Conventional Oil
Conventional oil consists of naturally occurring crude mineral oil, but this oil isn’t normally used in vehicles as-is. Instead, it’s partially refined to give its protective qualities and viscosity a boost.
While conventional oil is still a popular type of motor oil, that popularity isn’t a result of its performance — it’s linked to this product’s low upfront cost. Conventional oil delivers significantly worse performance and a much shorter life span than synthetic oil types.
Full Synthetic Oil
The differences between conventional oil and full synthetic oil start with their manufacturing processes. The latter product is entirely man-made, allowing it to reach much higher standards for engine protection and heat resistance.
As you might expect, full synthetic oil costs a bit more than conventional oil. But that isn’t as much of a drawback as it might seem — after all, you’ll be able to wait much longer between oil changes while using this oil type. (Additionally, you might be able to save money on full synthetic oil by finding an auto shop that provides online coupons.)
Taking these factors into consideration, it’s easy to see why full synthetic oil is the best choice for most Hays County drivers. And if you’re worried about the risks of switching from conventional to full synthetic oil, don’t be — this is a nonissue for drivers using the sophisticated products available today.
Protect Your Warranty With a Full-Service Oil Change
If you’ve violated your car’s warranty, even relatively small auto repairs could cost you a significant chunk of change. Fortunately, this isn’t something you need to lose sleep over — at least not if you get regular full-service oil changes from a reputable auto shop.
When people need a synthetic oil change in Hays County, TX, they overwhelmingly choose Reliable Automotive for the job. We offer exceptional service from ASE-certified mechanics, and thanks to our multiple locations in the area, you’ll never have to go too far to take care of this vital task. Don’t wait any longer — schedule your oil change at Reliable Automotive ASAP!
If your car was manufactured after the mid-1970s, it almost certainly comes with a catalytic converter. This exhaust system component, which is responsible for taking combustion gasses from your engine and turning them into less dangerous emissions, has been required on every new car sold in the U.S. since 1975.
But like any other auto part, catalytic converters can run into trouble — and poorly handled oil changes can contribute to these issues. Read on for a thorough explanation of how oil change service can help (or harm) your catalytic converter and how to find an auto shop you can count on to handle this vital task.
How Oil Changes Help Catalytic Converters
As every Hays County, Texas driver knows, oil changes aren’t something you can afford to ignore. By making oil changes a priority in your auto maintenance schedule, you’ll be able to:
- Keep your engine clean. Fresh oil does an excellent job of trapping and neutralizing contaminants in your vehicle’s engine.
- Maximize heat management. Your engine will always generate heat while it runs, but motor oil can help keep this heat under control and move it away from sensitive areas.
- Thoroughly lubricate moving parts. Clean oil is great at reducing friction between engine parts.
- Reduce your risk of internal rust. If your motor oil is sufficiently high quality, there’s a good chance it will contain additives designed to keep rust from forming in your engine.
As you might expect, oil changes can also have a positive impact on your vehicle’s catalytic converter. When knowledgeable professionals handle your full-service oil change, this component will be able to run as efficiently as possible. That will reduce your engine’s RPMs and improve your car’s emissions and gas mileage.
Oil Change Risks To Watch Out For
Though oil changes are usually helpful for catalytic converters, that isn’t always true. The key to a successful oil change is using a reasonable amount of high-quality oil. If your auto shop doesn’t follow these guidelines, you could find yourself dealing with catalytic converter damage.
For example, let’s say your shop’s mechanics use too much oil while providing oil change service. In that case, this fluid could make contact with your car’s crankshaft. The crankshaft will mix your motor oil with air, making it “foamy” and reducing its ability to lubricate engine parts and flow through your vehicle. When this happens, your engine components could end up failing — and so could your catalytic converter.
When Do You Need Oil Change Service?
To maximize the benefits associated with oil changes, you’ll want to know exactly when your vehicle needs this type of work. Though waiting too long between one oil change and the next is never a great idea, taking care of this service too early means you won’t get as much as possible out of your current oil.
