As you’re sitting in the waiting area distracted by your friend’s Instagram post, you quickly realize that you are still at a repair shop and waiting for your car to be finished.
You say to yourself, What the hell are they doing to my car? and How long does an oil change take? In a perfect world without distractions, an oil change at its simplest process can take 20 minutes.
Most car owners do not know the process it takes to change the oil in a car. It’s not just an oil change, there is more to it than just draining the oil from the car.
The oil change process step by step
what is the process of an oil change? it goes like this. The technician first set your car on the lift. Every car is not that simple to put on a lift because their undercarriages are different.
Some cars have running boards that you can not pick up so simply. lift extensions are needed to prevent from damaging or crushing the running boards.
Before the car is lifted, the hood is opened and these few things are checked. The air filter is checked, AC cabin filter, power steering fluid level, and headlight/tail light bulbs.
After the car is in the air, oil drain plug is located and removed to start the oil change process.
The oil filter is located and removed and replaced with a new one.
While the car’s oil is draining the technician makes use of the time and checks the tires for damage, wear, nails and adjust the tire pressure all at the same time.
The technician reports to the service writer with his findings and the recommended car maintenance.
The technician returns back to the car to complete the remainder of the oil change while you as the customer is being pitched to on why you should buy extra maintenance services, and repairs.
The oil drain plug is reinstalled and a new oil filter is added as well. The vehicle is then lowered, oil is filled to its maximum level and the process is complete.
The reason why oil change can be as long as 1-hour
wheel lock and wheel lock key– Wheel locks and wheel lock key can become damaged or unable to locate resulting in downtime causing your visit to be longer. Removing the wheel lock if damaged can take up to an hour sometimes.
Air filter- Having to replace the air filter can be slightly easy depending on which model vehicle you have. Some cars require more labor causing you to wait an extra 30 minutes.
Cabin filter- The cabin air filter on most cars is located behind the glove box. All cars are not created equal and some require you to cut and remove screws as with the 2000 honda accord.
Tire rotation and balance- After being at the repair shop for 30 minutes already the service writer recommend that you rotate your tires and balance them this can take up an additional 20 minutes.
Tire patch- While your car’s oil and filter, is being changed the technician saw that you had a nail protruding from your tire.
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Service writer reminds you of the danger and you agree to get the hole patched. When patching a tire from the inside the tire has to be removed
When patching a tire from the inside the tire has to be removed and the tire has to be balanced after the repair.
This process can take an additional 30 minutes at times.
Stripped oil drain bolt- Unfortunately not all technicians are created equal. Some mechanics are hacks they break and destroy everything in their path when maintaining and repairing your vehicle.
When an oil drain bolt gets badly damaged you will need to extract it and the process can take up to 30 minutes.
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