We have all been guilty of cutting corners, but how many times has that ever backfired? Have you ever tried to find the cheapest deal on something just to save a few extra bucks – but it wasn’t worth it? If you’re like the rest of us, it’s probably happened once or twice. Something that may not seem important now could end up being significant down the road. The perfect example? An oil change! Getting regular oil changes is one of the best things you can do for your vehicle and is a simple routine maintenance that will help care for the engine and its related parts as you drive. But too many people wait too long to get their oil changes, or choose the cheapest oil they can in order to save a little extra cash. Well, be sure to save that cash -and more – because you will probably have to use it down the road if your oil changes aren’t using high-quality oil.

We recently added this video to show you why an oil change is so important and just why cheap oil and oil changes don’t go together. In this video, you can see a vehicle that was recently brought in which had their last oil change at a car wash where cheap, bulk oil is used. Some vehicles, like this Nissan, require special oil. Probably worse than the oil change itself is the fact that if a lubrication issue occurs, it will void the warranty on the vehicle!

Think back to the last time you had an oil change. Did they change the oil filter? Not all places do, and this can cause other serious engine problems down the road. A clogged oil filter is also a sign of bad practice. Bringing your vehicle to an honest auto repair shop even for small routine maintenance services such as an oil change can help keep your vehicle performing optimally. Trying to save a few dollars for a cheap service will get you in trouble.

The frequency with which you should change your oil is also important. Going for extremely long periods of time will mean thickening, sludge, deposit formation and corrosive wear in your engine. When your engine becomes contaminated, it can mean potentially engine-damaging effects. Likewise, not changing your oil regularly could also mean a decrease in engine performance and ultimately engine life.

If you have not gotten an oil change in quite some time, or you don’t think your last oil change was of the quality it should be, we encourage you to come see us and allow us to take a look. In addition to changing your oil filter, we will also top off all of your car’s fluids, lubricate the chassis, doors and hinges, and also perform a 24-point inspection because most mechanical failures are due to neglected maintenance. Save yourself from serious engine problems down the road and make oil changes part of your preventative maintenance schedule starting today.