Oil Change Service in Cortlandt, NY
Changing the oil is one of the most common forms of maintenance for your car, truck, or SUV. Our team of experienced service pros at Bill Volz Westchester Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram (CDJR) is adept at handling every aspect of this vital service. Read below as we cover oil change schedules for different vehicles and oil types, what’s involved in an oil change, and why you should bring yours to Bill Volz Westchester CDJR in Westchester County, New York.
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Oil Change Schedules, Oil Types, and Weight Numbering
Let’s first cover the basics of when to change the oil in your vehicle, what types of oil are available, and what oil weight numerical designations mean.
Oil Change Scheduling by Vehicle Type
Standard oil change schedules vary based on the type of vehicle you’re driving. You should generally change the oil on your car every 5,000 to 7,500 miles. If you drive a truck, it has a different oil change schedule, depending on its type. You’ll need to change the oil on a light-duty pickup, or one that weighs less than 10,000 pounds, every 3,000 to 5,000 miles. For a heavy-duty pickup that weighs more than 10,000 pounds, you should change it every 7,500 to 10,000 miles.
If you have an older truck with less modern engine technology, you’ll need to change its oil more often, so you should follow the same schedule we listed for cars above. You’ll need to change the oil on your SUV every 5,000 to 7,000 miles. Of course, all these suggested schedules are only general guidelines. You should check and stick to the oil change requirements in the maintenance schedule in your vehicle’s owner’s manual.
General Oil Types
The type of vehicle you drive and the oil type you choose influence how often you’ll need to change the oil. Some oil types require more frequent changes. There are three primary oil types used in civilian vehicles in America today: natural oil, synthetic oil, and semi-synthetic oil.
You should change natural oil at least twice yearly, usually every six months. Synthetic oil lasts longer, so you’ll only need to change it every 7,500 to 15,000 miles. Semi-synthetic oil is a mix of synthetic and natural oils. You’ll need to change it every 6,000 miles.
The Numbers on the Bottles: Oil Weight Ratings
Every vehicle’s owner’s manual lists which type of oil the manufacturer recommends for its engine, including one of the general types above and a specific numerical designation. You’ll see two sets of numbers. The first will be a number followed by a W, and the second will be a number with no letter.
The number with the W represents the oil weight in cold temperatures, while the second number is its weight when warm or under normal operating conditions. Using the correct oil weight for your vehicle’s engine is vital. An oil weight that doesn’t match what the owner’s manual calls for will reduce the lubrication quality and cause a considerably shorter engine life span.
The Oil Change Process
There are six major steps in a proper oil change:
Step One: Raising and Examining Your Vehicle
First, one of our technicians will use a jack or lift to raise your vehicle for service. Our dealership service center uses a lift because it’s a safer and more secure way of raising your vehicle. After we’ve lifted your vehicle, we’ll remove the under-tray component, which gives our service technicians access to the vital oil system-related components under the vehicle.
Removing the under-tray requires unfastening a few clips, screws, or bolts. Our service technicians will closely inspect the exposed areas of the oil system to ensure no leaks indicate a need for repair or replacement service.
Step Two: Draining the Old Oil
The second step involves removing the oil plug and draining the old oil into an oil pan or other safe receptacle. Most vehicles hold a gallon or more of oil, so it can take time to drain properly. If the oil doesn’t drain properly or contains contaminants or particulates, our technicians may need to flush the engine.
Step Three: Removing and Assessing the Oil Filter
We’ll remove the old oil filter at this point. The oil filter almost always needs replacing during an oil change, though some can last up to two changes before replacing it. Our service pros tend to lean toward caution, replacing filters with new ones during each oil change. We’ll inspect the filter for any out-of-the-ordinary substances or contaminants that may indicate a need for other engine service operations.
Step Four: Replacing the Plug, Filter, and Filter Gasket
We’ll replace the oil filter with a new one and put the oil plug back into place. We’ll replace any damaged screws, clips, or bolts and install a new oil filter gasket since a compromised oil gasket can lead to an unintentional oil drain and considerable engine wear.
Step Five: Refilling the Vehicle With Oil
We’ll add new oil to the engine during this step. If your vehicle needs an engine flush, we’ll take care of it at this step before replacing the oil. Our team of seasoned professionals is always careful to follow manufacturer recommendations for which oil type to use and the amount to add to ensure your vehicle runs at its best on the roads of Westchester County, New York.
Step Six: Doing a Final Inspection
Our service technicians will wait a few minutes for the oil to settle and then conduct a detailed inspection of the oil system’s exterior to ensure there are no leaks. Once the oil settles, we’ll check the oil level using the dipstick.
Why Bring Your Vehicle to Bill Volz of Westchester?
You should bring your vehicle to Bill Volz Westchester for one simple reason: we have the experience to do the job right every time. Our team has decades of combined experience handing an incredible range of service operations, from vital state inspections to brake, wheel, engine, HVAC system, suspension, and steering system work. We can even upgrade your Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, or Ram vehicle with top-of-the-line MOPAR parts, for which we offer special deals.
Feel free to reach out to us to schedule an oil change or come in at your convenience. We know you’ll be impressed by the speed and quality of our oil change service.
Photo Credit: lift by Matthew P is licensed with Public Domain Mark 1.0