Sonoma County – Auto – Oil Change

When the work is completed, your mechanic is required to give you a written invoice. This must include:

• The name and physical address of the shop and their auto oil change registration number.
• A list of all work performed, including work done at no charge.
• An itemized list of all replaced parts.
• The total auto oil change cost, including the amount charged for auto oil change labor.
• Any applicable hazardous waste disposal fees.
• Your vehicle’s odometer reading at drop off and pick up.

Before leaving the auto oil change shop, confirm any warranties offered by the maintenance shop or the parts manufacturer.

Not all auto oil change shops offer guarantees. But those that do should give you a written warranty document that must detail:

• The auto oil change shop’s name and physical address.
• What the warranty covers. This should include whether the shop will replace failed parts or give you a refund.
• Your responsibility in the case of a product failure.
• How long the warranty is valid.

Automotive maintenance and repair shops in Sonoma County provide all types of automobile maintenance services. The following are the most familiar requests for local auto oil change shops.

Engine Oil Change Service
Engine oil, or motor oil, provides a layer of hydrocarbon fluid between engine parts to reduce friction. Friction creates heat, decreases power, increases fuel usage, and wears down engine surfaces: leading to disrepair and failure in internal combustion engines and transmissions. During regular vehicle use, motor oil deteriorates and loses valuable lubrication properties, and therefore needs to be replaced regularly, probably at least every 7,500 miles.

Engine Oil Filter Change Service
Engine oil filters capture contaminants from engine oil. During routine engine operation over time, motor oil breaks down and forms a sludge of combustion products and metal particles, and engine oil filters become clogged. Regular oil filter changes are therefore necessary.

Motor Oil Replacement Services in Sonoma County
Motor oil is made up largely of additives. Although motor oil itself perhaps does not deteriorate, the additives which make up some one third of its volume, do degrade over time. In addition some motor oil loss inevitably occurs during typical operation, from leakage, and this motor oil must be replaced.

Lube and Oil Change Service
Lube is the short version of the term "lubrication." Lubrication refers to decreasing friction between moving engine and transmission parts, and thus lube services are generally synonymous with engine oil changes and transmission fluid or transmission oil changes. These services will also sometimes include the replacement of engine oil filters and transmission oil filters. Chassis lubrication is another service sometimes performed in a routine lube service package.

Auto Fluid Maintenance
Fluid levels are very important in automotive maintenance. Engine oil is hardly the only consideration, and the point of motor oil and oil filter change is a convenient time to consider auto filter maintenance. Transmission fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid, and automotive coolant levels are all very significant for reliable vehicle operation. Even windshield wiper fluid can be crucial, as anyone who has run out can easily confirm. Remember as well that it is always a good idea to have a quart or two of motor oil in your car for emergencies that may develop.

Auto Filter Maintenance
The engine oil filter is perhaps the most crucial for vehicle operation, but several others are important as well. These include the transmission filter, the fuel filter, the cabin air filter, and the engine air filter. Getting oil change services may be a convenient reminder for having auto filter maintenance done as well.

Tire Pressure Checks and Tire Rotation
Tire care is a necessary element of automobile maintenance due to the effect of constant road friction and road hazards. Tire rotation can help maximize effective tire life, and tire pressure checks help maintain optimum tire pressures for safety, longevity, and fuel efficiency.

Synthetic oil
Synthetic oil is now widely used for engine lubrication. Synthetic oil offers premium lubrication properties, and may be particularly important in extreme weather conditions.

Below are key auto oil change and auto maintenance terms that are frequently used by local oil change and lube centers.

air filter
A paper or synthetic filter that prevents dust, dirt and debris from entering the engine.

Also known as: auto air filters, car air filter, performance air filter, auto air filter replacements, auto cabin air filter

aftermarket oil change parts
Auto oil change parts not made by the original manufacturer. Aftermarket parts are made by a secondary company to fit and function like the original parts, but are generally less expensive because they are not made by the car manufacturer.

auto oil change shop
An automotive shop that specializes in auto oil changes and may offer other services to maintain automobiles.

