HOW LONG DOES AN OIL CHANGE TAKE?

Today, you have many things (too many things!) vying for your time and attention. But remember, to accomplish everything on your to-do list, you depend on your vehicle. One of the most important things you can do to help keep it running smooth is preventive maintenance, including oil changes. Looking at your jam-packed calendar, you naturally want to know: "How long does an oil change take?"

Expect an oil change to take 20-45 minutes. That's a general estimate, based on a couple of assumptions:

1. You visit a quick-lube location, like Jiffy Lube®. The industry pioneer, Jiffy Lube is geared to handling oil changes for all types of vehicles.

2. You're keeping up your vehicle's preventive maintenance schedule. If you have been following the manufacturer's recommendations for service, and the oil change is part of regularly scheduled preventive maintenance, experienced Jiffy Lube technicians should be able to perform your oil change quickly.

WHAT ABOUT DIY?

How long does an oil change take if you do it yourself? Quick answer: probably longer than 45 minutes. Let's say you perform your own oil change. That means you would likely do just four oil changes in a year, while every day Jiffy Lube services thousands of vehicles with the Jiffy Lube Signature Service® Oil Change, which means Jiffy Lube technicians have experience and follow a streamlined, professional process.

Here's something else that makes a do-it-yourself oil change take longer: disposing of the used oil. Just dumping it is not only bad for the environment, but also illegal. So, do-it-yourselfers need to collect the dirty, used oil and safely transport it to a recycling or disposal center. Why deal with that time-consuming mess yourself when you can bring your vehicle to Jiffy Lube where you can feel confident the technicians will handle the used oil responsibly?

When you consider that it will likely take you longer to perform an oil change and that your time is valuable, you may decide that the money you save by handling your oil change yourself isn't worth it.

ASK YOURSELF, "WHY?"

Let's take a step back and look at why oil changes are important and why your oil should be changed at least as often as recommended in your vehicle owner's manual. Can't find your manual? No problem! A Jiffy Lube technician can access this information. Motor oil helps keep your engine running clean. As it flows through the engine, preventing friction and wear, it picks up dirt and contaminants. In time, the oil becomes saturated, and sludge can form. This can lead to engine damage and costly repairs.

NOW FOR THE "WHAT."

As in, "what happens during an oil change?" During a Jiffy Lube Signature Service Oil Change, trained technicians will do more than simply pour fresh motor oil into your engine. The service is a comprehensive preventive maintenance check for your entire vehicle.

These are the four steps of a Jiffy Lube Signature Service Oil Change:

1. Change

• Oil, with the type, weight, and volume recommended by the manufacturer. Jiffy Lube is proud to pour Pennzoil® products, where available, that meet or exceed manufacturer recommendations

• Oil filter

2. Clean

• Exterior windows and mirrors

• Vacuum interior floors

3. Inspect

• Antifreeze/coolant levels

• Engine air filtration

• Belts

• Brake fluid level (in transparent reservoirs)

• Wiper blades

• Exterior lights

• Chassis (lubricate where available)

4. Check/Fill

• Tire pressure

• Transmission fluid

• Differential/transfer case fluid

• Power steering fluid

• Windshield washer fluid

• Battery water (excluding sealed battery)

After these four steps are completed, the technician will be happy to place a sticker on the upper left corner of your windshield to remind you of when your next oil change is due. Or, if your vehicle has a dashboard message center that displays oil life, the monitor will be reset to reflect your new engine oil change.

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