Oil Change in Tulsa: How To Choose the Right Oil and Service for Your Car
Knowing how to set up an oil change for your car in Tulsa, OK, might not sound particularly important, but regular oil changes are the foundation for any successful auto maintenance strategy. When you take your car’s oil change needs seriously, you’ll benefit from improved functionality and a reduced risk of breakdowns.
Whether you’re new to the world of oil changes or simply want to brush up on your oil change knowledge, we can help. Here, you’ll find everything you need to know about choosing the right oil type and oil change service for your vehicle.
Why Bother With Oil Changes?
Even if motor oil was responsible for just one essential task in your vehicle, it would be worth paying attention to. But that doesn’t tell the whole story — your car’s oil does four jobs at once. Specifically, motor oil:
- Reduces friction. Since motor oil is a lubricant, it can help your engine’s moving parts function as intended.
- Keeps your engine clean. Motor oil collects combustion deposits, dirt, and other contaminants as it circulates through your engine. As a result, these materials won’t have the opportunity to build up like they would otherwise.
- Moves heat around. Engines create quite a bit of heat while they run, so they can quickly overheat. Motor oil can redistribute heat away from engine parts that are especially susceptible to overheating.
- Prevents rust formation. Fresh oil can significantly reduce the risk of rust forming inside your engine.
Know When You Need Oil Change Service
While oil changes are something no Tulsa driver can afford to ignore, you’ll also want to ensure you’re scheduling these appointments correctly. Based on a few different factors, you might need oil changes every 10,000 miles, every 3,000 miles, or somewhere in between.
The type of oil you use plays a significant role in determining your overall oil change needs (more on that later). The same is true for driving habits like driving in high temperatures, stop-and-go traffic, and high-mileage driving.
Generally speaking, we encourage drivers to set up an oil change at a local Tate Boys Tulsa auto repair shop every 3,000 miles or three months — whichever comes first. And if you’re in doubt, be sure to check your vehicle’s user manual.
Pick the Right Oil Type for Your Car
After you’ve created your oil change schedule, it’s time to think about the best oil type for your vehicle’s needs. These are today’s leading motor oil varieties:
Conventional
This semi-refined crude mineral oil is also known as “standard” oil, and it’s typically cheaper than alternative options. However, conventional oil doesn’t provide the enhanced performance other oil types can, and you’ll need to get oil changes more often with this type of oil.
Full Synthetic
Unlike conventional oil, full synthetic oil is formulated in a factory setting to meet unyielding standards for quality. As a result, it provides better performance than any other oil variety — but that performance comes with a higher price tag. However, you won’t have to schedule oil changes quite as often when you invest in full synthetic oil.
Synthetic Blend
Are you having trouble choosing between conventional and full synthetic oil? In that case, a synthetic blend might be the perfect compromise. Synthetic blend oil combines full synthetic and conventional oil into a single product. That means it will usually cost less than full synthetic oil and perform better than conventional oil without offering the unmatched performance of the former or the rock-bottom prices of the latter.
High Mileage
If you’re driving a vehicle that’s been in use for over 75,000 miles, none of the oil types mentioned above are the perfect fit for your needs. Instead, you’ll want high-mileage oil. While this oil variety is broadly similar to synthetic oil, it has additives that can help your aging engine deal with oil burn-off and corrosion.
Don’t Neglect Oil Filter Replacement
As you can see, an oil change service is an unavoidable step in the auto maintenance process. What you may not know is that the same is true for your oil filter. Oil filters can take contaminants out of your oil, but they’ll eventually get clogged — and your oil will have trouble passing through your filter once that happens.
To deal with this situation, you’ll need to replace your vehicle’s oil filter. The easiest way to do that is to visit an auto shop that provides “full-service” oil changes. Full-service oil changes go beyond standard oil changes, including tasks like tire rotation (upon request), vehicle inspection, and yes — oil filter replacement.
How To Get the Best Oil Change in Tulsa
If you’re nearly due for an oil change in Tulsa or you’ve been ignoring this service for months, no Oklahoma auto shop delivers better oil changes than Tate Boys Tire & Service. We offer comprehensive full-service oil changes handled by ASE-certified mechanics (not to mention valuable online coupons).