Also known as: auto oil change garage, car maintenance shop, auto maintenance shop, automotive maintenance facility

auto engine oil service
Provision of engine lubrication and filter replacement. Fresh engine oil reduces wear and power loss in internal combustion engines by providing a layer of lubrication between engine parts, and clean engine oil filters improve the removal of contaminants.

Also known as: motor oil service, lube and oil change service, oil filter change, change oil filter

auto transmission oil service
Provision of transmission lubrication and filter replacement. Fresh transmission oil reduces wear and power loss by providing a layer of lubrication between transmission parts, and clean transmission oil filters improve the removal of contaminants.

Also known as: transmission lube and oil change service, transmission fluid change, transmission oil filter change

engine oil
The substance that lubricates and cools engine parts. Oil eventually becomes contaminated by moisture, soot and fuel, and moisture causes build-up. Additives in engine oil account for nearly a third of engine oil volume, and their deterioration is a key reason for frequent engine oil changes.

Also known as: motor oil, engine lubrication, auto lubrication

engine oil additives
Additional substances in motor oil. About a third of motor oil volume is engine oil additives which fight contamination and suffer wear between oil changes.

Also known as: motor oil additives, engine lubrication additives, auto lubrication additives

engine oil filter
The device that strains and removes dirt from the engine oil to improve engine lubrication. Oil filters eventually become full of contaminants such as particles and sludge, and need to be replaced.

Also known as: motor oil filter

engine oil consumption
A fact of automobile engines; engine oil gets past rings and seals and is burned in the fuel chamber. Although some motor oil consumption is normal, a given amount may also be too great. Engine use of no more than a quart of oil in 3000 miles indicates good condition, and use of no more than a quart in 1500 miles is also fairly good. Blue exhaust and excessive use of engine oil may indicate the need for engine repair.

Also known as: motor oil use, motor oil consumption, engine oil burning, engine oil loss

engine oil gauge
The dashboard indicator of oil pressure. A warning light means a low oil level requiring immediate refill, and is a serious automotive emergency.

Also known as: engine oil pressure gauge, engine oil warning

engine oil pan
The pan at the bottom of the automobile crankcase. In the engine oil change process, used motor oil is drained away by removal of the oil drain plug at the bottom of the engine oil pan.

Also known as: engine oil plug

foreign auto oil change shops
Foreign auto oil change shops may be available to perform maintenance on vehicles manufactured by foreign car companies, including some models built in the United States.

synthetic engine oil
Synthetic oils provide engine oil fluidity in sub-freezing conditions. They also have lubrication advantages at high temperatures.

Also known as: synthetic lubricants

Q: Why choose a Diamond Certified auto oil change shop?
A: Diamond Certified ends the guessing game by offering a list of top-rated local companies who have passed the country’s most in-depth rating process. Most companies can’t pass, so only local auto oil change shops rated Highest in Quality earn the Diamond Certified award. American Ratings Corporation also monitors every Diamond Certified company with in-depth and ongoing research and ratings. And your purchase is backed by the Diamond Certified Performance Guarantee. So you’ll feel confident choosing a Diamond Certified auto oil change shop for your vehicle maintenance.

Q: What rights do I have as a consumer in Marin County when it comes to automotive maintenance?
A: You have the right, under the Automotive Repair Act of 1974,  to a written estimate for all car maintenance or repair work, and the right to detailed invoices that list all work done and parts supplied. Visit the Bureau of Auto Repair website for more information.

Q: What is an oil change?
A: An engine oil change is a crucial element of automobile maintenance, and specifically of preventive auto maintenance, perhaps the most important aspect of automotive service.  An oil change replaces degraded engine oil with freshly manufactured high quality motor oil for superior lubrication of moving engine parts.

Q: What is an oil filter change?
A: An engine oil filter change is a crucial complement to an engine oil change in preventive automobile maintenance. An oil change replaces the deteriorated engine oil; an oil filter change replaces the filter impaired by a collection of sludge and engine particles with a new clean one, for maintaining the optimal engine lubrication provided by the fresh engine oil.

Q: Why is an engine oil change and engine oil filter change important?
A: Automobile engines are subject to wear, power loss, and eventual failure because of friction between the moving parts of motors.  Motor oil decreases engine friction, thus increasing power and gas mileage and prolonging automobile engine life.  Oil filters keep the engine oil relatively free from products of combustion and engine surface breakdown.  Over time, engine oil deteriorates, and engine oil filters are filled up with contaminants, so the motor oil and the engine oil filter need to be replaced.

