When we here at Charles Barker Preowned told you about why and when you should change your vehicle's oil and filters, we left one key part out. And that's exactly what your engine oil does. This is important to know mainly because it serves a critical function within your vehicle, and perhaps knowing what it does will inline you to bring it in to be serviced with us more often.

From the moment you start your engine, oil begins lubricating its moving parts. This reduces the amount of friction that your engine produces, allowing it to run at a cooler temperature and discouraging corrosion.

Sounds good, but why does it need to be changed? You should change your engine's oil because as it does its job, it tends to pick up a lot of contaminants. Specifically, H²O from gasoline tends to mix with your vehicle's oil, causing it to produce sulfuric and nitric acid. This can stop your engine's oil from working, and when that happens, temperatures rise and parts corrode more easily.

As for when you should change your oil... Every vehicle is different. Whether it's a Chevrolet, BMW, or Hyundai, you can check your owner's manual to see what that specific automaker suggests.

And if you find yourself in need of an oil chance, then don't hesitate to contact us online or by phone at (866) 939-5150. Our team is ready to address a wide range of issues, and we're conveniently located at 3252 Virginia Beach Blvd Virginia Beach, VA 23452. Don't have a used car to service yet? Come take one for a test drive today!