Oil Reminder Display

Oil Service Intervals:

 How often should I have my engine oil and filter changed? The majority of professionals in the industry tell you 3 months or 3000 miles. Some insiders say you may be able to go 5000 miles with out issue. The owner’s manual that came with your vehicle may indicate you are fine for 7,500 or even 10,000 miles!  Who do you trust and even better….. Who is correct?

One central point that the automotive industry will agree on is the importance of regular oil changes to protect and extend the life of your engine.  The frequency of those oil changes is influenced by several factors. Many owner manuals will have two different maintenance schedules based on “normal” vs. “severe” driving styles – with “normal” allowing for less frequent servicing, and “severe” requiring more frequent service. Ideal, or “normal”, driving conditions – in other words, what your engine prefers – is trips over 10 miles, cruising on the highway, at moderate temperatures and loads, in a relatively clean-air environment. If your driving habits fit this category, you may not need your oil changed as often. “Severe” driving consists of short or frequent trips less than 10 miles, extreme outdoor temperatures, stop-and-go city driving or extensive idling in traffic, towing or heavy loads, and a dusty or polluted environment. If any of this description fits your driving style, then your engine would benefit from more frequent oil changes.

Then there’s the “months vs. miles” question, Which is right for my car? Let’s say six months have passed since your last oil change, and you have driven 2,000 miles. Look at the nature of those miles – did you carpool to work and let your car sit in your driveway most of the time? Or did you drive 15 miles every day, and sit in traffic for over an hour each day? If so, remember that your engine is working just as hard idling during that hour as it would be accumulating miles. If the nature of your driving is shorter trips then you should be changing engine oil twice a year – at least. So while 3 months or 3000 miles may be too frequent for some, it still makes sense to protect your self from a huge repair bill through timely service. Another upside of regular service is the opportunity for us to inspect your car during the oil change and keep you apprised of concerns that may be forthcoming – proactive service always pays dividends.

Let’s take a quick look at some numbers. Over a period of 100,000 miles (which is 8 years for the average driver), following the 3,000-mile interval will result in 33 oil changes. Assuming the average price of an oil change (using regular, not synthetic, motor oil) to be $30 – $35, the total cost will be $990 – $1155. Increasing the interval to 5,000 miles and 20 oil changes, the total cost decreases to $600 – $700. And the respective numbers for a 7,500-interval are 13 oil changes at a cost of $390 – $455. The greatest possible savings are $700 which, when divided over an 8-year period, averages out to less than $7.30 per month. This cost can be viewed as cheap insurance against a possible $5000+ replacement engine.

The type of oil you use – regular or synthetic – also comes into play here. We won’t examine the pros and cons in this article of which to use as that is will be covered in an up coming newsletter.  What we can say is that with the use of synthetic oils, extending your drain interval is possible if proper sample testing is done to ensure wear metal content is in spec.  We will cover oil analysis testing in another article, again due to the scope of the topic.

In summary, there are several factors that go into determining when to have your engine oil serviced.  So rather than turning your mind into mental lemonade when weighing all the factors out, come in today and let the professional service staff at Colchin Automotive & Diesel help you figure out WHEN TO CHANGE THAT OIL!

            This potential disaster can be avoided easily and relatively inexpensively by replacing the timing belt within the required replacement interval.  Many domestic vehicles built within the last several years and the majority of imports are equipped with a timing belt. Other engines rely on a timing chain rather than a belt. You can call Colchin Automotive or refer to your owner’s manual to determine the mileage interval the timing belt should be replaced. The typical replacement interval for timing belts is every 60,000 to 90,000 miles.

            Timing belts resemble an engine accessory serpentine belt in appearance, only they typically have square teeth on the inside surface. They are usually constructed of rubber reinforced with nylon. The timing belt transfers the rotation of the crankshaft to the camshaft. The rotating camshaft activates the valves, which provide air and fuel to the cylinders and expel combustion gases to the exhaust system. The valves and pistons are constantly moving up and down at very high speeds. When the pistons are down, the valves are open; when the piston is at the top of its travel, the valves are closed. Some engines don’t allow clearance between a valve at its lowest point and a piston at its highest. The timing belt, therefore, is the critical link to ensure that these components do not collide. If collision occurs, damage to the valves, pistons, cylinder head and cylinder walls can result. This can be an expensive repair!

New Engne Oil

Your First Line of Defense

(Oil Servicing)

Your best defense is a good offensive – Proactive servicing of your vehicle is your only hope of extending its life. This is most likely not news to most of you, but for those of you that are on the fence about maintenance – its real – preventive maintenance can, does and always will save you money over the long run.

Engine oil becomes contaminated from byproducts of combustion. Condensation and acids form in the oil which causes the oil to chemically break down. Then it looses its ability to lubricate and protect your engine – the rest is history.

Your vehicle will run better and last longer with preventive maintenance and that’s what proper oil servicing is. Of course we advocate regular oil servicing and inspection because we are in this game every day and we see the pattern of failure when service is ignored. There is a great deal of controversy regarding oil change intervals. Certain entities are touting extended service intervals for engine oil as well as transmission oils – as much as 7500 miles for engine oil! I would rather pay for three to five oil changes per year on my vehicles than pay for one engine failure – ever!

Bring your vehicle to us when its time for oil service because dollar-for-dollar we’ll give you more value through a “proper” oil service and you get a vehicle that lasts longer and runs better.

There are only a few criteria that need to be looked at when making the decision to fix or replace your vehicle.

• Financial – the $ facts.
• Practical – Does it meet your needs?
• Emotional side – Do you like the vehicle?

Each one of these categories can be broken down into decision-influencing criteria. Some are facts that you and I cannot change and some only you can answer. Below is a very abbreviated guide.

Know the numbers:

• Know what it will cost to maintain and operate your vehicle annually. (Colchin Automotive Inc. can help you with these numbers).
• Know what a replacement vehicle will cost annually. (Monthly payment, taxes, license plates, insurance, etc.)
• Don’t forget the used vehicle option.

The Practicality of your vehicle:

• This is simple…does your vehicle meet your transportation needs?
• Is it big enough?
• Is the fuel mileage acceptable?
• Can it tow a trailer?

The Emotional Aspect:

• Do you like your vehicle?
• Do you like its looks or color?

In The End…

The decision has to be made by you to keep your older vehicle, buy used or buy new. The only advise I can give beyond the unarguable fact that repairing your existing vehicle makes economic sense is that you use good logic and rationale in making your decision.

Please contact us for more detailed information – we have a brochure on the subject.

Todd Colchin
Colchin Automotive & Diesel Inc.