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OIL CHANGE

An oil change at your local Sudbury Ontario auto shop: Sounds simple, but there are some pretty important things to know about preventing oil sludge.

Oil eventually starts to turn into jelly. Literally – petroleum jelly. Sludge clogs up oil passages and keeps oil from getting to some areas of the engine, causing parts to wear out prematurely. And that means expensive engine repairs.

That's why you need to change the oil and oil filter on schedule – to get the old oil out before it turns to sludge. Your manufacturer will have a recommendation for how many miles you can go between oil changes. They also usually have a number of months between recommended oil changes. That's because the detergents and other additives in the oil break down over time.

Your owner's manual will have a recommendation for time and mileage, but you need to remember that it's based on using the recommended weight of oil. And if your vehicle came from the factory with synthetic oil, the recommended intervals assume you continue to use synthetic.

Also how you drive around Sudbury can have a big effect. Most owner's manuals will have a list of driving conditions that are harder on your vehicle. Things like stop and go driving in Sudbury, short trips to driving in very hot or very cold weather, heavy loads and towing. If some of your driving fits this, you may need to change your oil and do other maintenance on a shorter schedule.

 

With a ROCKTOWN AUTOMOTIVE oil change, you will receive a multi-point point inspection of your car and we will provide a report of our findings with recommendations. Our technicians will also check to make sure you have enough coolant, brake fluid, transmission and power steering fluid and a clean air filter.

OIL EDUCATION

 

Engine Oil - Today's vehicles use a multi-grade oil with a classification such as 5W-30. The designation indicates the viscosity of the oil, which is its resistance to flow. In a multi-grade oil, the first number indicates how the oil will flow when it is cold. The lower the number, the lighter the oil and the better it will perform in the cold. The second number is the thickness of the oil at high temperatures. For example, a 5W-30 oil will have a 30 oil weight at 210 degrees Fahrenheit.

 

Oil Viscosity - Is important because the lower the oil's viscosity, the quicker the oil can reach the upper engine parts such as the valve train, pistons, overhead cam, and bearings. The viscosity of your engine oil is of particular importance during the cold season because there is only a small amount of oil in the upper engine and the quicker the oil can get to the top to reduce friction the better. 

 

 

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Should I consider switching to synthetic oil?

 

Synthetic oil lubricates your engine better than traditional motor oil. It also performs better against high heat and does not break down as quickly. Some brands of synthetic oil are designed for high mileage vehicles and others are good for high-performance engines. There are also some designed to increase your fuel economy. If you are interested in switching, one of our Rock Town technicians will help you find the right oil for your vehicle.

 

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