What’s in an Oil Change?

What’s in an Oil Change?

by | Nov 22, 2019 | oil change brampton

Oil is the most important fluid in your vehicle. It is necessary to keep the engine working, which is the force that powers your car.

Most vehicle owners rely heavily on their automobiles for a wide range of activities and responsibilities that occur in daily life.

People depend on their cars for:

  • Getting to work
  • Grocery shopping
  • Errands
  • Transporting children and other passengers
  • Traveling
  • Safe transportation
  • Convenience
  • Avoiding public transit

Everyone uses their cars for different purposes, but many car owners would feel lost without their vehicles.

That is why it is so important to maintain your automobile with regularly scheduled upkeep. One of the most critical things you can do for your car’s health is to have the oil changed regularly.

Looking for a good spot for an oil change near me?

Oil Change Services in Brampton

For drivers all over the GTA, Valvoline Express Care is a reliable and efficient automotive service provider that can handle all of your maintenance and repair needs.

Valvoline Express Care is wellknown not only for its outstanding service, but also for the high-quality motor oils and other automotive products available.

No appointments are needed at Valvoline Express Care, just drive in and you will be ready to roll in no time.

What’s in an Oil Change?

Let’s delve a little deeper into the world of oil changes to see what they are all about.

We will examine:

  • What?
  • Why?
  • How?
  • When?

What Is an Oil Change?

Most vehicle owners are aware of what an oil change consists of, even if they have never actually done it themselves. It involves draining the old oil and replacing it with clean oil.

There are some types of maintenance that car owners can perform by themselves at home, but oil changes are best left to the experts.

Changing your own oil will not save you any time, money, or hassle. A professional technician will have it done more quickly and effectively.

Why are Oil Changes Fundamental in Maintaining Your Vehicle?

The engine in your car is made up of an intricate system of moving, inter-connected parts. Steel components like pistons and valves are steadily rubbing against other to perform the engine’s function.

This rubbing would be way too abrasive for the engine components without a proper lubricant. That essential lubricant is motor oil.

Without oil, the engine would over heat very quickly and would eventually be destroyed.

So, oil is needed for the engine to operate. But, not just oil, it needs to be clean oil.

Over time, oil starts to amass a build up of dirt and sludge. Dirty oil is not an effective lubricant or coolant.

This is why car oil changes are required regularly.

How Does the Oil Get Changed?

First of all, your car will need to be raised up on blocks or with a hydraulic lift to access the oil pan to drain the old oil. This reason alone makes having your oil changed by a professional completely worth the cost.

Once the oil is drained, the old filter will be removed and replaced with a new one. The filter serves to remove impurities and block contaminants from reaching the engine.

Old oil must be disposed of properly to avoid environmental damage.

The next step is to replace the old, dirty oil with new, clean oil. You should consult the owner’s manual of your vehicle to find out what type of oil is best for your model.

The expert oil change technicians at Valvoline Express Care can also help with that sort of advice.

There are several types of oil to choose from at Valvoline Express Care.

When Should You Change your Oil?

Again, it is a good idea to check your owner’s manual to see the recommended frequency for oil changes in your car.

The general guideline is that oil should be changed every 3000 – 5000 kms. The more frequently you change the oil, the better it is for the engine.

If you believe you are saving money by avoiding regular oil changes for your vehicle, then you are sorely mistaken.

While bypassing oil changes may save you a bit of money short-term, it will definitely not save you any money (or headaches) in the long run.

Engine trouble is expensive to fix, and replacing your engine is something you probably don’t even want to think about.

The good news is that engine issues can be avoided with regularly scheduled maintenance.

Oil Change Brampton

If you are in the market for dependable and efficient oil change services in Brampton and the surrounding area, then an ideal choice is Valvoline Express Care.

Regular visits to Valvoline Express Care will keep your vehicle operating at maximum performance while retaining its resale value.

Not only will you receive outstanding service, but your engine will also be the recipient of high-quality Valvoline motor oil.

Not all motor oils are of the same quality, so it is important to know what kind of oil you are putting in your car, and what kind of oil works best with your particular vehicle.

To make sure you are getting the right oil you need, let’s first take a look at what oil does for your automobile.

What Does Motor Oil Do?

Oil performs several functions in your vehicle to keep it running smoothly and effectively.

Some of the functions of motor oil are:

  • Providing necessary lubrication
  • Keeping the engine cool
  • Keeping the engine clean
  • Preventing rust and corrosion

Lubrication

One of the main functions of motor oil is to provide lubrication for all the working components of the engine. Since most of these components are made of metal, without oil these parts would be constantly grinding against each other.

Not only does metal on metal produce a horrifying sound, it also results in significant damage to those metal components.

Clean oil helps prevent engine damage and over-heating.

Keeping the Engine Cool

Reduced friction means reduced heat production. Clean oil reduces engine friction by carrying heat away from its components.

