The Truth About Cincinnati Mechanical Work: What You Need

Okay—we’re going to come clean. Auto repair mechanics have been lying to you for years. You don’t actually need to get your oil changed every 3,000 miles—at least not if you own a car made anytime in the 21st century. Most modern cars can safely go substantially longer than a mere 3,000 miles, especially most of the European mainstays like BMW, Porsche, Mercedes, and Audi. Not only that, many European import cars tend to need fewer repairs and fewer oil changes in the long run.

How Often Do You Need An Oil Change In a Modern Car?

The exact amount of miles between oil changes can vary according to the car you drive. Check your manual. Better yet, bring your vehicle into our Cincinnati auto garage for a tuneup and we’ll be happy to tell you how often you need to have your oil changed. And we’ll be honest. We like reliable business and we want you to keep coming back to our car repair shop for the life of your car. And the life of the one after that. We’re not going to rip you off on some cheap car repair. To us, you’re family.

The reality is that most cars that have been made in this millennium can stand to go 5,000, maybe even 7,000 miles per oil change depending on make, model, and oil type. In fact, it’s even recommended to go longer than 3,000 miles. Google your car’s year and model and you’ll be able to get a more specific range.

Fewer Oil Changes Lead to Savings in Your Annual Repairs

With those new guidelines, you could stand to cut your oil change costs in half, or nearly so. At an average of 6 oil changes a year, we’re talking an easy savings of $150 to $200 off of your previous cost of car repairs. That’s some substantial savings, and all you’ve got to do is start putting off your oil changes for a few thousand miles.

Of course that’s also money out of the less scrupulous lube shop’s pocket, so they’ll still recommend 3,000 miles on the reminder sticker they put in the corner of the window. Just add another 2,000 to 5,000 miles to that, depending on your car, and put the savings in your own pocket instead.

Oil Types Make A Huge Difference When It Comes To Mileage

Part of the reason that you can go much longer between oil changes than you used to is that modern partial and fully synthetic oil can be effective for much longer than the type only made from dinosaurs. Though all types of oil still begin their lives as the same crude oil, the products that ends up at the auto repair shop are all a bit different. 

Conventional oil is the most basic of the lot, it gets the job done and is less expensive than some of the other options. Not all modern cars should use conventional oil. High mileage oil is designed for cars that have 75,000+ miles on them to help keep all of the seals tight. Full synthetic oil goes through a more thorough refining process and gets a bunch of additional additives that reduce friction. If you have a new car, especially one with turbochargers or diesel engines, this is probably what you want, but it is not recommended for older and classic cars. A partial synthetic blend is less expensive than conventional, but gives better performance.

Not sure what the best option is for your car? Luckily your auto repair shop will able to advise you on the best choice for oil and all other import car maintenance needs.

Any Other Mechanically Related Questions or Quandaries?

Wondering if you really need to have your brakes flushed every 60,000 miles? How important is it to use factory oil? Will a generic brand do? Is a repair covered under warranty? How long will it take to repair my car? Give us a call or stop in. We’d be happy to help. After all, European auto repair is our job and our passion.

We believe in offering exceptional customer service. We’re not just here to repair your European car, but we want our customers to treat our auto repair shop as an informational resource too. That’s why we walk you through every car repair we do. We’re not just chalking up work orders. We want you to better understand the process of your auto repair. The more you understand about cars, the more you’ll appreciate them and the better you can care for them. Which means our job as your favorite Cincinnati, OH auto repair shop will also be easier.

Our Business’s Cornerstone is About You as Much as the Cars

Creating a valued customer base is the cornerstone of our automobile repair shop business. That is what has made us the premier solution for European and foreign auto repair in Cincinnati since we opened our doors in 2001. Whenever you need some European auto repair help or advice, give us a call, or fill out our online contact form.