The experts here at Subaru of Mobile are proud to supply drivers in Mobile, Daphne, and Fairhope, Alabama, with all of their oil change needs. While this is a relatively simple task compared to other maintenance items, it's also one of the most important.

Read on to learn a little bit about our team in the service center that will be performing your car's oil changes, as well as the importance of the procedure itself.

How Often Should I Get My Oil Changed?

Skillful Care from Top to Bottom

When you bring your car, truck, or SUV into our service department, you can be confident that our group of top-notch mechanics will do everything they can to provide it with the care and attention it deserves. Our technicians are factory-trained, certified, and combine their years of experience with the latest technology and techniques. As a result, you can expect a high level of precision with every visit. 

Oil changes in particular are a service they are able to diligently complete for you. You can schedule a time that works best for you or even just stop by without an appointment thanks to our Express Service. Whatever is most convenient for you, our technicians can then get started on your car's oil change.

They will flush out the old oil that is in the engine and replace the filter that will help preserve the oil for many miles. After that, they will fill your engine with the exact type of oil it needs to continue to keep performing at its most optimal.   

Why Oil Changes Are Important

The motor oil that flows through your engine is there to make sure everything stays clean, cooled, and lubricated. The older your oil gets, however, the harder it is to accomplish this process. That's because it will start to break down and collect any dirt it finds. This will eventually result in the development of a thick sludge that can be quite harmful to your engine.  

By changing the oil, you can ensure your engine is in its best condition possible. That means you'll be able to limit the chances of parts becoming damaged within the engine, which might result in more complex repairs being needed. It also means the engine can run at its most efficient. That is why with clean oil you might even notice that your gas mileage improves!

When to Have Your Oil Changed

How often oil should be changed has a lot to do with the type that you're using. If you drive an older car that runs on conventional oil, you should go between 3,000 and 5,000 miles before getting the oil changed. The synthetic oil used in newer cars can allow as many as 7,500 miles between changes.

It should be noted that factors like driving behavior, road conditions, and a vehicle's age can significantly lessen the length of time you should wait before changing your oil again. The best way then to see if when you should get the oil changed in your car is to regularly inspect its condition for yourself.

You will want to inspect both the level and the color of the oil. To check your engine oil, you will want to:

• Open the hood and locate the engine oil dipstick
• Pull out the dipstick and wipe off oil
• Place the dipstick back in
• Remove the dipstick again and evaluate its level and condition

If levels are low, then it is time to refill the engine oil. You most likely will see a mark for low and full on the dipstick, which will help you determine if there is enough oil currently in your car's engine.

The color of the engine oil too will be a great indication of its overall condition. If you notice that the engine oil has gone from its healthy, amber hue to now a darker, more opaque color, then you will also know it is time to schedule your car's next oil change.

Signs the Engine Oil Needs to Be Changed

Along with staying on top of the condition of the engine oil by inspecting it often, there are also a few indications that you may notice while driving that it might be time for an oil change. That includes if you see a specific oil warning light on the dashboard, or any of these other warning signs:  

• Loud Engine Noise: If you notice that engine is making a loud knocking or rumbling sound, it could be due to parts not being properly lubricated.
• Exhaust Smoke: If you see excess exhaust smoke, you might have an oil leak somewhere in your engine.
• Oil Smell in Cabin: Also, if you happen to notice the smell of oil as you drive, this could also be an indication of a leak somewhere.
• Gas Mileage Reduces: Since the oil helps the engine work as efficiently as possible, when it is worn down it could result in your car's overall gas mileage to lower.

If you happen to notice any of these signs in particular, you will want to have your car serviced and the oil changed as soon as possible.

Be Sure to Have Your Oil Changed on a Regular Basis

If you're in Mobile, Daphne, or Fairhope, AL, and your car is ready to have this vital aspect of automotive maintenance performed, our team of expert technicians will be happy to get it done for you. Contact Subaru of Mobile today to schedule an appointment!