Because of that, you’ll need a reliable oil change schedule. Though you’ll want to start by checking your car’s manual, you can expect conventional oil to last for about 3,000 miles. Meanwhile, synthetic blend oil can last up to 5,000 miles, and full synthetic oil can last 5,000-7,000 miles.
These are only rough estimates, so you might need an oil change service more often than this implies. You may benefit from a shorter oil change interval if you frequently drive in heavy traffic, tow heavy loads, or deal with intense temperatures.
Find the Right Oil Type for Your Car
Another factor you’ll need to consider before your next oil change is the type of oil your vehicle should use. Some of the most widely used oil types on the market today include:
Conventional Oil
Conventional oil is an incredibly popular type of motor oil, primarily due to its low price. However, this product isn’t the best choice for most drivers as it doesn’t offer the top-notch performance and long lifespan associated with other oil types.
Full Synthetic Oil
Unlike conventional oil, full synthetic oil is a completely artificial type of oil, and this product’s demanding manufacturing process results in unmatched engine protection. Even though a synthetic oil change costs more than a conventional oil change, this oil’s extended service life can still help you save in the long run.
Synthetic Blend Oil
If you’re on the fence between full synthetic oil and conventional oil, why not combine the two? That’s the idea behind synthetic blend oil, a literal mixture of the two oil types described above that serves as a mid-range option between the two extremes.
Get the Best Oil Change in Hays County, TX
When you pay attention to your oil schedule and type, you’ll go a long way toward getting truly high-quality oil change service. But to fully protect your catalytic converter, you’ll need to make sure your next oil change is handled by a trustworthy local auto shop.
At Reliable Automotive, our full synthetic oil changes don’t stop at the bare minimum. Instead, we offer full-service oil changes that come with other helpful maintenance services. Additionally, every job we complete is handled by ASE-certified mechanics — the most knowledgeable, skilled people any auto shop can employ.
Taking all that into account, Reliable Automotive is the clear choice for your next oil change in Hays County, TX. Don’t wait any longer — schedule your oil change online ASAP!
Oil changes aren’t the only service your vehicle will need throughout its lifespan. But if you neglect this task, no other form of maintenance will be enough to keep your vehicle running as it should. Your car’s engine depends on motor oil to lubricate its moving parts, keep heat under control, prevent contaminants like dirt from causing problems, and prevent rust formation.
Motor oil must be as clean as possible to succeed at each job. However, your car’s oil will eventually begin to break down; when it does, it will slowly become less effective. When this happens, you must visit a local auto shop for a full-service oil change.
If you avoid scheduling an oil change service at this point, your engine could develop significant problems before you know it. Read on for an explanation of the engine disasters that can arise when you ignore your car’s oil change needs, as well as advice on making your oil changes as effective as possible.
How Oil Change Service Prevents Engine Disasters
When you don’t prioritize oil changes, you’ll increase your risk of serious car trouble. Here are 10 engine disasters you can avoid by getting an oil change in Hays County, TX, every few months:
1. Reduced Engine Power
Engines don’t deliver consistent horsepower throughout their lives. If your horsepower starts to decline, you’ll have a harder time accelerating, keeping your vehicle’s speed consistently high, and traveling up hills.
Fortunately, fresh motor oil can help your engine’s various parts move with minimal resistance — allowing your engine to deliver the level of horsepower you’d expect. Regular oil changes will also lower the odds that your oil will form sludge, which makes it much harder for these parts to move as intended.
2. Clogs in Your Engine
If sludge gets particularly troublesome in your vehicle, it won’t just decrease your engine’s power — it could also cause engine blockages. These blockages happen when sludge gets trapped in crevices, making it nearly impossible for your engine to function normally.
Sludge isn’t the only material that can contribute to clogs in your engine. Motor oil is responsible for keeping debris from affecting your engine’s various components; as your oil starts thickening, this debris can begin to settle. In this situation, particles of dirt, rust, and other contaminants can get stuck between your engine’s moving parts.
3. Overheating
Since motor oil keeps your engine’s moving parts thoroughly lubricated, your engine’s overheating risk should be minimal as long as your oil is still clean. But when your oil creates sludge, your engine’s internal friction will increase significantly — and so will its average temperature.
