Guides
Motor oil, explained without the sales pitch.
We change oil for a living and we do not sell repairs, so we have no reason to scare you. These are the questions customers ask us in their driveways, answered properly.
How a fleet manager should set oil change intervals (with the math)
The sticker interval was written for a commuter, not a work van. How to turn miles, idle hours, and duty cycle into one oil change schedule for the fleet.
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What a multi-point inspection actually covers (and what it does not)
Every oil change comes with a multi-point inspection. Here is exactly what we look at, what we cannot see without taking things apart, and why we never turn it into a sales pitch.
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API SP, ILSAC GF-6A, Dexos1 Gen 3: what the letters on the oil jug mean
The small print on a jug of motor oil is a list of tests it passed. Here is what API SP, ILSAC GF-6A, and GM's Dexos1 Gen 3 test for and how to check what your engine needs.
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Full synthetic vs synthetic blend: what the labels actually mean
Synthetic blend has no minimum synthetic content, and full synthetic is defined by how it performs, not how it was made. What is in the jug and which one your car needs.
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How often should you change full synthetic oil in Iowa?
Full synthetic is rated for 5,000 to 10,000 miles, but Iowa winters, short trips, and towing all shorten that. Here is how to read your manual and your oil life monitor.
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Engine air filter vs cabin air filter: what each one does and when each is due
Your car has two air filters and they do completely different jobs. What each one protects, how to tell when it is done, and why Iowa gravel and cottonwood season shorten the interval.
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How to check your oil between changes (and what the dipstick is telling you)
Five minutes once a month is all it takes. How to read the dipstick, what the color and level mean, how much to add, and the two signs that mean stop driving and call.
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