When the oil light flickers inside your dashboard, the instinct is to search for the nearest oil change and pull into the bay. That may or may not be the best solution.
When it comes to protecting your car’s engine, you shouldn’t rely solely on proximity. While the nearest oil change is convenient, what do you know about their quality of service?
Here are some of the problems that can occur when you choose a subpar oil change place:
- Double-Gasket: Failing to remove a small rubber ring can lead to catastrophic engine failure.
- The Torque Trap: A subpar oil change pro armed with an impact wrench can strip your engine’s structural integrity.
- Lifeblood Compromise: One-size-fits-all oil changes can degrade your vehicle’s performance.
At Planet Oil Change & Car Wash, we have convenient locations throughout Michigan and Ohio. More importantly, our service techs have 140 years of combined car care experience.
Find a location near you and pull into an open service bay!
Nearest Oil Change: 3 Common Mistakes of Subpar Shops
Don’t settle for the nearest oil change option without checking their track record. You should only trust your car to a reputable shop.
You depend on your vehicle to get you to work each day. This means every other aspect of your life depends on that car operating efficiently and properly.
Choosing an experienced oil change shop helps you avoid these common hazards from subpar auto service providers:
1. The Double Gasket Disaster
This is probably the biggest mistake in the oil change business.
Double gasketing happens when an inexperienced oil change technician fails to notice the old rubber gasket stuck to the engine block.
They’ll install the new filter right on top of that old piece of rubber. This typically causes the seal to fail.
Once the engine reaches operating temperature and pressure, the oil sprays out, potentially causing your engine to seize.
2. Stripped Drain Plug
Subpar shops often apply too much torque to the job. This can damage your engine and its components.
Simply using an impact wrench or over-tightening the drain plug can strip the threads on your oil pan. This can lead to indefinite leaks at the plug and could require you to get a new oil pan.
If this happens, the convenience of the nearest oil change to you will just cost you more time and money than you bargained for.
3. Using the Wrong Oil
Modern engines require specific blends and viscosities to maintain protection against friction.
Budget shops nearby might use a “one-size-fits-all” oil that doesn’t meet your manufacturer’s high-performance recommendations.
Over time, this leads to sludge buildup and degrades your engine’s performance. This defeats the purpose of getting an oil change in the first place!
Top-Quality Oil Change: The Power of Choice
The best nearest oil change shops are fairly close by and offer three levels of motor oil quality.
Choose a service center that prioritizes high-quality motor oil for the best engine protection. This includes:
- Premium conventional oil for good engine protection.
- Synthetic blend for better protection, especially for high-mileage vehicles.
- Full synthetic oil for the absolute best engine protection.
You can find quality oil change services close to home by choosing the best local provider.
Planet Oil Change is Your No. 1 Oil Change Source in MI, OH
By now, you’re ready to choose the nearest oil change that offers quality products and services.
At Planet Oil Change & Car Wash, we believe that a long track record of solid service is the true metric of a top-quality oil change. For your convenience, we offer several locations throughout Michigan and Ohio.
When you choose us, we don’t just “swap fluid”; we help protect your vehicle’s most vital system. Contact us online or find a location near you!
