When Should I Change My Oil?
For best results, consult your owner's manual, but consider that your driving probably constitutes a severe maintenance schedule. This type of driving requires more frequent oil changes. Usually, this means oil and filter changes every 3,000 miles or 3 months.
Oil Filters
The typical oil filter consists of a high-strength steel housing containing various types of filtering media. An anti-drainback valve prevents oil from running out of the filter when the engine is off. Today's oil filters have a convenient spin-on design that makes removal and installation easy.
The oil filter filters out contaminants, allowing the oil to flow through the engine unrestricted. Should the oil filter become restricted or clogged with contaminants, they will flow around the filter. This bypassing is a safety mechanism, but you never want to let oil and filter changes go so long that bypassing takes place.
Types of Oil & Air Filters
For less wear and tear on the engine, drivers in cold climates (sub-zero driving temperatures) should drop their oil weight from 10-W30 to 5-W30.
Air filters help protect your engine from sucking up dirt, bugs and debris into your air intake. A dirty filter can impact the engine performance, gas mileage and fuel emissions. You will normally replace the air filter once a year or every 15,000 to 30,000 miles. Checking air filters is part of our standard oil change service.