Being proactive and consistent with routine maintenance can save significant hassle and money down the line. Although your car may alert you when your oil is low, understanding your mileage and oil is beneficial to avoid running out at an inconvenient time, such as on your holiday family trip.

Timing

The frequency of necessary oil changes can be different depending on the model of your car and whether it runs on conventional or synthetic oil. For cars running on conventional oil, the oil should be changed every 3,000 miles or 3 months. Newer vehicles running on synthetic oil may go as far as 10,000 miles or up to 1 year.

Why it Matters

Oil plays a vital role in keeping all the moving parts in your engine properly lubricated, which minimizes wear and tear as well as friction. Beyond that, oil also helps your engine stay cool through moving heat away from the moving parts in your engine. Serious issues can occur inside your car when you neglect oil changes. You could prematurely wear down parts or cause your engine to fail altogether. Your engine is more likely to overheat, which could leave your family sitting on the side of the road waiting for a wrecker. The cost of an oil change, regardless of synthetic or conventional oil, will be far more affordable than paying for repairs, engine replacement, and/or a tow service.

DIY Oil Changes

Changing your oil DIY style can be an option if you have some simple tools and a level spot to work. If you are unfamiliar with how to do it, you could look up a YouTube video for a step by step guide. Some motorists prefer to utilize a professional mechanic for oil changes. Conventional oil changes run between $35-75 and synthetic can cost between $65-125 depending on the cost in your area. When you factor in the cost of the oil and your time, the labor cost is minimal.

Whether your car is broken down from an oil issue or any other reason, the Southside Wrecker team is a call away. We are standing by 24/7, even on holidays, for your towing emergencies!