Check the owner's manual to see if your driving habits are considered to be "severe service." This type of driving requires more frequent oil changes, warns the Car Care Council. Have the oil changed accordingly, usually every 3-5,000 miles. For less wear and tear on the engine, drivers in cold climates (sub-zero driving temperatures) should drop their oil weight from 10-W30 to 5-W30.

Description: The typical oil filter consists of a high-strength steel housing containing various types of filtering media. An anti-drainback valve prevents oil from running out of the filter when the engine is off. Today's oil filters have a convenient spin-on design that makes removal and installation easy.

Purpose: The oil filter sifts out contaminants, allowing the oil to flow through the engine unrestricted. Should the oil filter become restricted or clogged with contaminants, they will flow around the filter. This bypassing is a safety mechanism, but you never want to let oil and filter changes go so long that bypassing takes place.

Maintenance Tips/Suggestions: For best results, consult your owner's manual, but consider that your driving probably constitutes a severe maintenance schedule. Usually, this means oil and filter changes every 3,000 miles or 3 months. An oil change at your local Eugene Oregon auto shop: Sounds simple, but there’s some pretty important things to know about preventing oil sludge.

Oil eventually starts to turn into jelly. Literally – petroleum jelly. Sludge clogs up oil passages and keeps oil from getting to some areas of the engine, causing parts to wear out prematurely. And that means expensive engine repairs.

DID YOU KNOW?

The most important thing you can do to keep your vehicle running for a long time is to change your oil on schedule. With a full service oil change, your other fluids are checked and topped off so you don't run into problems from low fluids. Your technician may see a developing problem and he'll remind you of any other recommended maintenance.

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Ph. (541) 343-1545

That’s why you need to change the oil and oil filter on schedule – to get the old oil out before it turns to sludge. Your manufacturer will have a recommendation for how many miles you can go between oil changes. They also usually have a number of months between recommended oil changes. That’s because the detergents and other additives in the oil break down over time.

Your owner’s manual will have a recommendation for time and mileage, but you need to remember that it’s based on using the recommended weight of oil. And if your vehicle came from the factory with synthetic oil, the recommended intervals assume you continue to use synthetic.

Also how you drive around in Junction City, Corvallis, Florence, Cheshire and other communities in Lane County can have a big effect. Most owner’s manuals will have a list of driving conditions that are harder on your vehicle. Things like stop and go driving in Veneta or Walterville, short trips to Cottage Grove or Springfield, driving in very hot or very cold weather, heavy loads and towing. If some of your driving fits this, you may need to change your oil and do other maintenance on a shorter schedule.

This may sound complicated. Some vehicles in Lane County have an oil life calculator that takes all of these factors into account and tells you when you should change your oil. Otherwise, talk with your Eugene area service advisor at Integrity Auto Repair about how you drive and get their recommendation for when to take care of your service.

Finally, if any of the steering or suspension parts can be lubed, your technician at Integrity Auto Repair will take care of that with a lube, oil and filter service.

It is Cheaper to Change Your Oil than to Change Your Engine!

Why Synthetic Oil Is Best for Eugene Drivers

Hello Eugene! Today's Integrity Auto Repair car care topic is: Synthetic Oil vs. Petroleum Based Oil. Synthetic motor oil is a substitute for petroleum based oil. If you aren't currently using it, why not? Synthetic motor oil maximizes engine power and fuel economy. To see why we'd need a microscope, so we'll have to settle for using our imaginations. The molecules of conventional motor oil are long hydrocarbon chains. Synthetic motor oil, on the other hand, has uniform, round molecules. Which is slipperier? – a pile of pencils or a pile of marbles?

Synthetic motor oil lubricates better because there's less friction. This results in myriad benefits: better wear protection, cooler operating temperatures, more power and better fuel economy. And synthetic oil doesn't sludge up like conventional oil so it prevents those small oil passages from clogging up. (We see that all the time at Integrity Auto Repair in Eugene.)

Some manufacturers are extending oil change intervals for many models including vehicles. The added protection of synthetic oil covers you for these longer intervals. Talk with your Integrity Auto Repair service advisor about how you drive in Eugene and see if he thinks you can benefit from synthetic oil for your vehicle. Also ask about the appropriate oil change interval for synthetic, because it may very well be longer than for conventional oil.

Most Eugene drivers have a busy life and occasionally miss an oil change – go ahead admit it. Since we're not perfect, doesn't it make sense to use a motor oil that's got your back?

What about price? Petroleum based oil may appear to win out on this point, but let's consider all the facts. Though synthetic oil costs more in Eugene, it lasts longer, protects your vehicle engine better and increases fuel economy. You'll likely save money in the long run. If you're serious about making your car last longer, start using synthetic motor oil right away.

Integrity Auto Repair is a full-service preventive maintenance and auto repair center in Eugene, Oregon, specializing in: Air Conditioning Service, Wheel Alignment, Tire Balance, Batteries, Belts & Hoses, Brake Repair, Computer Diagnostics, Cooling System trouble-shooting and repairs, Engine Repair, Exhaust Service, Fluid Change, Fuel Injection Service, Oil Change & Preventative Maintenance, Shocks, Struts and Suspension Service, Tires, Transmission overhaul, Tune-up, Towing, and General Car Care Services since 1979.

535 River Rd ● Eugene, OR 97404

Ph. (541) 343-1545

Auto Repair Service for the Eugene Oregon zip codes of: ◦ 97401 ◦ 97402 ◦ 97403 ◦ 97404 ◦ 97405 ◦ 97408 ◦ 97440