No matter what kind of car or truck you drive, there’s no avoiding your need for oil changes. Fresh motor oil handles all sorts of essential tasks in your vehicle, from cleaning its engine to managing heat and lubricating moving parts. When this oil becomes dirty, you’ll need to set up an oil change to remove and replace it.
However, not every type of motor oil is equally effective — and full synthetic oil is the best choice for most local drivers. If you’re planning to schedule an oil change in Hays County, TX, here’s what you should know about the advantages and applications of this product.
Conventional Oil vs. Full Synthetic Oil
Which oil type is right for you? Before you make this decision, you’ll need a thorough understanding of the differences between conventional and full synthetic oil.
Conventional Oil
Conventional oil products begin as naturally occurring crude mineral oil. This oil is then partially refined, protecting engines more effectively while enhancing viscosity.
Although conventional oil is still widely used today, it doesn’t perform as well as full synthetic oil. The popularity of this oil is tied to its low cost — and even that is mitigated by the fact that it needs to be changed more frequently than synthetic options.
Full Synthetic Oil
While full synthetic oil performs the same tasks conventional oil does, these are two completely different products. Unlike conventional oil, full synthetic oil is entirely man-made, allowing it to deliver both the best possible engine protection and the longest possible life span. Full synthetic oil is also better at tolerating heat than conventional oil, which is crucial during Hays County’s scorching summers.
The only real drawback of full synthetic oil is its higher price tag. That said, you won’t need to schedule synthetic oil changes as often as you would with conventional oil. You can also save money by finding an auto shop offering online coupons for a synthetic oil change in Hays County, TX.
Who Can Use Synthetic Oil?
As you can see, full synthetic oil comes with some serious advantages in terms of performance. With that in mind, you might be wondering if you can start using this product if you’ve used conventional oil up to this point. Fortunately, synthetic oil is compatible with just about any vehicle on the road today.
Even so, you may be concerned about the risks of switching to full synthetic oil — especially if your car has been on the road for a while. The fear of synthetic oil damaging older vehicles originated decades ago when this oil type contained esters, chemical compounds that could affect engine seals. Modern synthetic oil products no longer use these compounds, and they’re carefully tested to ensure that they won’t harm engines.
Know When You Need Oil Changes
While full synthetic oil can do a great job of protecting your engine, it will eventually collect debris and stop functioning as it should. But that doesn’t mean you should get oil changes constantly — if you do, you’ll spend far more than you have to on this type of maintenance. To avoid these outcomes, you’ll need to sit down and figure out an oil change schedule for your vehicle.
The type of oil you use in your vehicle will significantly impact how often you need an oil change service. Typically, Hays County drivers using full synthetic oil should plan on getting oil changes every 5,000-7,000 miles. That means they can wait longer between oil changes than motorists using conventional oil — this form of oil should be changed every 3,000 miles, if not sooner.
It’s important to note that this is simply a starting point for your oil change schedule. To truly understand your vehicle’s oil change needs, you’ll have to consider a few other factors. For example, driving an older car and having severe driving habits can both shorten your oil’s service life, meaning you’ll need to set up oil changes sooner than this advice suggests.
Additionally, you may need to change your oil ahead of schedule if you spot warning signs such as:
- A low oil level
- Exhaust smoke
- Dirty oil
- Strange noises in your engine
- An active check engine light
- Vibrations while idling
Where to Get the Best Oil Changes in Hays County
Full synthetic oil changes are just what people in Hays County need to keep their cars running smoothly for years to come — assuming this work is done by trustworthy professionals, that is. If you don’t do your research before scheduling an oil change, you could end up dealing with subpar workmanship or paying an excessive amount for this service.
At Reliable Automotive, we pride ourselves on delivering the best synthetic oil change service available to Hays County residents. If you choose us to take care of your oil change, this task will be handled by ASE-certified mechanics — aka some of the most skilled people in the auto repair industry. You’ll also get fair rates and chances to save with our valuable coupons.
