So, how long does an oil change take? Owning a vehicle is not an easy task. One has to keep several things in mind when they buy a car.
From getting the right vehicle to knowing what insurance you need, buying a car for yourself is lengthy and requires thorough research to avoid any possible issues.
On the other hand, it might also happen even after you buy your dream car; you may not know how to take care of it. So the vehicle may break down on you before you could even use it to its full potential.
There is a saying- you have to opt for regular oil changes if you want the most miles from your car. It is true in every sense. The motor oil used by your vehicle will break down over time and usage. There is often an accumulation of carbon, acid, water vapor, metal shavings so small they are hardly visible, and many other contaminants. This situation may also occur from usual running conditions. So, you would require regular oil changes to keep your car’s health optimum.
But, you may have several questions, like exactly how long does an oil change require, where should you get your oil changes, or even Can you change your vehicle’s oil? No need to worry- read on to find out the answers to every question you may have about your car’s oil change.
How Long Does It Take To Get An Oil Change?
The basic process of oil change takes about 20-45 minutes if you do it by a mechanic with proper knowledge and expertise. However, several factors may increase the time taken to change the oil.
If you go to the expert mechanics, they will first do a basic vehicle inspection along with the oil change. Then, after an assessment, if they find the necessity of extra work, they will ask for more time for the whole process.
Your primary focus should be on finding a trusted professional mechanic for the oil change. An inspection is necessary for your vehicle. It is wise for you to know about the market reputation of your mechanic. This knowledge will help you have an idea whether you are getting scammed by your mechanic or not.
Why Do You Need An Oil Change?
As a car owner, you must know when and why you need to change its oil. The vehicle owner’s manual should have a written suggestion of when to change your car’s oil.
The motor oil helps your engine to run smoothly. Just an oil change can prevent friction and picks up dirt and contaminants. Unfortunately, the old oil becomes saturated after some time and forms a sludge. If you do not change it into fresh oil, your car might suffer engine damage leading to costly repairs.
What Steps Should I Follow To Change My Oil?
If you follow the below steps, you change your vehicle’s oil in an appropriate process.
Step 1
Clean your vehicle’s dirty drain by removing the drain plug. Keeping the oil warm during this job is better. This process may take around 10 minutes.
Step 2
Remove the oil filter and pour fresh oil into the new filter.
Step 3
Replace your vehicle’s crush washer along with the oil drain plug.
Step 4
Apply a thin coating of fresh oil on the oil filter gasket with your finger.
Step 5
While tightening the filter as tightly as possible, spin it on the mounting socket. Back the filter off about one quarter to half turn to ensure the gasket does not deforms.
Step 6
You can refill the remaining oil into the filter and start the engine on idle mode to check for leaks.
What Goes On During An Oil Change At A Dealership?
Changing
You can choose the most suitable type of motor oil for your cars. You should practice reading the owner’s manual to know what volume of oil you should use for your vehicle. You should practice reading the owner’s manual to understand what volume of oil you should use for your car.
Organizations like Jiffy lube use Pennzoil branded products. Many cars require the synthetic version, while some may require conventional oil. As a result, you can expect a heavy-duty performance from these products. In addition, it can protect your car engines and their components.
Cleaning
Once you finish your oil change process, you can move forward to opt for a thorough cleaning session. Here, one has to clear out all the areas that require some attention due to dirt. These areas include all the exterior windows and all the mirrors in your vehicle. The glass needs a good cleaning solution for a deep tidying process.
You can also finish the cleaning session by vacuuming the entire floor area of the interior and other parts of the vehicle. One should not skip this step to avoid oil spills or any contaminants in the car. Jiffy lube mechanics can help you with this process. They ensure that their service and behavior towards their customers is top-notch in every way possible.
Inspection
Trusted organizations such as Jiffy lube analyze other issues like antifreeze or coolant levels. They also check whether your car engines need air filtration or not.
Jiffy lube also pays attention to issues like car belt fixation, brake fluid levels, wiper blades, and exterior lights and lubricates your vehicle wherever necessary.
Checking
If you go to a quick lube location like Jiffy lube, they will pay attention to every kind of preventative maintenance necessary for your vehicle. Their service includes checking the tire pressure, transmission liquid, and power steering fluid. Moreover, they also inspect the windshield and fill the fluid. If necessary, they also examine other battery-related issues.
