I’ve known people who skip oil change just to stay away from expenses. You see, the efficiency of the engine depends not only on its parts but also on lubricants. Find out how you can optimize your engine’s performance and its costs.
How Much Is The Service?
For cars, the oil change price in the Philippines starts from Php 1700 to Php 5380 and above. For my sedan, my engine needs about 3.75 liters so they always charge me for 4 liters of oil plus the filter and labor cost.
Packages are more cost efficient but you can also bring your preferred engine oil with fees on labor. Once I brought my own oil filter and saved about Php 75.
Where Should I Go
Casa
If your car is brand new, I suggest you go to your dealer or casa. They know better how to handle your car. Besides, you are covered by a 1-year warranty so just let them do their job.
Supplies are not included in the price so it is best to initially request a quote from them.
Gas Stations
Most gas stations have their dedicated facilities and service bays for changing oil. You may inquire from the nearest one in your area. Gas stations with this service are usually available from Shell, Petron and Caltex.
Auto Shops
On the other hand, special auto shops also offer periodic maintenance like Rapide and Motech. They have branches with strategic locations.
Do It Yourself
Changing oil on your own is also possible if you have the tools and skills to do so. This will save you time and money. However, bear in mind that ultimate care should be practiced if you are going to conduct DIY.
Is This Required?
The oil that we are referring to serves as the lubricant for the engine. The car’s engine is composed of various intricate parts and they can only run with the proper lube. Overtime, the oil will become dirtier and lose its smoothness, thus requiring you to change it.
An article from Popular Mechanics suggests to have oil change every 6 months. But we do not have the same budget and time availability. That’s why it is up to you to monitor the performance of your car.
Types of Oil
Note that the specific oil will depend on your car’s model and brand. You should read your car’s manual to know the kind of oil it needs. The most common ones are mineral oil, semi synthetic and fully synthetic.
5W-30 is usually made and used by sedan cars. On the other hand, those with larger engines and with climate demands may be in the range from 10W-40 to 20W-40.
You can check at the pages of the warranty booklet what type of oil was used before by the dealer.
Where to Buy
Major gasoline stations have products for almost all types of cars and vehicles. You may proceed to their shops and see the current price list. Of course, it is more practical to proceed with the service and have their mechanics do the procedure for you.
Additional Expenses
Engine flush may also be done as part of the package. The price of flushing starts from Php 160 to Php 250 depending on the brand. The oil filters will also have a different price based on the size and brand.
Oil Filter Types
There may be different types of oil filters and they all depend on the engine model. However, your car manual will already indicate what type is suitable for your unit. On the other hand, you may also check the previous records from the dealer, they have them on file for your particular unit.
If you have regular maintenance with them, there is a warranty card which shows all replaced materials.
Number of Kilometers Range
Most service providers will give an estimate as to when the oil needs to be changed. In some cases, they rely on the color of the substance. If the oil is too dark, it may be the right time to replace it. However, the usual standard to replace the engine oil is based on the distance traveled.
- Mineral Oil – every 5,000 Km
- Semi Synthetic Oil – every 7,500 Km
- Fully Synthetic Oil – every 10,000 Km
While this is a basic guide, you should also consider how much you use your car and whether it is subject to extreme conditions. Such factors will also decrease the number of kilometer range to have an oil change.
Some mechanics recommend changing oil every 3 months or whichever comes first against the distance traveled. In my experience, the longest time interval that I had between changes is 8 months. When drained, the fluid is tar black.
Yes, the car still runs but I have been experiencing higher fuel consumption.
Final Thoughts
No one is forcing you to change engine oil. If you still don’t have the money, maybe you can delay it on a later date. But remember that you will regret not having the service at a recommended time when your engine fails.
References: HowStuffWorks, AAA