Hyundai Oil Change in Chicago, IL

Oil changes are important for keeping your vehicle working well. Without them, you could experience poor performance and costly damage to your car, truck, or SUV. Here’s some more information about why oil changes are important, signs you could need an oil change, and the types of oil you can choose.

Why Oil Changes Are Essential

Oil adds lubrication to many parts of your car, reducing friction while the pistons inside the engine’s cylinders move. Getting regular oil changes and other services for your vehicle can increase fuel efficiency, reduce heat, prevent engine damage and wear, and increase your vehicle’s life. Keeping a detailed record of your oil changes and other maintenance shows potential buyers that you maintain your car regularly, and it can increase its value.

Without regular oil changes, the heat from your engine will eventually break the long chains of hydrocarbon molecules that oil is made of into shorter chains. This increases its thickness or viscosity, keeping oil from flowing around the engine as it should. Tiny particles of dirt and grit inside old oil can also increase friction, scratch parts of your engine that should fit tightly together, and create harmful buildup in the motor. This reduces efficiency and increases fuel expenses. Added friction could cause your engine to overheat, and you could have an expensive, inconvenient breakdown.

During an oil change from McGrath City Hyundai, you’ll also get a new oil filter and a thorough inspection of your vehicle. An expert will check your battery, lights, windshield wipers, tires, and many other parts of your vehicle. They’ll also add windshield wiper fluid, power steering fluid, transmission fluid, antifreeze, and other fluids when needed.

Signs That Your Vehicle Could Need an Oil Change

If your car, truck, or SUV requires an oil change, you might see different warning signs. Old oil is often more watery or thicker than normal, and it looks black or brown. Newer oil is clear, and it looks dark yellow or amber. You might also notice lots of additional exhaust and engine noise. Most vehicles have an oil light or a check-engine light on the driver information center near the speedometer. When sensors detect a low oil level, one of these lights usually comes on. You might also need to change your vehicle’s oil filter.

If you recently changed your oil, you might have a bad sensor, an oil leak due to a worn seal, a problem with the oil pan, or a loose or worn oil drain plug. If you have an oil leak, you might also notice a stain on your driveway’s pavement where you usually park. Before you keep driving, it’s a good idea to add some additional oil to prevent a breakdown. Then, take your car to an experienced mechanic and get your oil changed and the rest of your engine inspected. Otherwise, the problem could become worse.

Oil Types

When you have an oil change, you can select one of the following types of motor oil:

Conventional Oil

Conventional oil is made of petroleum. It has additives to make it more resistant to heat from the engine, and it works best for motors with simple designs and drivers who don’t need high performance or lots of acceleration. People usually need to change conventional oil every 3,000-5,000 miles.

Synthetic Oil

Synthetic oil is produced in a laboratory, and it doesn’t contain natural petroleum. This type of oil doesn’t have as many impurities, and the hydrocarbon molecules inside it are more regular and uniform. It’s more resistant to heat and cold than conventional oil. It’s also more expensive, but you can have it changed less often, and it can improve your vehicle’s performance. With synthetic oil, it’s a good idea to have your car checked by an expert every 10,000 miles or six months.

Synthetic Blend Oil

Synthetic blend oil, also called semi-synthetic oil, uses conventional and synthetic oil mixed together. It’s less expensive than completely synthetic oil, but it can provide better performance and last longer than most conventional oil. People usually need to change synthetic blend oil every 5,000-7,500 miles.

High-Mileage Oil

High-mileage oil is for older vehicles that usually have over 75,000 miles on the clock. This type of oil uses special additives that help lower the buildup of oil residue and evaporation or burnoff from heat. It also has seal enhancers to help prevent many oil leaks by making the motor’s seals, gaskets, and O-rings swell. Other additives minimize rough surfaces or scratches inside the engine.

Using high-mileage oil can help prevent problems in vehicles that have lots of mileage or endure a large amount of wear. For example, you may want to start using high-mileage oil before 75,000 miles if you often drive in traffic or off-road on tough terrain. You can choose conventional, synthetic, or synthetic blend high-mileage oil, but you’ll usually just find synthetic or synthetic blend. All three oil types can last longer than oil that’s not high mileage. High-mileage oil is also more resistant to high temperatures and freezing Chicago weather.

These types of oil are available in a variety of grades. For example, oil with a thinner consistency and a lower viscosity grade can work well at low temperatures. This grade of oil usually has a W on the label for winter. Multi-grade oil contains viscosity index improvers, which are special polymers that help it work at high and low temperatures, and it works well for the entire year. People sometimes refer to it as all-season oil.

At McGrath City Hyundai, you can contact our service department to get an oil change from an experienced technician. We offer many other services as well. When you buy a Hyundai from us, you’ll get three years or 36,000 miles of complimentary maintenance, including oil changes. You can visit our service department on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The parts department is open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.