Top 4 Reasons to Change the Oil in Your Car (Featuring Red Green)

by Marjorie, Cars for Keeps Social Media Marketing Consultant

Remember the Red Green Show? If Michigan's rednecks, bumpkins and "yoopers" had an icon (other than Ted Nugent), it would be Red, handyman extrodinaire.

Since Cars for Keeps is giving away a free oil change this month, today we'll focus on a few reasons why oil changes are important to your vehicle's health. Red Green will demonstrate a few of the many things NOT to do to keep your vehicle running.

Changing your oil at home to save money is a nice idea, but as Red so charmingly demonstrates, oil changes gone wrong can easily lead to far bigger expenses. Like Red says:

"If you get it done at a gas station or wherever, you're just not sure if they've done a bad job, where if you do it at home, you know."

We hate to gainsay Red Green, but you can be sure that an oil change performed by Cars for Keeps is done right.

To make sure I had my facts straight, I called our mechanics at the shop and had them list for me a few of the grittily-detailed benefits of regular oil changes. They listed the top 4 ways regular oil changes can prevent mechanical failure and increase your car's performance.

Regular oil changes:

1) Remove contaminants like dirt and metal shavings from the engine, removing risk of failure or part wearing

2) Prolong engine life by reducing friction and heat

3) Keep the engine cool which, if you remember my overheated engine confession from last Wednesday, is very important

4) Keep your car running efficiently. Old oil can bog down your vehicle's mileage.

Consult your owners manual to see how often the oil in your vehicle should be changed. If it's been more than a year, you can just assume it's time to change your oil now.

Protector Plates – Protecting what?

by Rob Hopp, Cars for Keeps Owner

Not only does the array of panels under your vehicle protect the more delicate components from exposure to rocks, sticks and other elements, they also make it much more difficult for critters to get into places that could be fatal...

We often find protection plates missing or damaged. Rarely does the client have any idea they were there or missing. Though usually the result of impact, too many times it is a result of improper installation or ethically worse, failure to reinstall them at all!

I have to admit, they can be a pain to get back on right. My opinion and experience has shown that many minimum wage quickie lube type employees either presume you’ll never know or are discouraged from taking too much time trying to get them back on right. You may not realize that these are NOT mechanics. No state or national certification is required, or even encouraged, as mechanics are.

Cars for Keeps is recognized by:

The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) as a Blue Seal Of Excellence Facility.

The American Automobile Association (AAA) as a AAA Approved Auto Repair Facility

The Robert Bosch Corporation as a Bosch Authorized Car Service Company.