Can A Cheap Oil Change Really Affect Your Car?

Getting regular oil changes is pretty important to maintain your vehicle. While there are various places to get this maintenance done, you might opt for a cheap oil change to save money - but you could be doing more harm than good and can deal with bigger costs later on. We’re Making It Simple® and explaining how and why a cheap oil change can negatively affect your car.

A Cheap Oil Change Means Lower Quality

Not all motor oils are created equal. Cheaper oil tends to break down quickly and lose the important qualities needed to lubricate and protect your engine. It can also lead to increased acidity, thickening, and the formation of sludge in your engine. This can lead to diminished engine performance, higher fuel consumption, and can eventually result in major mechanical failures.

Today’s modern engines are designed for high-quality synthetic or semi-synthetic oils. These oils maintain proper viscosity and chemical stability over thousands of miles, compared to lower grade oil that often fails to meet the manufacturer’s specifications and can result in poor performance and increased wear-and-tear on your vehicle. We use high-quality products in our service center to ensure top-quality results. 

Cheap Oil Change by Unskilled Workers

Cheap oil change auto shops keep their prices low by using inexperienced technicians. These shops operate with higher turnover rates, which results in minimal training so the techs aren’t taught to complete the essential steps correctly. Such mistakes can result in oil leaks, cross-threaded components, or even catastrophic engine failures! At reputable garages, experienced mechanics know how to spot potential issues during routine service, which is something you won’t always get at a cheaper service shop. You can count on skilled Toyota technicians when you schedule an oil change at Toyota of Orlando!

Missing Out on Critical Car Inspection

A cheap oil change package rarely includes a thorough inspection of your brakes, tires, transmission fluid, and other critical systems. If issues aren’t noticed in time, they can snowball into serious, expensive problems that would’ve been caught with a more diligent service. 

However much you saved on a cheap oil change may be multiplied when you’re dealing with car issues down the road. These hidden costs can add up fast when dealing with critical issues such as accelerated engine wear, frequent breakdowns, and unexpected major repairs. In some cases, using inferior oil can even void your vehicle’s warranty, leaving you responsible for engine replacements that can cost thousands of dollars. It might seem good for your wallet now, but a quality oil change saves you more money as time goes on. And did you know we offer a free-multi-point inspection at our dealership every time you come in for service? 

Cheap Oil Change = Cheap Oil Filter

Usually a cheap oil change comes bundled with a low-quality oil filter. While these filters may look identical to their premium counterparts, there is a big difference on the inside. Lower-quality oil filters tend to have missing essential components for keeping oil clean and flowing efficiently. Without these components, you’ll be dealing with issues such as poor seals that lead to oil leaks or filter elements breaking down and allowing sediment to circulate through the engine.

A failed check or relief valve in a low-quality filter can cause oil to drain back into the pan when the engine is off. What does this mean? Each time you start your engine, crucial components may run un-lubricated for a few damaging seconds, accelerating engine wear over time. This is one of the many negative consequences that comes with a cheap oil change.

Manufacturer Recommendations Matter

Before you get an oil change, first you need to consult the owner’s manual for your car. It’s extremely important to follow your vehicle manufacturer’s guidelines for oil type and filter quality. Name-brand oils and OEM filters are designed to work with your engine, maximizing performance and longevity. And like we mentioned before, some car makers require documentation of correct oil changes to honor the vehicle’s warranty, or they’ll leave you without coverage if major engine trouble arises. You can count on us using Genuine Toyota Parts in your ride when you swing by Toyota of Orlando for auto service. 

Skip the Cheap Oil Change and Stop By Toyota of Orlando!

A cheap oil change may cost less in the short term, but can cause tons of issues down the 

Road. When you’re choosing an oil change service, you need an experienced technician who knows to use the right oil for your car and can spot any other issues. That’s why you should stop by Toyota of Orlando for all your car service! We’re open seven days a week at 3575 Vineland Road, just off I-4 across from the Mall at Millenia.