Oil Change

Best Oil Change Services in Hudson, WI, and Stillwater, MN

Regular oil changes are crucial for preventing damage to your vehicle's engine and increasing the wear and tear on your vehicle. Scheduling routine oil change services is one of the easiest ways to protect the condition, value, safety, and performance of your vehicle. Regular oil changes can improve the performance of your vehicle's engine, extend its lifespan, maintain its value, and achieve its intended gas mileage. At Tire Pros & Wheel Experts, our experienced auto technicians offer comprehensive vehicle maintenance, inspections, and auto service. Call us today to schedule oil change services in Hudson, WI, or Stillwater, MN.

What Is a Full-Service Oil Change?

A full-service oil change includes inspecting all elements of your oil and engine systems, replacing the oil filter, disposing of old or used oil, and replacing your vehicle's oil. Full-service oil changes are an essential part of regular vehicle maintenance. They can prevent vehicle issues or offer early warning of vehicle problems that would just get bigger and more expensive over time. Our team offers full-service oil changes as part of our preventive vehicle maintenance services, and we will inspect your vehicle for signs of premature wear and tear or damage. Our full-service oil change includes:

• Changing your vehicle’s oil.
• Checking your air filter.
• Checking the levels of coolant or antifreeze.
• Checking the levels of your power steering fluid.
• Checking the levels of your brake fluid.
• Checking the chassis lubrication.
• Assessing wiper blades for signs of damage.
• Checking the levels of washer fluid.
• Testing the vehicle battery.
• Checking tire pressure.

Importance of Oil Changes

Regular oil changes will extend the lifespan of your vehicle, maintain its value and condition, prevent engine damage and wear and tear, and ensure optimal gas mileage. By scheduling regular oil changes with our team, you can:

• Improve your vehicle’s engine performance.
• Increase your vehicle’s fuel economy.
• Maintain the resale value of your vehicle.
• Comply with the vehicle warranty terms.
• Comply with your auto insurance policy.
• Prevent engine wear and tear and degradation.
• Reduce your risk of breakdowns and costly vehicle problems.
• Keep your engine cleaner and more efficient.
• Prevent rust and corrosion.
• Eliminate excess heat.

How Often Should I Change My Oil?

Your vehicle's oil needs to be changed when the existing oil is old, worn, expired, or depleted. Over time, motor oil degrades from the heat and pressure of the engine. It also collects harmful contaminants and particles that should be removed to prevent engine damage. Even if you don't drive your vehicle very often, the oil will degrade over time. When determining how often you should change your oil, follow the manufacturer's guidance in your vehicle's owner's manual. Our team can also look up your oil change schedule based on your vehicle's make, model, manufacturer, and year. Sometimes, your oil needs to be changed more often than the manufacturer recommends. We can also check your oil for signs of premature degradation. Warning signs that you need an oil change include:

• Strange sounds coming from your engine.
• Dirty, dark, cloudy, or grimy oil.
• Low oil levels.
• Illuminated dashboard warning light.
• Smoke from the exhaust.
• A burning smell from your engine.
• Difficulty shifting gears.
• It has been more than 3,000 miles since your last oil change.
• You can’t remember when your last oil change was.
• You frequently make short trips in your car or drive in stop-and-go traffic.
• You regularly drive in high temperatures.
• You drive a lot.

What Are the Different Types of Car Oil?

There are four main types of motor oil that offer different levels of viscosity and different levels of engine protection. Your vehicle manual should indicate what type of car oil is best for your vehicle:

• Conventional – Conventional or standard motor oil is a crude mineral oil that is partially refined to improve its viscosity. This type of oil is the least expensive but doesn't offer the highest level of engine protection. It also gets dirtier faster.
• Synthetic – Synthetic motor oil is manufactured in a factory or a laboratory. It is highly refined and includes oil and additives. It offers a much higher engine protection level but is more expensive. It does last longer, however.
• Synthetic Blend – Synthetic blends are refined and contain a hybrid mixture of standard and synthetic motor oil. This type of motor oil offers more engine protection than standard oil but not as much as fully synthetic oil. It is moderately priced and a cost-effective alternative to fully synthetic oil.
• High-Mileage – High-mileage or high-performance motor oil is specially formulated for vehicles over 75,000 miles. It is similar to fully synthetic oil and offers added protection for older engines. It can reduce the risk of oil burn-off and corrosion and extend the engine's lifespan.

Frequently Asked Questions About Oil Change Services

Why Are Oil Changes So Important?

Let’s take a look at some fresh motor oil. It’s a translucent amber color, a lighter color than honey, and is slippery to the touch. That’s what clean, virgin motor oil is supposed to look like. Now, let’s compare it to some used oil. The used oil is dark and murky, the color of black coffee. It smells like gasoline and acids and is often slightly gritty when rubbed between the thumb and forefinger. Your car needs fresh, clean oil to run efficiently and safely. Dirty oil can increase your risk of engine damage, poor vehicle mileage per gallon, added wear and tear on vehicle parts, and vehicle breakdowns.

How Did My Car’s Engine or Oil Filter Get Damaged?

The internal combustion engine runs on thousands of tiny explosions inside the cylinders. Those explosions create a great deal of heat and carbon, and the carbon makes its way into the engine oil, contaminating it. Modern motor oil formulations contain detergents and other additives that help suspend contaminants in the oil so they can be trapped in the paper element of the oil filter as the oil circulates through the engine.

Eventually, the oil filter becomes so saturated with carbon and gunk that it can't absorb anymore; at this point, the impurities in oil will start accumulating on the bearings and other internal assemblies. The impurities in the oil may be only about a micron in size, but they can accelerate wear in extremely close tolerances between moving parts. The sludgy buildups on the bearings and valve components will also shorten engine life and speed up wear.

Schedule Your Oil Change at Tire Pros & Wheel Experts

If you can’t remember the last time you had an oil change in Hudson, WI, or Stillwater, MN, our team at Tire Pros & Wheel Experts can help. We offer full-service oil changes, preventive inspections and maintenance, and comprehensive auto services for all types of vehicles. We are a locally owned and operated auto shop with a team of ASE-certified technicians with decades of experience. Our goal is to maintain your vehicle's safety, value, condition, and performance and provide honest, reliable auto services. Call us today or contact us online to schedule preventive maintenance or an oil change.