Eventually, this friction could cause your engine to overheat. This is an especially noteworthy risk in warmer parts of the country, and Hays County residents know how hot this area can get during the summer months.
4. Lower Fuel Efficiency
When engines can’t access clean motor oil, they’ll suffer from overheating, insufficient cooling, and poor compression due to cylinder wear. All of these factors can harm your vehicle’s fuel efficiency.
As you might expect, reduced fuel efficiency will cause your fuel consumption to go up, so you’ll need to spend more on gas. In the long run, this problem could cost you more than an oil change in fuel expenses alone.
5. Increased Emissions
Reduced fuel efficiency won’t just cost you more at the pump. When an engine runs into this problem, it could start emitting more pollutants than usual.
Oil changes can’t completely prevent emissions — some oil will always be able to enter your engine’s combustion chamber. But since this amount will increase as your cylinder walls wear down, oil change service is a great way to keep your emissions as low as possible.
6. Warped Engine Parts
When an engine is first manufactured, all of its parts fit together perfectly. However, due to high temperatures and excess friction, the shapes of your gears, valves, and other engine components could change over time.
Generally speaking, warped parts need to be replaced. When one component in your engine gets warped, it will exert pressure on other parts, potentially deforming them in the process. If left unchecked, this chain reaction could require you to replace large parts of your engine.
7. Corroded Components
These days, motor oil typically comes with additives designed to improve its functionality and maximize your engine’s performance. One additive often found in oil is anti-rust treatment. As you might expect, this additive prevents rust from forming within your engine.
As your oil ages, its concentration of additives will decline; eventually, these additives will completely disappear. Once your anti-rust additives are gone, rust could develop on metal components in your engine. If you don’t change your oil at this point, that rust could eat away at these parts, leading to severe problems such as tank leaks.
8. Turbocharger Issues
Turbochargers are often found on modern cars — these components use waste energy from a vehicle’s exhaust to boost power and efficiency. To accomplish this goal, they spin extremely fast, which means they need constant access to clean motor oil.
If turbochargers aren’t able to use clean oil, they could overheat and fail. Turbine shards that break off a turbocharger could enter the engine itself, potentially causing serious issues.
9. Total Engine Failure
For any responsible Hays County driver, avoiding the abovementioned issues should be motivation enough to take oil changes seriously. But if you continue to neglect oil changes for an extended period, you could run into an even bigger problem: engine failure.
Skipping oil changes can actively reduce an engine’s service life. When your engine fails, there’s a good chance even skilled mechanics won’t be able to provide engine repair. Instead, you might need to replace your engine or purchase an entirely new vehicle.
10. Invalid Warranties
When your new or certified pre-owned car is dealing with trouble, warranty coverage can help. A warranty should be able to help you afford the cost of repairing your vehicle for a certain number of miles or years — but there’s a catch.
To keep your warranty intact, you must keep up with recommended maintenance services (including oil changes). By skipping oil changes, you could accidentally render your warranty void. And if your engine develops problems and you don’t have warranty coverage, you’ll have to cover the cost of repairs on your own.
How Often Do Cars Need Oil Changes?
As you can see, there are many reasons why getting frequent oil changes is a wise decision. But to maximize the advantages associated with oil change service, you’ll need a solid understanding of what frequent oil changes should look like for you. With that in mind, your best bet is to create a custom oil change schedule for your car.
Your vehicle’s manual will provide recommendations on oil change scheduling, making it the perfect starting point for this process. Beyond that, you’ll need to account for the type of oil you use:
- Conventional oil should be changed once every 3,000 miles.
- Synthetic blend oil offers a longer life span, lasting up to 5,000 miles.
- Full synthetic oil delivers the longest life span of all, lasting 5,000 to 7,000 miles.
Other factors that can affect your oil change schedule include severe driving habits, the age of your vehicle, and extreme temperatures. Since the weather in Hays County can get quite hot for much of the year, most drivers in this area should consider getting oil changes more often than the average.
