What Is an Oil Change? What to Know
A hand pours yellow liquid from a bottle into an engine component surrounded by various hoses and machinery within a vehicle's engine bay.
Although there are various oils and fluids in modern vehicles, most people who talk about an oil change are referring specifically to engine oil. Designed to lubricate and cool fast-moving engine parts such as pistons, bearings, valves and cylinder walls, engine oil is vital to a vehicle’s ability to run.
An example of just how important oil is to a car engine: If a car ever springs a serious oil leak while driving and all the oil is lost, the entire engine would be ruined in a few minutes.
Like most fluids in a vehicle, engine oil needs to be changed periodically to keep the vehicle running optimally. Engine oil loses its lubricating properties because it gets dirty and starts to break down chemically after time and exposure to heat.
“Most people tend to neglect regular oil changes because they aren’t paying attention to how many miles they have driven, don’t want to pay for the oil change or have very busy schedules,” says Nate Ryan of RepairWise. “But oil changes are vital for engine health and longevity. Neglecting them is one of the best ways to ensure your car will have problems down the road.”
What Is an Oil Change?
An oil change is the process of draining old, used engine oil from a vehicle into a pan, and then replacing it with fresh, clean oil and a fresh oil filter.
Like most lubricating and cooling fluids that help vehicles run, engine oil eventually needs to be changed. Particles of metal and debris from engine parts gradually darken and thicken the oil, decreasing its effectiveness. Small, replaceable parts called oil filters are designed to remove this debris, but they have a limited lifespan. When you’re changing your oil, it’s best to change the filter, too. Do electric cars need oil changes?
How Often to Do an Oil Change
Oil and vehicle manufacturers vary in their advice on oil- and filter-change frequency, but changing both every six months or every 5,000 to 7,000 miles of driving (whichever comes first) is a good rule of thumb. This frequency strikes a good balance between maximizing oil life and minimizing engine wear from driving with dirty oil.
“For my personal vehicle and our company vehicles, we use full synthetic, which we change at 6,000 miles or every six months,” says Tony Burns, owner of Lakeview Automotive. “It is also the schedule I keep for rotating and balancing the tires, so it is easier to keep track of. Go ahead and schedule it the same day as you get your teeth cleaned!”
Oil Change Options and Costs
Change Your Own Oil
Even if you’re only minimally handy, changing your own oil is probably well within your abilities. Plan to spend $25 to $75 for five quarts of engine oil of the right grade, depending on climate and manufacturer specifications (synthetic oil typically costs more), and around $10 for a new oil filter of the right type for your vehicle. Refer to your owner’s manual to determine the right model of filter.
Buying two one-gallon jugs of oil is probably more than you need, especially if you drive a smaller vehicle. But it’s good to have on hand for future oil changes or in case you need to top off your engine oil between changes. To change your oil, you’ll also need a funnel, drain pan, and a socket wrench of the right size to loosen the drain plug bolt in your oil drain pan. Another option is opting for an oil extractor pump.
If you do change your own oil, be sure to dispose of the oil safely and responsibly. There will likely be several places to recycle old oil, depending on where you live. Letting it leak into your driveway or garage or dumping it in the trash bin can lead to serious environmental damage.
Oil Change Service
Most mechanics don’t charge a whole lot more to change your oil and filter than you’d pay yourself for the supplies. You can expect to pay anywhere from $40 to $70 for the new oil, filter and the mechanic’s time. Costs vary based on your vehicle’s size because a bigger engine means more oil.
The cost of having someone change your oil isn’t the biggest reason to do the job yourself. Time saved traveling to and from the auto shop and inconvenience avoided are the reasons I never go to the shop for something as fast and simple as an oil change.
Does Costco Do Oil Changes?
While most of Costco’s locations offer tires and other vehicle repair and maintenance services, the big box warehouse club no longer does oil changes. However, there are a fair number of other retail centers that do offer the service, where you can get some shopping done while you wait for an oil change.
What Happens if You Don’t Change Your Oil?
If you go long enough without changing the oil in your vehicle, it could eventually lead to complete engine failure. Over time the engine oil gets too dirty to be effective, while getting thicker and more abrasive. That can cause engine parts like the pistons and gaskets to wear out. In the short term, it can cause your car to overheat as the old oil isn’t able to effectively lubricate the engine.
In newer cars, changing the oil on time is more critical than ever, says Burns. “Several systems inside the engine rely on clean oil to operate, such as variable valve timing, which can be impossible to repair without rebuilding the engine once these passages have been clogged,” he says. “Push the neglect far enough and you’re staring at a four-figure engine rebuild instead of a two-figure oil service.”
FAQ
How do I know what kind of oil my car needs?
It’s usually written on the oil filling cap, on a sticker in the engine bay and in the owner’s manual. Most caps are etched with the required viscosity (for example 0W-20, and your owner’s manual spells out viscosity, specification (API/SP, ILSAC GF-6, Dexos), and whether synthetic is mandatory.
“Match the specification, not just the viscosity,” says Burns. “An oil that meets GM Dexos1 Gen 3, for example, passes stricter sludge and wear tests than a generic 5W-30.”
Where do I dispose of used oil?
You can take used oil to most auto parts stores, some service shops and hazardous waste collection facilities. “Used engine oil is recyclable, but only if it stays uncontaminated, so pour it into a clean, sealable jug or the empty oil bottle before dropping it off,” says Burns. “Never dump oil on the ground, into a drain or mix it with antifreeze or brake fluid. One gallon of waste oil can pollute a million gallons of fresh water.
About the Experts
Tony Burns is owner of Lakeview Automotive in Moore, South Carolina. He has been in the auto repair field since 1991, and an ASE Master Certified Technician for more than 25 years.
