A branch of Jiffy Lube generally allows customers to bring their motor oil. It is cost-effective as you will only be charged for the service they provide and not for the oil as you brought it on your own.
Do all Oil Change centers allow this practice?
You can bring your motor oil to almost all of the garages and dealerships but there is no hard and fast rule which guarantees this allowance. You can only ask it sincerely and respectfully, compliance is solely based on their business policy. Done right, they will be more than happy to take your oil.
The Ultimate Guide to Picking the Right Oil for Your Car
With a plethora of options out in the market, it is indeed a daunting task to choose the right one for you. Let’s get you started with the nitty-gritty of the choosing procedure.
Read your Car’s Manual
This basic piece of advice is also the most important of the lot. Study the manual thoroughly and mark the weight and the viscosity of the oil recommended. If used regularly in moderate temperatures, using the advised viscosity as per the manual is enough. Otherwise, you should adjust them according to temperature and frequency of use.
Look out for a Starburst symbol and a Two-Character Service Designation
The fact that the American Petroleum Institute had the oil tested is ascertained by the starburst symbol. Additionally, the oil’s ability to protect the engine from mechanical wear and tear is designated by a two-character code. The latest service designation for a gasoline engine is SP and that of a diesel engine is CK-4.
A note on viscosity
The viscosity of typical motor oil is represented as xxW-yy. The xx denotes its thickness at zero degrees Fahrenheit while yy denotes the thickness at two hundred twelve degrees Fahrenheit. When the oil heats up, it becomes thinner and the yy part represents the resistance to the thinning of the oil. Thus, xxW-40 will provide better lubrication than xxW-30 at higher temperatures. On the other hand, oil gets thicker at low temperatures and creates a hindrance to starting the engine. The lower the value of xx is, the better it is suited for winter use.
Conventional v/s Synthetic Oil
Conventional Oil:
It is the standard oil used in all the major car brands. A typical recommendation for low temperatures is a 5W-20 or 5W-30 oil, while for higher temperatures a 10W-30 oil is preferred. Oil change every four months is recommended while at least two times each year is an absolute must.
Synthetic Oil:
These oils are made for heavy-duty uses and are high in performance. They can not only flow better at lower temperatures but also can withstand a high viscosity at higher temperatures. But should you always use them? No, besides being expensive, your engine might not need it.
Can you change the oil all alone?
You most certainly can, but before doing so, carefully consider the inconveniences and difficulties of doing so.
First and foremost, you have to jack it up to give you enough room for the process. Even the draining process requires enough care such that it does not spill and make your surroundings messy. While attaching the new filter if you forget to replace the old gasket, the new filter will not seal properly, leading to leakage of oil and ultimately will lead to a catastrophe due to starving the engine of the motor oil. Last but not the least, you have to dispose of the old oil in a legal and environmentally safe manner.
Even if you can save a few bucks, the time wasted in the process is not worth it. Besides, the equipment needed for the process will cost you. Worse still, they are not universal, and if you have more than one car, a different set of equipment you are going to need. In conclusion, it’s best to leave the job to the neighborhood mechanic.
The relationship with oil filter
While it is not mandatory to change the oil filter each time you change the oil, it is still a great idea to do so. The old dirty oil filter will contaminate the new oil, which ultimately will go to the engine. It is also said that a clogged filter results in engine damage in the long run. Replacing it each time you change the oil gets rid of those scums and the engine starts anew with clean oil and a clean filter.
So, in the best interest of your car, replace the oil filter each time you change the oil of your car. There are a variety of options ranging from cheap and affordable to costly and sophisticated oil filters.
Conclusion
In this article, we answered whether Jiffy Lube allows your oil, besides providing a comprehensive guide to choosing the oil and whether you should do it yourself.
How much does an oil change typically cost?
For conventional oil, it ranges from $35 to $75, for synthetic oils it can go as high as $125.
How long does an oil change procedure take?
It can take anything between 30 to 90 minutes.
