Wednesday, September 6, 2017

Getting Your Oil Changed

PEKIN, Ill.,–– Owning a vehicle comes with a lot of responsibility. You have to pay for gas, keep an eye on your mileage, and keep up on routine maintenance to ensure your vehicle is able to take on the road ahead. While it may not seem important at first, routine maintenance is the number one way to extend the life of your vehicle, no matter how old or new it may be. That's why getting your oil changed regularly can make a huge difference in the life of your vehicle. Find out why oil is such an important component in your vehicle, how to check your oil, when you should get it changed, the benefits of regular oil changes, and other ways to extend the life of your oil and filter below!

Why Oil Changes Are Important


Getting Your Oil Changed

It takes a lot to keep an engine running. Your engine requires a lot of moving parts, pistons, valves, and other components to run at high speeds in your vehicle. After a while, these components start to heat up and can cause friction, which can wear your engine down and cause severe damage to important parts. Your engine's oil helps to keep your engine lubricated, cooling down your engine's components and preventing it from overheating. Without frequent oil changes, your engine has an increased chance of wearing down vital parts and can lead to expensive repairs or maintenance.

When Do I Need An Oil Change?


Getting Your Oil Changed

Depending on your vehicle's make, model, and year, it is recommended that you get an oil change anywhere between 3,000-5,000 miles, or whenever your vehicle owner's manual tells you to do so. If you aren't sure when you got your last oil change or if you need an oil change, stop by our Service Center and we'll help you out right away! 

How to Check Your Vehicle's Oil


Getting Your Oil Changed

Checking your oil only takes a few minutes and it's super easy! After turning off your vehicle and waiting a few minutes for your engine to cool off, pop the hood and grab a washcloth. Locate your engine's dipstick (it should look similar to the image above) and pull it out of your engine. Wipe it off with your washcloth, then reinsert the dipstick, removing it again. The dipstick should have "full" and "empty" labels on its side. If your vehicle's oil is below the "empty" threshold, make sure you take it in to have your oil changed right away!

The Benefits of Regular Oil Changes


Getting Your Oil Changed

Frequently changing your oil yields a lot of benefits for your vehicle. Not only do frequent oil changes keep your engine lubricated and cool, but the oil also removes dirt particles and sludge that can cause corrosion to your engine's components! Keeping up with routine maintenance can improve your gas mileage by up to 1-2%. While this may not seem like much, it leads to a lot of long term savings! Frequently changing your vehicle's oil can also increase the resale value of your vehicle over time and can show potential buyers that you put extensive time and care into your vehicle ownership.

How to Extend the Life of Your Oil


Getting Your Oil Changed

Like your engine, a lot goes into the life of your vehicle's oil. Getting your fuel filter changed every 20,000-40,000 miles or whenever your owner's manual tells you to do so will allow your fuel to be transferred to your engine without any additional debris. Keeping up on your coolant prevents your oil from decomposing at a fast rate. Lastly, maintaining a relatively even temperature with your engine will reduce its chances of overheating or poor fuel dilution. 

While getting your oil changed may seem like a tedious task after the first few times, keeping up on your oil can make a huge difference in your vehicle's life! If you need routine maintenance performed soon and want to save some money on your service, print out some of our service coupons and schedule your service with us for an affordable oil change! Are you in the market to purchase a vehicle soon? Take a look at our Certified Pre-Owned program and find out how owning a CPO vehicle can provide a lot of benefits with routine maintenance, extended warranties, and much more.

At Velde Ford, we're committed to providing our customers with an unbeatable level of service and a great car buying experience. Stop by the dealership located at 2200 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554 or visit our website: VeldeFordPekin.com for more information.

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