Q: What engine oil SAE viscosity grade should I use?
A: Your manufacturer may specify the grade of engine oil in your owners manual, and you should realize that motor oils perform differently based on typical operating environment temperatures. In general, thicker oil is used in hotter environments, and thinner oil is preferred in colder weather.  Lower viscosity engine oil may be recommended more commonly in newer vehicles.

Q: When or how often should I change my engine oil and engine oil filter?
A: Some have advocated engine oil and filter changes every 3 months or 3,000 miles.  The California EPA has led a campaign against this relatively short interval in favor of the recommendations of the automobile manufacturer. Manufacturers commonly indicate that an interval of 7,500 miles is appropriate. One important factor is the quality of the motor oil.  Synthetic engine oils provide a higher quality than others through improved stability. Conditions of automobile use are also significant: frequent trips of under 10 miles in which the oil does not reach full temperature may be reason for more frequent engine oil changes. 

Q: Which brand of engine oil and which engine oil filter should I use?
A: Numerous brands of engine oil and engine oil filters are available, and consulting your manufacturer's owners manual will provide recommendations.  Having a reliable and experienced auto maintenance provider will be helpful in making this decision.

Q: Why do I need to have my transmission fluid changed?
A: Changing transmission fluid or transmission oil maximizes lubrication, for protection from damaging friction between moving parts and eventual transmission failure. This procedure is specified at certain intervals by your manufacturer in the owners manual. Automatic transmission fluid change is best done with a transmission flusher by an experienced mechanic.

Q: Is it a good idea to choose an auto oil change shop that has certifications?
A: While certifications don’t guarantee you’ll get better car maintenance or better service at Marin County vehicle centers, certifications are often an indicator of how serious an auto oil change shop is about providing customers with outstanding auto maintenance. Certifications such as ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) and memberships in automotive service organizations show that the car mechanics have demonstrated an increased degree of professionalism.

Q: Is there a difference between independent auto oil change shops and dealership maintenance shops in Marin County?
A: Where you take your vehicle for car maintenance is your own careful decision based on thorough consideration, the shop where you feel most comfortable and where your car receives the best maintenance service. However, keep in mind the differences between independent auto oil change shops and dealerships located in Novato, San Anselmo, San Rafael, Mill Valley and Larkspur and the rest of Marin County. Local independent maintenance shops are free to use any brand or quality of parts they choose. This, along with the fact of lower hourly rates for car maintenance, can mean big savings.

However, dealerships may be superior in training on newer makes and models. Many newer cars are also still under warranty, and this means some maintenance can be done for free at a dealership. It may even be the case that having warranty maintenance done at an independent automotive maintenance shop will void existing warranties.

Q: Is it really important to take my car to a local shop for regularly scheduled maintenance? Isn’t that just a way for them to make more money?
A: Routine auto maintenance is costly but important.  Engine lubrication in particular is essential.  While it makes sense to achieve cost savings wherever possible, for example by the use of engine oil change and engine filter change coupons, it is important not to disregard routine car maintenance.  A small investment in preventive auto care preserves and protects the large investment you have already made in your vehicle. Be aware of the maintenance schedule in your owner’s manual, and let your trusted local Marin County auto oil change help you with regular car maintenance to protect your automotive investment.

Q: Routing car maintenance is so expensive. Can’t I save money by going to a discount auto oil change garage in Marin County?
A: There are always ways to maximize savings in auto maintenance, and you should be careful to choose an engine oil change price that is prudent and economical. Remember however that a lower engine oil change price may reflect a lower quality job, and be sure  the auto oil change shop you have chosen is reliable for the automotive maintenance services you need.  Remember the assurances available from a Diamond Certified auto oil change shop.

Q: Is there a reason I should request OEM parts instead of aftermarket auto parts?
A: Because aftermarket parts are often cheaper than OEM parts, some auto oil change garages in Marin County install them to lower car maintenance prices. Your mechanic should be able to explain the choice of auto parts for reliable and cost-effective car maintenance.