Changing your vehicle's oil regularly is an important part of ensuring that your vehicle runs properly and has a long life. By changing your oil, you can make a big difference in how your vehicle runs and remove any dirt or excess sludge that builds up in your engine. Not changing your car's oil regularly can decrease its performance and increase fuel consumption, which affects your mileage. It can also cause your engine to work even harder, which can lead to you having more problems down the road. Oil is the lifeblood of your vehicle, and nothing keeps an engine in peak condition like an oil change. At Koons Clarksville Chevrolet GMC, we've put together a list of oil change tips for your GMC truck, SUV, crossover, or van. These tips can help you maintain your engine and avoid costly repairs, saving you both time and money. Learn How Often Your GMC Needs an Oil Change How often your GMC will need an oil change depends on several factors, including your specific model, how often you drive it, your engine, and whether you partake in activities like heavy towing or off-roading. There's no simple answer to how often you'll need to change your oil; while many older vehicles recommend changing your oil every 3,000 miles, newer vehicles may have an extended interval, allowing you to go up to 10,000 miles before you even need to take your vehicle in for an oil change. If you're unsure of how often your specific model needs an oil change, you can ask our friendly technicians. We'll let you know of GMC's recommended guidelines and we can give you advice about your engine to prevent it from overheating and help you extend the life of your car. Check Your Owner's Manual Your owner's manual comes with a section about oil changes, including information about the specific type of oil you use and how often you can go before you'll need an oil change. You can also find information about the quantity of oil you need. There are three primary types of oil: conventional oil, synthetic oil, or semi-synthetic oil, which is a blend of conventional oil and synthetic oil. Each type of oil has various benefits. While conventional oil can offer quality protection and protect against standard corrosion, synthetic oil is especially good at withstanding high temperatures and resisting oil breakdown. Semi-synthetic oil can offer some of the same protections as synthetic oil, like improved oil viscosity at hot and cool temperatures and preventing corrosion. The type of oil you use can affect your vehicle's performance, and it's important to make sure you're using the recommended oil type for your model in your manual. Not using the right type of oil can cause damage to your engine, lead to oil leaks, and reduce your fuel efficiency. Pay Attention to Your Vehicle's Engine Oil Monitoring System Most GMC models that are newer have advanced monitoring systems to help you keep track of when your vehicle needs an oil change. These monitoring systems can also keep track of your engine's temperature, your driving habits, speed changes, and even road conditions and the outside air temperature. It processes this data and can let you know how many miles you have left before your oil needs to be changed, in addition to the overall status of your oil. While it won't tell you the level of your oil, it can help you determine how much life your oil has. It's important to regularly check your oil monitoring system, especially when you know that your truck, SUV, or crossover is due for an oil change soon. There are a few indicators you'll want to pay attention to. When you see a “Change Engine Oil Soon” message, know that an oil change is necessary as soon as possible, preferably within the next 600 miles or so. If you see a message about your oil pressure being low, immediately bring your vehicle to a safe stop as soon as possible and avoid restarting your engine until you've restored the proper oil pressure. Check Your Oil at Home It's useful to get into the habit of manually checking your vehicle's oil every so often to maintain performance and catch potential leaks before they get out of control, especially when you're driving an older vehicle. When your odometer reaches 100,000 miles, wear on the engine can cause small amounts of oil to burn off each time you take it for a drive. Pull out your vehicle's dipstick and use it to check the level of oil you have in your vehicle. The tip should have oil on it, and the base of the dipstick has two small lines. The oil level should be between these two marks. If it's at the low mark, it's likely time to add more oil. You also want to check the color of your oil. If your oil is darker in color, it could mean there's a lot of dirt in your oil and you're due for a change. During the Oil Change, Ask About Checking Your Engine's Health Oil changes offer a good opportunity to ask about the overall health of your engine. Even if your engine is running well, it's good to check its health just in case there's a break or a leak that's gone unnoticed. Engines can be especially expensive to replace, so it's important to keep them as healthy as possible and make any repairs quickly. During your oil change, you can ask our experts to look at your engine while they're under your hood. If we find anything during our multi-point inspection, we'll be sure to let you know. Get Top Quality Service at Koons Clarksville Chevrolet GMC Are you due for an oil change? Stop by Koons Clarksville Chevrolet GMC or schedule an appointment online. Our knowledgeable team of technicians will change your oil, perform a multi-point inspection, and give you our complete report, besides a complete explanation of any issues with your engine. We can also perform other services during your oil change while you wait and we'll have you back on the road in no time. Image via Flickr by marc falardeau
