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Keeping your oil up to date is important for your engine health and keeps your car running longer. Regular oil changes might seem expensive, but bargain hunters know the value of keeping their engines clean. Without regular oil changes, your engine could begin to develop all sorts of problems that can cost you serious money at the mechanic.
So, how can you score the best deals on an oil change? Let’s take a look.
The owner’s manual for your car will have in-depth information about how often your car needs an oil change. Newer cars are usually much more efficient with their oil, especially if you’re talking about synthetic oil.
While you could keep up that old schedule of “every 3 months or every 3,000 miles,” it’s probably better to trust your owner’s manual about how often your vehicle needs its oil changed. If you can go 8,000 miles before you need a change, then follow that advice. Less frequent changes mean less money spent on oil changes.
Odds are good that you probably live near a Walmart–almost everyone in America does. If you’re looking for the lowest cost oil change, Walmart offers a conventional oil change for just under $20. It’s worth noting, however, that conventional oil burns faster than synthetic, which means you’ll need to change your oil more often. If you opt for synthetic oil, instead, you could pay around $40 for an oil change at Walmart. You may find that it’s worth the extra cost to go with synthetic since you’ll be able to go longer between changes. However, the choice is yours.
If you’d rather not head to your local Walmart, you want to make sure you’re always using oil changing coupons. There are a number of chain retail stores that offer oil changes, and they’re always competing with one another for customers. One of the main ways they entice new customers is by offering oil changing coupons that reduce the cost of your regular oil change to a much more manageable amount.
Chain stores like Jiffy Lube, Pep Boys, Meineke, and Valvoline often offer these discounts. You can find coupons for as much as $10 off an oil change if you know where to look. Check the weekly mailers for coupons first, then look in your local newspaper. Individual stores may also offer incentives such as military discounts, “ladies’ day” discounts, and more. It never hurts to ask.
Hopefully these tips help your car run a bit better for just a bit longer!
