When to Change Your Chevy’s Oil and Air Filter

Understanding the Role of Engine Oil

“An oil change is the most basic and important service that every combustion-engine vehicle needs at least once a year,” report the mechanics experts at Car and Driver magazine.

Purpose of Engine Oil

Car engine oil plays a key role in lubricating your Chevy’s engine, cooling your engine (especially important during heat waves in Chattanooga), and keeping your vehicle’s engine clean:

• Engine oil creates a lubricating film between moving parts in your Chevrolet’s engine, including its pistons, bearings, and camshafts. This friction-reducing film is crucial to prevent catastrophic failure. Fresh oil also minimizes wear and tear.
• After a short drive, your Chevy’s engine can reach temperatures as high as 220 degrees Fahrenheit. Engine oil helps absorb and dissipate this heat.
• Over time, your vehicle’s engine accumulates sludge and varnish from contaminants such as combustion by-products. Engine oil, too, can break down if not changed regularly.

Signs of Oil Needing Replacement

Chevrolet provides specific manufacturer guidelines on when to change your engine oil, but there are other signs of when this regular maintenance procedure needs to occur:

• Dark and Dirty Oil: Fresh engine oil is usually amber and translucent.
• Engine Noise and Knocking: Since oil lubricates the moving parts of the engine not changing your oil increases friction and metal-on-metal contact.
• Oil Change Light or Check Engine Light: Today’s modern Chevys have sensors that monitor oil quality and levels and will alert you when your oil needs to be changed.
• Exhaust smoke: Some exhaust smoke is normal, especially during Chattanooga’s cold winters, but excessive or colored smoke (especially blue or grey exhaust) can be a sign of engine oil issues.
• Excessive Vehicle Mileage: Older vehicles need more frequent oil changes.

When to Change Your Engine Oil

Thanks to advances in engine technologies, newer models have a much longer range between oil changes. While older models called for a change between 3,000 and 5,000 miles, new vehicles have an oil-change interval between 7,000 and 10,000 miles.

Your vehicle-specific owner’s manual will indicate when to change the oil in your Chevy.

How the Type of Oil Matters

Oil change intervals are influenced by the type of oil you use. Synthetic and conventional oils differ primarily in their composition and performance characteristics.

Synthetic oil has a more uniform molecular structure than mineral oils which allows it to perform better. Synthetic oil usually allows for longer intervals between oil changes.

The certified service experts at Mtn. View Chevrolet will know the proper oil for your vehicle. “For 2011 or newer vehicles, Dexos Full Synthetic is the recommended oil specification,” reports Chevrolet.

Understanding the Importance of the Air Filter

Your Chevy’s vehicle air filter has two key roles:

• Keeping contaminants from entering your engine
• Promoting an optimal air-fuel mixture by allowing only clean air to mix with the fuel, ensuring efficient engine performance

If it’s not changed regularly, a dirty air filter can cause:

• Decreased fuel efficiency
• Unusual engine sounds
• Reduced horsepower

When to Change Your Air Filter

The service center experts at Mtn. View Chevrolet inspects your air filter during every regular maintenance visit, and it’s important to change your filter according to recommended manufacturer service intervals at the minimum. So it’s important to schedule services at the necessary times for optimal results. For most Chevrolets, that’s between 30,000 or 45,000 miles.

Of course, if you drive in dusty or dirty conditions you may need to change more often. Common signs your air filter needs to be swapped out include:

• A dirty or clogged air filter
• Sluggish acceleration

Get the Best Chevrolet Oil and Air Filter Changes in Chattanooga, TN

At Mtn. View Chevrolet in Chattanooga, TN, our team offers a diverse selection of new and used vehicles, including popular models like the Equinox, Tahoe, Trailblazer, Blazer, and Silverado 1500.

Our dealership also provides expert maintenance, including certified oil changes and multi-point vehicle inspections to identify crucial maintenance needs.

Visit us at Mtn. View Chevrolet to explore our inventory and experience exceptional customer service today!