Dirty oil has a less stream-lined flow and has difficulty doing the job it needs to do.

Preventing Rust and Corrosion

Rust is formed when metal is exposed to air and moisture for an extended period of time.

Oil helps prevent the formation of rust by not allowing these circumstances to occur. Well-lubricated metal parts of the engine will not have a chance to rust because water can not get to them.

What Motor Oil Is Right for Your Vehicle?

All vehicles are different and therefore require different types of oil. Motor oils vary in quality and ingredients.

The major distinction between motor oils can be demonstrated by dividing oils into two main categories:

  1. Conventional
  2. Synthetic

Conventional Motor Oil

Conventional motor oil is derived from petroleum, also known as crude oil. The process for making conventional motor oil is much less intensive than for synthetic oil.

Synthetic Motor Oil

Synthetic motor oil is refined and distilled to remove the impurities. This helps break the oil down to its base elements, so they can be manipulated to improve performance, protection, and longevity.

Synthetic motor oil not affords better performance for your engine, but it has other advantages as well.

Some of the benefits of synthetic motor oil include:

  • Maintaining a cleaner engine
  • Better protection against engine wear and tear
  • Better flow in cold temperatures
  • Better engine protection in high temperatures
  • Better viscosity

Valvoline Motor Oils

There is a wide selection of motor oils to choose from at Valvoline.

Some of the selections available are:

  • Premium Conventional Motor Oil
  • MaxLife High Mileage Synthetic Blend
  • SynPower Full Synthetic Motor Oil

Windshield Repair Services

Windshield Repair Services

by | Nov 6, 2019 | Auto Glass Windshield Repair

Do you have a chip or crack in your windshield? If so, it is highly recommended to deal with the issue right away to minimize cost and damage.

Most vehicle owners would prefer to repair a windshield than have it replaced, if at all possible.

Repairs are obviously quicker and less costly than a replacement, and often repairs are covered by your auto insurance policy.

So, how do you know if you need a windshield repair or replacement for your windscreen?

Assessing Windshield Damage

An initial assessment you can do on your own, just to get a better idea of what will be needed to solve the problem.

The first task is to figure out the type of chip or crack that exists on your windshield.

Some of the most common types of windscreen blemishes include:

  • Surface chip
  • Bullseye
  • Half moon
  • Star
  • Angel wings (combination crack)
  • Star Burst
  • Straight line
  • Extended bullseye

Surface Chip

A small surface chip is the most common type of windshield blemish. This is typically a superficial nick that does not penetrate the surface of the glass.

A surface chip can be fixed with a minor repair, as long as it is attended to promptly.

Bullseye Chip

A bullseye is an impact chip that is usually the result of a rock or stone coming off the road and hitting the glass.

A bullseye is a circular chip that has a cone shaped whole dig out of the outer layer of the windscreen.

A bullseye chip can be mended with a repair, if:

  1. The diameter of the chip is an inch or less
  2. There is no dirt lodged in the chip
  3. The chip is not directly in the driver’s field of vision

Half Moon Chip

Much like a bullseye chip, a half moon chip is often caused by impact from an errant stone or pebble.

You can think of a half moon as a partial bullseye chip that is not fully circular in shape.

Half moon chips can also be repaired if the diameter is small enough and the blemish is not in the driver’s eyeline.

Star Chip

A star chip or break is caused by a point of impact, and generally has several small cracks coming out from the center to form a star shaped design.

A star chip or break can go either way when it comes to repair or replacement.

Star chips can often be repaired if they are the size of a looney or smaller. If the chip is larger than a looney, or you can feel it on the inside of your windshield, a replacement will most likely be needed.

Angel Wings (Combination Crack)

An angel wing chip is also sometimes referred to as a combination break. Angel wings may be a combination of a bullseye chip with cracks spreading outwards from opposite directions.

If the entire diameter of a crack of this nature, including the body and the legs, does not exceed 2 inches, then a repair may be possible.

Star Burst Chip

As the name suggests, this type of blemish is a star chip that has escalated or covers more surface area than a regular star chip.

This type of chip must be taken care of immediately. An expert will be able to assess if a repair or replacement is required.

Straight Line Crack

This type of damage can be caused by either impact or pressure.

If a straight line crack is caused by the impact of a stone or debris, then it can possibly be fixed with a repair if it is small enough, does not reach the edge of the windshield, and is not in the driver’s line of vision.

If a straight line crack is caused by pressure, rather than impact, then a replacement will be mandatory.

Extended Bullseye

Like an angel wing chip, an extended bullseye is an enlarged or magnified version of the original.

This is another issue that needs to be dealt with urgently.

Driver’s in Brampton, Mississauga, Caledon, and Vaughan should contact the auto glass repair experts at Valvoline Express Care for professional UniGlass windshield chip and crack assessment.