If you had to guess what the most vital piece of maintenance is for your car, would you say oil changes? If so, you would be correct.

Oil is vital to your car’s performance, as it lubricates all the moving parts of your engine each time you drive—and as such, making sure it is well-equipped to do its job is key.

While oil changes and maintenance are extremely important, it can be difficult to assess your car’s oil levels and understand how frequently you should take it in for a change—which is where we come in. Read on to learn more about how to understand your car’s oil and your oil change schedule so you can achieve optimum performance.

What to Know About Your Car’s Oil

Know how to check your dipstick. While every car can vary, many will need the oil topped off in between oil changes due to temperature fluctuations and driving habits. It is wise to check your oil levels at least once a month, which will help you be aware of the levels and catch any leaks early on. Check your car’s owner’s manual for instructions on how to check your dipstick so you can easily monitor the oil levels as often as needed.

Know how often and what type of oil to get. Your owner’s manual will also have guidelines for how often you should have your oil changed and what type of oil to put in the vehicle, which is a great baseline for figuring out exactly what your car needs. While your exact needs may vary due to driving conditions, temperature changes and other factors, this provides you with a great baseline so you can make sure you are getting your oil changed frequently enough.

Know if your car has an oil pressure monitor. Most newer cars will have an indicator light on the dash panel that are designed to let you know if something is up with your oil—be sure to check for this in your manual and know what it looks like in case this issue arises. This light can switch on if your oil levels are low, if there is an error with the pressure in your tank or if a leak is detected, so do not ignore it if it were to pop up.

Is it time for your next oil change? We can handle that! Contact us today to schedule a service so your car is in optimum shape.