Several vital components play a significant role in your vehicle's performance and lifespan, one being your engine's oil. The oil coursing through your engine is crucial because it prevents damaging friction and acts as a detergent to rid your engine of harmful particles and debris. Regularly changing your oil will ensure that it performs as intended, preventing sludge build-up and other headaches later down the road. When your vehicle is due for an oil change, you can trust our team at Darrell Waltrip Buick GMC. We have a team of expert technicians in our professional Service Center that can perform this routine maintenance on your vehicle and get you back on the road in no time.
Oil Change in Franklin
CHOOSING THE RIGHT OIL
Choosing the proper grade of oil is crucial to your vehicle's performance. From conventional to full synthetic oil, your Certified Service expert will offer a range of oil types, including ACDelco Gold Conventional Oil, ACDelco dexos1™ Full Synthetic, and Mobil 1™ Full Synthetic Oil.
These oils contain a variety of characteristics that can affect your vehicle's performance, offer varying levels of engine protection, and maximize the time between oil changes.
Good
ACDelco Gold Conventional Oil
- Offers quality engine wear and corrosion protection
- Contains special additives that help your engine run smoothly
Better
ACDelco dexos1™ Full Synthetic Oil
- High resistance to oxidation, which helps keep the oil from breaking down
- Excellent low-temperature flow and pumpability during cold start-ups
- Excellent protection to help prevent formation of sludge and other harmful deposits
Best
Mobil 1 Full Synthetic Oil
- Advanced anti-wear technology for outstanding protection of critical engine parts
- Exceptional high-temperature stability helps resist oxidative thickening
- Proven to provide outstanding cold starting, lubrication and protection from wear at low temperatures
Engine Oil Life System
Most modern vehicles have specialized computer-based software that monitors and accurately estimates your oil levels, often referred to as an Engine Oil Life System or Oil Life Monitoring System. This intuitive technology takes a lot of the guesswork out by automatically tracking various factors like your engine oil's viscosity, detergency, oxidation levels, and more. This system then takes these factors combined with driving habits, climate, and other details to compute when your oil needs changing.
The Oil Life Monitoring System in your vehicle will alert you when it thinks it's time for an oil change. And while this tech feature is helpful, it cannot physically judge when your oil is low. That's why it's still ideal to check your oil levels manually by inspecting the dipstick under your hood.
Checking Your Oil Level
While your vehicle has a recommended maintenance schedule that outlines when you should consider getting an oil change, it's still helpful to check the oil level yourself periodically. Thankfully, it's simple to check your vehicle's oil. To check your engine oil level, ensure that your vehicle is off and in park, then pop the hood. You'll then see a brightly colored handle marked with an oil can, which you'll pull out, wipe off, and fully reinsert to get an accurate reading of your oil level when you pull it back out for a second time. Note that your dipstick will have lines indicating low and safe levels.
What The Certified Service Experts Look For During Your Multi-point Vehicle Inspection
- Remaining Engine Oil Life
A quick inspection will determine your vehicle's remaining oil life percentage (applicable to vehicles with the GM Oil Life System). This may be helpful, especially if you are approaching your next oil change.
- Tire Wear
Your tires are what keep you moving safely down the road. The Certified Service experts check to make sure your tires are properly aligned, balanced, and in top shape. This will help ensure the optimum performance and safety of your vehicle.
- Wiper Blades and Glass Condition
Your wiper blades are essential, especially when it's raining. The operation and condition of front and rear wipers are checked to make sure they will work well when you need them. A visual inspection of your windshield is completed to check for cracks or chips and the inspection may help prevent further damage down the road if these issues are addressed.
- Fluid Levels
Fluid levels are checked, including the brake reservoir and windshield washer fluid, to be sure they are at optimal levels.
- Brakes
To help keep your brakes performing at their best, an inspection is performed on the condition of your brake system, including lines, hoses, and the parking brake, as well as measurements of the front and rear linings.
- Battery Condition and Connections
No one wants to be stuck with a dead battery! A quick battery test will determine the health of your battery, and a visual inspection will check to be sure the battery cables and connections are in top working order
- OnStar Subscription
A brief assessment will make sure you are connected with your OnStar system subscription.
- Additional Car Inspections
An additional vehicle inspection of critical systems is performed to check for visible leaks that might indicate a concern. The condition of other vehicle components is also visually inspected.
Oil Change FAQ
Q: How often should I change my engine oil?
A: The life of your oil depends on numerous factors, including your driving habits, the climate you drive in, your vehicle's age, and more. That's why it's best practice to follow your factory-recommended maintenance schedule, which you can find in your owner's manual or online.
Q: Is it important to change my oil filter?
A: It's essential to change your oil filter when you have your oil changed because this filter ensures that clean, particle-free oil is lubricating your engine. Inherently, over time this filter will go bad and get clogged, which is why it's ideal to swap it out with a new one when you visit us for your routine oil change.
Q: What happens if I don't change my engine oil?
A: Not changing your engine oil when necessary will lead to significant damage or costly repairs to your engine over time. Bad engine oil turns to sludge and can clog the moving parts of your engine, resulting in excessive wear and damage that could cost big money to fix.
Q: How can I tell if my engine oil has gone bad?
A: You can tell if your engine oil is bad when you pull out the dipstick to check the oil level. If the oil on your dipstick has globs, feels gritty, or has a milky appearance, it could mean that your vehicle is overdue for an oil change.
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