Nissan Oil Change Service

Why Are Oil Changes So Important?

Your car needs oil like your body needs water. For example, if you go running when you're dehydrated, you're more likely to cramp up or get injured. It's no different for your engine. Oil lubricates the parts of your engine, so they can run smoothly.

Oil also prevents problems by cooling your engine down. It takes a lot of parts to power your vehicle. With all the machinery running, it's easy for heat and friction to build up. That's why having enough oil is so important to your vehicle's health.

Eventually, oil needs to be replaced, though. After a while, it's not able to lubricate your vehicle's parts or cool them down as effectively. It even changes color. To make sure everything stays in good condition, technicians will give your vehicle an oil change on a regular basis.

When to Get an Oil Change

So, how often will you need to schedule an oil change? That depends on what vehicle you're driving. After all, a compact car and large SUV usually have very different maintenance schedules. When it comes to oil, it depends on what kind of oil your car takes.

Conventional oil can be found in many used models. Usually, vehicles that take conventional oil will need to get an oil change every six months, or every 3,000 miles.

Most vehicles like the Nissan Altima and Nissan Rogue run on synthetic oil, though. It's designed to last longer and operate under more extreme temperatures. If you've got synthetic oil running through your car, you'll likely only need an oil change once a year, or every 7,500 miles.

Signs Your Car Needs New Oil

What if you aren't sure how long it's been since your last oil change? Well, it turns out your car can remind you. Some of the warning signs you should look for include:

• Dashboard warning light. If you're low on oil or have low oil pressure, you'll eventually see a dashboard light that looks like an old-fashioned oil can.
• Knocking sound. When you're running on old oil, your engine has to work harder. Sometimes, you'll even be able to hear a knocking sound coming from your engine.
• Dark oil. Healthy oil pours easily and has a light brown, amber hue. Old oil looks more like a thick, black sludge. To check your oil, just pop the hood and pull out the dipstick.