Make The Most Of Your Oil Service With Centennial Auto Group

January 06 2021, Centennial Auto Group

We all know the feeling – a new light flashes on your dashboard and the first things that come to mind are “how long will this take?” and “how much is this going to cost me?” Keeping up with your vehicle’s regularly scheduled maintenance may not be the most exciting item on your to do list, but when it comes to getting your oil serviced, you’ll want to make it a top priority.

Why You Should Change Your Oil Regularly

Whether your vehicle is brand new or an older model, oil changes are a necessary part of car ownership. Regular oil changes lubricate all of the intricate components that work together to keep your engine running, while also carrying heat away from the area. This results in a smooth-running, road-ready vehicle that will ultimately last longer due to its proper care and maintenance.

Oil changes become especially important for newer vehicles that are still covered under warranty. If you fail to change your oil at the right interval or decline to use the proper product, your vehicle’s warranty can become void.

When Should I Change My Oil?

Conservative estimates for oil change intervals used to recommend changing your vehicle’s oil after every 4,800 kilometers (3,000 miles), or every three months - whichever came first. But significant improvements made in fuel delivery systems, engine materials, manufacturing methods, and oil chemistry now allow most drivers to go much longer between changes.

Keeping that in mind, there are two main factors that need to be considered when scheduling your oil changes:

Driving conditions (extreme hot, cold, or dusty climates, sustained stop-and-go driving vs. highway driving)
Driving habits (are you a cautious driver or a speedster? Are most of your trips under 10 kilometers? Do you frequently tow or haul heavy loads?)

Driving conditions and habits make all the difference when timing your oil changes. Here is our handy breakdown to determine when you’ll be due for your next oil change.

8,000 kilometers - This interval is recommended for anyone making frequent short trips (under 10km).

When your vehicle doesn’t spend enough time driving at high, steady speeds, your engine doesn’t get hot enough to boil off any condensation accumulating in the system, which can result in oil breaking down faster and forming sludge.

This also means most of your driving is the type that’s particularly hard on your engine, so frequent oil changes will help minimize any damage.

10,000 kilometers - This is our standard oil change interval recommendation.

Most vehicles on the road today use synthetic oil, which means you can go anywhere from 10,000 kilometers up to 12,000 kilometers for newer vehicles between oil changes. This is because synthetic oil performs better and more efficiently than regular oil (and it’s also better for the environment!).

When Your Dashboard Indicator Lights Up - It’s time to get your oil changed as soon as possible!

Your vehicle’s oil-life monitoring system uses a combination of algorithms, sensors, and software to keep track of things like driving temperatures, cold starts, driving hours, engine revs, and more. This system is specially calibrated for your recommended oil type and interval period, so when your light comes on, it’s time to book an appointment.

When in doubt, be sure to follow your owner’s manual recommendations of how often and what product to use for best performance. Different manufacturers will have varying recommendations for your vehicle's oil service. Some brands – take Kia for example – run a tighter schedule due to our abnormally harsh climate and recommend oil maintenance every 6,000 kilometers.

What Happens When You Don’t Change Your Oil Regularly

Now, you might be thinking, so what if I add a few extra kilometers between oil services? It can’t be that big of a deal, right?

Wrong.

Failing to maintain your vehicle’s oil can have serious consequences. We’ve already discussed voiding your vehicle’s warranty, but falling behind on oil maintenance will also lead to serious problems for your engine.

Performance will slowly deteriorate over time as your engine starts running hotter and hotter, leading to components warping and wearing out. Soon enough the situation will turn catastrophic and you’ll be looking at replacing either your entire engine, or your entire vehicle.

Why You Should Service Your Oil With Centennial Auto Group

An oil service is never just an oil change at Centennial Auto Group. When you book an appointment with any of our Centennial Auto Group dealerships, you can trust that you’re getting the best value and service for your vehicle.

With every oil change, we offer complimentary fluid level checks and top-ups, tire pressure checks and adjustments, and visual inspections of your brakes, tire treads, and more! Every major safety component of your vehicle will be checked before your vehicle leaves the shop, so you can feel safe and confident when you return to the road.

In addition, our top notch techs have decades of training and experience and are pleased to be able to service almost every vehicle make and model.

Due For A Change?

If it’s time to get your vehicle in the shop for your next oil service, reach out to our service departments to schedule your appointment today!

Centennial Honda

Book online - https://www.centennialhonda.com/en/form/service-appointment/5

Or Call - 1 (902) 436-9158

Centennial Kia

Book Online - https://www.centennialkia.ca/en/form/service-appointment/5

Or Call - 1 (902) 724-4542

Centennial Mazda

Book Online - https://www.centennialmazda.ca/en/services/after-sales-services

Or Call - 1 (902) 894-8593