Engine Oil change & replacement made easy

What does engine oil do?

Engine oil is a lubricant used to reduce the friction between the moving parts of the engine as well as an aid to cooling by dissipating the heat generated.

How does engine oil work?

Mineral engine oil is a refined version of crude oil. It is pumped around the engine, though small channels and holes, using pressure, to end up in the required destination. Once there it coats the surfaces of the moving parts and enables them to work against each other with less friction. When cold, oil has more viscosity than when it is warm, and the correlation of this is taken into account but the engine manufacturers when depicting which oil to use in their products.

Synthetic oil is made through a chemical process (Fischer-Tropsch) to produce the same friction qualities as mineral oil, with more uniform, longer lasting and more environmentally friendly properties.This uniformity and longevity is the main driver behind its recommendation however as it is now more of an issue than ever, the sustainability is of equal if not more importance.

How do you know there is something wrong with the engine oil?

Fundamentally, unless it has gone too far, the average motorist is unlikely to know there is something wrong physically with it.

There may be an oil pressure warning on the dashboard that could indicate the oil isn’t circulating as well as it should due to a blocking filter or even a failing oil pump or there may be an oil level warning, which would indicate there isn’t enough oil in the engine. However both of these warnings are not really an indicator of the actual oil quality but can alert you to potential issues.
Therefore typical symptoms are;

• Engine oil level warning
• Engine oil pressure warning
• Service indicator lights
• Oil quality warning light

When should you consider engine oil replacement?

As oil heats up and cools down, carbonisation occurs, which is why oil turns a dark black colour. The more this occurs and the more its chemical structure is mashed during the friction process, the oil quality will fall away until it not longer provides the purpose it is used for,

This is why the manufacturers have recommended oil change frequencies, however, it is not the full story. There is also the time recommendation as well, but this is to try and ensure that regular changes are made. An engine that is used in a vehicle that sits in stationary traffic the majority of its time, but doesn’t accumulate high mileages, is still going to be running and that is of course what reduces the properties.

How common is an engine oil change?

Oil changes are a basic and common requirement of all vehicles and is carried out daily by mechanics across all vehicles.

How can I extend the life of my oil?

In reality, there is little you can do to extend the life of the oil, what you can determine though is how long the actual quality of the oil is maintained. Hard driving and many cold starts will not only reduce the structural quality of the oil, but will also reduce the life of your engine as a whole.

What happens during an engine oil replacement?

• The mechanic will raise the vehicle and ensure that the surrounding area is protected against any spillage
• The mechanic will drain the oil and change the oil filter
• Mechanic will then refill the engine with the correct grade and quantity of quality oil
• Mechanic will run the engine and once cool, will re check the level
• Any dashboard based oil service and quality warnings will be reset to indicate the oil service has been performed

How much does an engine oil change cost?

The cost of an engine oil change depends on your car and what parts your car's manufacturer recommends using for the replacement. Find out what you could save by having the engine oil changed by ClickMechanic, by selecting your car at the top of this page!