3 Reasons Why You Shouldn't Change Your Own Oil
Posted on: 5 August 2016
As a car owner, you probably already know that car maintenance can be expensive. This means that you might always be looking for ways to cut costs, such as by changing your own oil. What you should know, however, is that it often isn't a good idea to tackle this maintenance on your own. These are a few reasons to consider taking your car to a mechanic for its oil changes instead.
1. It's a Good Time to Check for Other Problems
When having your oil changed, it's a good idea to do more than just check your fluid levels. This is also a good time to inspect your brakes and filters and to look for any mechanical issues that might be wrong with your vehicle. If you don't know much about fixing cars, you might not know how to do all of these things. This means that you might miss out on catching a problem that could have possibly been caught and fixed otherwise.
2. It Might Not Be Cheaper
So many mechanic's shops offer reasonably priced oil changes. In fact, many charge reasonable prices for their oil changes so that they can get customers through the door in hopes that they will have other services done to their vehicle. By the time you add up the cost of the oil and filters that you need, as well as the work of doing it yourself and disposing of the oil, you might find that taking your car to a mechanic is a better choice.
3. You Won't Have Maintenance Records
Nowadays, many mechanic's shops scan vehicle VIN numbers to help keep track of maintenance. Then, if you have trouble remembering when you had your vehicle serviced, if you are looking for maintenance records when selling your car, or if you need to prove that you have kept your car maintained in order to have your warranty cover a repair, you can easily obtain this information. If you handle your own oil changes, however, you will not have these maintenance records. This can prove to be a negative thing later on down the line.
As you can see, even if you are looking to save money on car maintenance, it often is not a good idea to change your own oil. Luckily, taking your car to a certified mechanic to have your oil changed should be relatively affordable and can help you avoid running into these three problems.
For mechanic services, contact a company such as Professional Automotive.
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