Choose the Right Oil Type for Your Car
When you arrive at your local auto shop for an oil change service, you must decide which oil you should get. To save time and avoid stress during your appointment, take some time to familiarize yourself with the pros and cons of two widely-used oil varieties: conventional and full synthetic oil.
Conventional Oil
Conventional oil is a form of naturally occurring crude mineral oil. Most conventional oil brands enhance this oil by partially refining it, improving its protective properties and viscosity.
Even after refinement, conventional oil isn’t the best option in terms of performance. While it’s still the most popular oil type due to its low cost, you’ll need to account for conventional oil’s relatively short service life before investing in this oil type.
Full Synthetic Oil
Unlike conventional oil, full synthetic oil is an entirely artificial oil held to extremely high-performance standards during manufacturing. Because of that, this oil type goes above and beyond regarding engine protection.
The only real drawback of full synthetic oil is its cost — the average synthetic oil change tends to be more expensive than the average conventional oil change. However, full synthetic oil’s longer life span means motorists won’t need to get oil changes too often while using this high-quality oil.
Other Oil Types
Though conventional and full synthetic oil are two of the most popular oil varieties on the market, they certainly aren’t the only options available to motorists in Hays County. For example, synthetic blend oil is a mixture of the two oil types listed above, which means it can deliver a compromise between their respective advantages and drawbacks. High-mileage oil is also available; it’s formulated for vehicles that have been in use for more than 75,000 miles.
If you’re unsure which of these oil types is most suitable for your needs, there’s no need to worry. Instead, ask the mechanics at your auto shop for advice — they’ll be happy to help!
The Benefits of a Full-Service Oil Change
While oil changes are less complicated than tasks such as engine repair, not every oil change in Hays County, TX, will meet the same standards. If you don’t put some thought into finding a great auto shop in this area, you might still get a competent oil change. But the best shops in this region don’t settle for competent — instead, they go above and beyond by providing full-service oil changes.
As you’d expect, a full-service oil change still focuses on removing your vehicle’s old motor oil and replacing it with fresh oil. A standard oil change would stop there, but full-service oil changes include several other maintenance tasks. When you get a full-service oil change, your shop’s mechanics will:
- Replace your oil filter. A clogged oil filter can’t effectively remove contaminants from oil. Because of that, technicians providing full-service oil changes will remove and replace these filters.
- Lubricate your chassis. It’s a good idea to occasionally grease the components in your car’s chassis. An oil change is an excellent time to take care of this task.
- Rotate your tires (upon your request). You’ll encounter uneven tread wear and other issues if you don’t rotate your tires. Drivers should generally take care of this task every 3,000 to 7,000 miles, which means you should be able to schedule this job along with oil changes.
Where To Go for an Oil Change in Hays County, TX
Prioritizing businesses offering full-service oil changes can help you narrow your oil change options. However, that isn’t the only factor you should consider while looking for an auto shop that handles this service in Hays County. Your shop of choice should also provide:
- Skilled mechanics. To ensure your car is in trustworthy hands, check that your go-to auto shop hires ASE-certified mechanics. These workers have more experience and knowledge than anyone else in this field.
- Ways to save money. Oil changes aren’t as pricey as some auto services, but the costs associated with this work can add up. Make sure you can save on this work by finding a shop that offers online coupons.
- All the services you need. Though oil changes are a crucial part of auto maintenance, your car will require many other maintenance and repair services over its lifetime. Instead of visiting a new shop whenever your vehicle needs attention, look for a business that can do it all.
- Multiple locations around the area. Are you a resident of Buda, San Marcos, or Kyle? If you live in any of these communities, you need an auto shop that has locations nearby.
At Reliable Automotive, we deliver all of these advantages and more to our valued customers. Our business has been Hays County’s most trusted auto shop since 2012, and our reasonable pricing and friendly customer service will keep you coming back whenever your car needs maintenance or repair work. Get started by scheduling your oil change today!
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if you don't change your oil?
Why can't you go back to regular oil after synthetic?
How long can I drive without an oil change?
Can I mix synthetic and regular oil?
What are the signs that you need an oil change?
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