After one finishes all these steps at Jiffy lube, their technician will put a sticker on the upper left corner of the car’s windshield as a reminder that their vehicle needs more frequent oil changes. Nowadays, most cars have a dashboard message center that shows oil life. After finishing the process, the monitor will reset to display the life of your new oil.
Does The Time Taken To Change Oil Vary From Vehicle To Vehicle?
The oil changing process is similar in most vehicles, but the period you require to do the same can vary according to the car you own. Multiple factors influence the time of your oil change, including the type of vehicle you own; apart from this difference, your car’s age also matters. Your engine type or your vehicle’s oil capacity also affects the time for the oil changing process. Even the oil variant can also influence the time required. Another factor that may influence the process is your driving pattern. This time can increase or decrease based on the frequency and distance of travel.
How Often Do You Need Your Oil Change?
Previously, one had to change their vehicle’s oil at an interval of 3000 miles. However, motor oils now have several friction modifiers and other added substances that can extend the longevity up to 7000 miles. Synthetic variants can even go up to 10000 miles.
However, you should change your oil only to a manufacturer’s recommendation. Check your owner’s manual to understand when your vehicle is ready for an oil change.
Does A Repair Shop Take Longer Than Quick Lube Shops?
Yes, repair shop takes a bit longer than quick lube shops to finish their respective jobs. It depends on the areas of expertise, making repair shops take a bit longer than the quick lube ones.
Firstly, quick lube shops have the primary specialty of oil changes, and their setups are most for rapid oil changes.
Secondly, a repair shop is more concerned with inspecting other issues like routine inspections and tune-ups. For example, they might take extra time to examine your car’s tire pressure, coolant levels, and other maintenance areas.
Therefore, you need to determine whether you need extra maintenance inspections or not before you choose the service for your vehicle. In addition, a repair shop investigates other issues that need attention. Whereas a quick lube shop mainly has the expertise to change motor oil. The expert mechanics recommend that if your vehicle is old, you should get it assessed in a repair shop for a complete assessment. But, your new car needs regular oil changes at a quick lube location.
What Type Of Oil Do I Need?
As a car owner, you must know what oil is the best choice for your cars. The weight of oil, for example, 5W-20 or 10W-30, signifies the thickness at the perfect operating temperature of the oil.
Most people try to follow their owner’s manual. The owner’s manual consists of the manufacturer’s recommendations about the exact weight of oil your vehicle needs.
Synthetic oil and Conventional oil are the two best options for motor oil for your engine. However, synthetic oils are 47% better than conventional ones. In addition, synthetic oils prevent malfunction under utmost temperature conditions.
Synthetic oil is more expensive. But these oils prevent sludge formation and friction and make the engine operate more efficiently under extreme temperatures. We can expect synthetic oil to act as a barrier that can protect your engine parts.
One needs faster oil flow at start-up for better weather protection, so you can opt for synthetic oil. Also, the latest engine for your cars uses turbochargers for extra power, increasing the heat. A bit of synthetic oil can do wonders in these cases. One should keep these factors in mind when they go for the following oil change.
How Long Does An Oil Change Take At A Dealership?
If you are a new driver, you should hand your vehicle to experts at a dealership for an oil change. They have a training course on the complicated electronics of cars. Although it can be slightly expensive, you can get any maintenance or repair your vehicle needs from an authentic dealership. It will also enhance the resell value of your car.
What Happens If I Don’t Change My Oil?
The longevity of your engine increases if you keep your oil change interval short. Old oil can build sludge and friction points that harm your vehicle. In addition, it can clog the engine, which is why you should keep your oil new and fresh.
How Long Does DIY Oil Change Take?
Some might think that changing their cars’ oil can save them money. However, getting this job done takes some basic knowledge and expertise. Your oil change is possible if you have the appropriate tools and experience. It may take about 45 minutes. However, a professional mechanic with proper tools and experience can do the oil change process much faster than a person trying at home.
Finally, how long an oil change takes depends solely on the mechanic. Organizations like Jiffy Lube provides thousands of services a year while you do it rarely. Therefore, it is better to hand these jobs to Jiffy Lube mechanics. Nevertheless, you can save a few bucks if you change your oil.
Final Words
An expensive asset like a car requires investment in maintenance. The car’s performance improves due to regular maintenance. It can get a bit expensive sometimes. However, it is worth it. The value of your vehicle does not go down if you keep it under regular maintenance. Hence, one should try to keep their car’s oil new and fresh as much as possible to avoid build-ups and clogging and help with resell value.
