What Is An Oil Change? 4 Types of Oil You Should Know

Any vehicle that uses fuel has to have an oil change. It’s a regular part of vehicle maintenance and something that every car owner has to deal with. For most, this means taking your car to a mechanic and paying $70 to $100 for quick 30-minute maintenance. But what does an oil change mean? 

If an oil change doesn’t take very long, why does it cost so much? What does an oil change do for your car? And can you do an oil change yourself? 

Read on to learn more about oil changes, why they’re necessary, and when you should have it changed. We’ll also start you on the path of saving a bit of money by changing your own oil. 

By the way, an oil change is a good time to have your tires rotated! 

Oil Change Explained

Motor oil, sometimes also called engine oil, is a lubricant that reduces friction build-up and heat so that your car engine doesn’t damage itself as you drive. Oil will help keep the engine clear of corrosion and acidic buildup that may wear away at your engine. 

A car’s engine is, in most simple terms, a controlled explosion. Your car’s “gas” is the fuel for the explosion. The force from that explosion is used to drive your car. 

Fuel is fed into the engine and then ignited so that it combusts. That combustion creates a controlled amount of force. This force pushes a metal piston downward, which is connected to the crank shaft of your vehicle. The resulting up-and-down motion of taking in fuel and combusting it results in your car being able to move. 

But think of what’s going on inside your vehicle! Metal repeatedly rubbing against metal, with a hot explosion just nearby. This could rapidly wear down your engine’s internal components and prevent it from moving. 

So why do we have to change oil? 

Because over time, the oil itself degrades as it’s repeatedly exposed to dirt, fuel, and high heat. It slowly loses its ability to keep your engine properly lubricated. If you’ve ever seen heavily degraded oil, you know that it’s usually very thick and dark, unlike fresh oil, which has a clearer, amber hue. If you don’t change out your oil on time, it can seriously damage your car. 

What happens during an oil change?

During an oil change, the old oil is drained from the vehicle and replaced with new oils. Pretty simple!  

When To Change Oil?

On average, most cars need an oil change every 5,000 miles.

The best place to know the exact amount is in your car’s manual. This will detail not only when to change your oil, but the recommended type of oil to use (which we’ll cover later). 

In general, the older your vehicle, the more often you need to change the oil. Some old cars benefit from an oil change every 3,000 miles. Car manufacturing has improved over time and older vehicles may not have as advanced engines, making them require oil changes more frequently. 

A good way to check is the dipstick near the engine. With your vehicle shut off for at least half an hour, you can pop open the hood and check the oil dipstick to see how your engine oil is doing. 

• The oil dipstick will be near your engine. It should have a loop on the end of it. Check your car’s manual if you can’t find it. 
• Take the dipstick out and then wipe the end of it down with a rag. Push it back into the stalk that it was inserted in. 
• Wait a couple of seconds before pulling it out. Where the oil stains are on the dipstick indicates the oil level of your vehicle. Dipsticks have markings on them to guide you on how full the oil is. Again, check your car’s manual for a guide on the dipstick marks. 

Some cars also have check engine and check oil lights that will turn on if your car senses it has low oil. Besides these indicators, your car may start to make strange noises or have an oil smell if the oil is low. However, you shouldn’t let it get to this point, as it may be a sign your vehicle is already being damaged by the low oil levels or some other problem. 

Types of Car Oil

Conventional motor oil

The standard, cheapest version of oil, this oil is alright for most vehicles. It’s cheap because it’s made from crude oil, which is basic fossil fuels that don’t have to be manufactured. It’s not necessarily dangerous, as it will prevent acidic buildup and lubricate your engine. But it doesn’t have any additives that may improve the oil’s performance. Check your car’s manual to see if the manufacturer recommends using conventional oil. 

Full synthetic oil

This oil is manufactured, which means that it has additives and other chemicals that are designed not only to lubricate but also clean your engine. This oil has very few impurities and will usually perform most efficiently, especially at extreme temperatures. Many high-performance vehicles need synthetic motor oil to perform. Check your manual to see if you need to use synthetic oil. 

Synthetic blend oil

The difference between a full synthetic oil and a synthetic blend is that this is a mix between conventional and synthetic oil. It’s a step up from conventional oil while still having some of the additives that synthetic oil offers. A blend will have a lower price than full synthetic while still getting some benefits of a synthetic. 

High-mileage oil

It’s recommended that vehicles with over 75,000 miles use high-mileage oil that’s designed to perform in an older engine. A car’s engine can build up grime and sludge, and this oil will help clean that out. It also helps to prevent oil leaks that can be potentially dangerous to the vehicle. If your car has high mileage, you should consider switching to high-mileage oil. 

Can I Replace My Own Oil?

It’s possible to save a few bucks by changing your own oil! This video guides you through the basic process of changing your car’s oil. 

You first open your oil fill plug so that you can drain the old oil out of your oil pan underneath your car. Once it’s drained out, you can switch out your old oil filter. From there, you replace the plugs and caps on your oil to fill it back up. 

For this process, you do need to buy your own oil and oil filter. This will be cheaper than having your oil changed somewhere else, but you also need tools such as:

• An oil change pan
• Gloves
• A socket wrench (and any other tools to loosen the caps and screws on your car)
• A funnel
• Paper towels or rags. 

There may be a high upfront cost to this, but for future oil changes you’ll be saving money. You can also search how to change oil on your specific vehicle, as the process may differ from car model to car model. 

You can change your own oil, but this is safer to leave to the experts. Call your local garage and ask when they've got specials coming up! Here are more DIY vehicle maintenance tips. 

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