BOB JOHNSON BUICK GMC SOUTH SERVICE: PROTECTING YOUR INVESTMENT

BOB JOHNSON BUICK GMC SOUTH SERVICE: PROTECTING YOUR INVESTMENT

As you drive your car around the HENRIETTA area, moisture and exhaust pollutants contaminate your engine oil, reducing its ability to effectively protect vital engine components. The longer engine oil stays in service after the recommended maintenance schedule, the less its ability to lubricate and cool engine parts. Having your oil changed by a qualified Buick, GMC technician at the recommended intervals, with a genuine Buick, GMC oil filter, not only extends the life of your engine, and helps your vehicle retain a higher resale value. This is just one example of why scheduling an appointment with Bob Johnson Buick GMC South to perform scheduled maintenance such as oil changes, tire rotations, tune-ups and alignments are important to the health of your vehicle.

ENGINE OIL - THE LIFEBLOOD OF YOUR VEHICLE

Most people know that engine oil provides protection against friction by creating a thin barrier of oil between the moving parts. But engine oil does more than reduce friction and prevent wear and damage. Did you know that oil also helps keep your engine clean? Dust and dirt that may have slipped by the air filter, along with contaminants produced during the combustion process are captured and retained by the engine oil. The oil filter removes the larger particles as the oil passes through it, but the oil still retains and continues to collect contaminants during its useful life. This is why new engine oil is light in color and old engine oil is very dark. By not changing the oil on your Buick, GMC at the scheduled intervals, the free contaminants in your engine could cause premature wear to engine components.

In addition to lubricating and removing dirt, engine oil also helps keep the engine cool. As oil circulates through the engine, it rises in temperature and carries that heat to the oil pan which is exposed to constant air flow when your vehicle is in motion, which helps dissipate the heat away from the engine. Some heavy duty vehicles may use an oil cooler, mounted behind the front grill near the radiator to further help reduce the heat carried by engine oil.

WHEN DO I NEED TO CHANGE THE OIL IN MY BUICK, GMC?

Your owner's manual will have the oil change intervals recommended by the manufacturer. The type of driving you do may require you to change your oil at more frequent intervals. For example, If you carry heavy loads on a regular basis or do a lot of stop and go driving, the engine oil will be less likely to dissipate the heat it is carrying, leading to a quicker breakdown of its protective qualities.

WHAT TYPE OF OIL IS RIGHT FOR MY BUICK, GMC?

Your owner's manual will not only list the recommended intervals for changing your oil, but will also list the recommended "weight" of oil to use. The numbers on the bottle of oil are often referred to as the "weight" of the oil. But what does this mean? Many cars on the road today use SAE 5W-30 engine oil. The acronym "SAE" stands for Society of Automotive Engineers. For engine oil rated at 5W-30, the "5" is the cold or winter weight. When oil is cold, it is thicker (think of cold syrup versus hot syrup) and will be more difficult to move through the engine. Engine oils are designed to have a thinner viscosity when cold, thus a "5" rating for this particular oil. Lower viscosity engine oil not only flows more readily through a cold engine, it helps improve fuel economy. The second number of the oil weight "30" is the weight of the oil when hot. Motor oils are designed to get thicker as they heat up to ensure proper engine protection. If you are unsure of which engine oil is best for your car or truck, check with your certified Buick, GMC technician.