Green Cars, You’re In Luck
For the entire month of March we are keeping an eye out for green cars! If you have a green car and you get service at BCC you will get to pick a charity for us to donate to. Even if you’re just stopping by to charge up (reminder, it’s FREE) if your car is green, let us know your favorite charity. While you look for the green paint, let’s talk about the importance of oil changes!
The Basics
Oftentimes, we run into drivers who are unsure of the basics of a car engine. From what makes it go ‘vroom vroom’ all the way to the vital function of oil in their vehicle. So, let us get you caught up, just in case. Oil is good for your car for a lot of reasons but the main reason is lubrication. Oil, and its varying viscosities, support different types of engine to not “lock up” or seize during operation. The oil filter's main function is to remove any gunk or residue, or sometimes even contaminants from the oil before it passes through your engine.
Oil = lubrication, oil filter = engine/oil protection. Your engine would not work without these key components!
Know Your Oil
All of our deceased dinosaur fuel comes in A LOT of different ways and as we mentioned earlier, different viscosities or mixes. You may be familiar with your own vehicle’s oil type such as 5W-20 or 5W-30, but different engines require different oil. Most oils these days are also synthetic, meaning they are produced rather than collected and refined. There are vehicles out there that cannot take synthetic oil and it’s always important to be sure before you pour! So, your 1960’s hot rod’s engine most likely won’t take the same oil as your modern daily cruiser. Our techs can support you to be more familiar with your vehicle’s oil requirements when you visit, just ask.
“Be sure before you pour”
Change Can Be Good
Let us blurt this out: You SHOULD change your oil every 3,000 miles according to AAA…but really, this number is a safe number to keep you out of trouble. You’ve probably noticed in your adult life that your car will keep running past that 3K mile mark after an oil change, but it can take a toll on your vehicle if you wait too long. Less filtered or pure oil can create deposits on the inner workings of your engine causing bigger fixes and most likely more money in the long run. For synthetic oil, we suggest every 6K-7.5K miles for your oil to be changed. It’s always a good idea to check your engine oil level manually too, this video will help. This will keep your car happy and your wallet even happier!
Bad Signs
We don’t want to be a bad omen…but, we wanted to lay out some typical warning signs that your oil needs changed ASAP. Some common warning signs of bad oil are a check engine light (could be something other than oil too), a low (in the red) oil gauge on the dashboard of your vehicle, increased engine noise, or even shaking while idling. The shaking is caused by less lubrication in the internal workings of your engine. When the parts rub together at such a high speed you get a bumpy idling vehicle. Another big warning sign is excessive exhaust fumes which usually signals that things are getting TOO hot in your engine.
It’s better to not wait for a bad sign and practice routine maintenance with the pros at Boalsburg Car Company.
Your Partner In Oil
That sounds like a business proposition but what we mean is that we are happy to keep you and your vehicle happy through personalized car care and professional routine maintenance! Believe us, a little preventative work here and there will do more for your budget than thousands of dollars when something breaks. You don’t have to go at it alone, you have a partner right here at BCC.
Don’t Forget the Green
Don’t forget that if your car is GREEN and you visit BCC for service, we will donate to a charity of your choice throughout the entire month of March. Let’s make a difference in your life and hopefully someone else’s this month! Schedule your service appointment today.
