Oil Change & Motor Oil FAQs

Oil changes are one of Thompson’s specialties.

Anyone can take advantage of our oil change deals, and we’re open six days a week on a first-come, first-served basis.

Our technicians want you to get the most out of your vehicle, which means following a regular maintenance schedule, particularly with your motor oil.

Take a look at our answers to frequently asked questions about oil changes, part of our series about common types of car maintenance.

What is motor oil?

The oil in your car is a mixture of refined petroleum mixed with additives.

What does motor oil do?

It lubricates various moving parts of your car’s engine, particularly the pistons that move up and down in rapid succession to move your vehicle forward.

Why is motor oil important?

Motor oil serves several purposes to make your car run efficiently, which is why getting an oil change is important.

Minimizes friction and wear.

Friction causes heat. It’s also the enemy of your engine. When enough friction builds up in your engine, it might break down the oil and cause severe damage, making your engine unable to function.

Keeps engine parts cooler.

Motor oil absorbs heat from the engine to keep it away from the pistons as much as possible.

Seals the pistons.

Your engine’s oil seals areas of the combustion chamber to prevent gasoline and exhaust gases from escaping.

Cleans various parts.

Motor oil prevents contaminants in your engine from accumulating on vital parts. Various additives in engine oil can help keep your engine cleaner over time.

Reduces shock.

The pistons and other moving parts can cause shocks to your engine. Motor oil dampens the shocks, lessening the strain on the system.

Mitigates corrosion.

Internal corrosion can wear out engine parts faster than normal. Motor oil can neutralize corrosion, like rust, by creating a barrier between the corrosion and other components to keep it from spreading.

Why is getting an oil change important?

Getting an oil change is important because when oil gets too hot or too thick over time, it does not work as well.

Having regular oil changes can keep your engine cleaner by removing dirt. An oil change reduces sludge buildup to make your engine more efficient.

Without getting an oil change, your engine will eventually wear out prematurely.

What is the best type of motor oil for my car?

Fully synthetic motor oil is the best type of motor oil to use because it is specifically engineered to perform better in extreme conditions.

There are four types of motor oil, and synthetic oil is the most expensive. But it does very well when you want higher performance for your internal combustion engine.

What does clean motor oil look like?

Clean motor oil is amber-colored, depending on the brand or type of oil. It’s also translucent, meaning light travels through it.

What does dirty motor oil look like?

Dirty motor oil is dark brown and almost black. It is opaque.

How does my engine oil get dirty?

Your engine oil gets hotter over time, and the oil filter has run out of clean filtering material.

How do I know it’s time for an oil change?

Your vehicle may indicate several signs that it’s time for an oil change.

The oil life monitor system says it’s time.

Modern cars have an oil life monitor system that uses sensors, tracks miles driven, measures the temperature of the engine, and calculates the mileage interval. Your OLMS will tell you when it’s time for an oil change.

Dark oil on the dipstick.

Checking your engine oil once a month is a good idea. When your oil looks dark and almost black in color, it’s time for an oil change.

Low oil level.

Having a low oil level, as indicated by your vehicle’s dipstick, is also a sign you need to change your motor oil, especially if you haven’t had an oil change in a long time.

Oil light comes on.

The oil light indicates low oil pressure. When this happens, not enough oil goes through the narrow passages of the pistons to provide lubrication. 

After a long trip.

Let’s say you just traveled 1,000 miles on a long road trip with your family. Consider getting an oil change right after this trip because your car’s engine ran more than what it’s used to.

Shaking when idle.

Does your car shake or vibrate when it idles at a traffic light? That may mean there is more friction occurring in the piston chamber due to less oil needed for proper lubrication.

When the maintenance schedule says to.

Look at your vehicle owner manual. It will tell you when to change your oil, either after a time or mileage interval.

What happens during an oil change?

An oil change technician performs several tasks aside from putting in new oil.

1. Check the oil level with the dipstick first. This gives the technician an idea of how well you’ve been taking care of your vehicle.
2. Drain the old oil. Someone will elevate the car using a jack or ramp, or the technician will go underneath the car in a special pit underneath. Then the tech unscrews the oil pan, and the oil drains out completely into a receptacle for recycling. It takes a minute or two for all of the oil to drain.
3. Then the technician removes the old oil filter. When the oil gets dirty, the filter becomes unable to keep the oil clean enough by removing deposits. 
4. Puts in a new oil filter. A new oil filter with every oil change ensures every drop of motor oil is clean before it goes into your car. The tech lubricates the new oil filter with some oil before attaching it to the oil pan.
5. Replace the oil pan. Once the technician replaces the oil pan, it’s time for fresh motor oil.
6. Then the tech puts fresh motor oil in the engine. For quick lubes like Thompson Sales, we have special drums of oil that allow us to pump the oil easily into your vehicle.
7. Then the tech starts the engine to make sure the oil spreads evenly around the crankcase.

How much oil does my vehicle need?

Most vehicles need five to eight quarts of oil, depending on the size of the engine.

Why does my car need an oil filter?

Your car’s oil filter removes dirt and debris from the oil, keeping it cleaner over time.

Where can I get an oil change in Springfield, Missouri?

The certified technicians at Thompson Sales in Springfield, Missouri, can perform an oil change in 30 minutes. Contact us or call (417) 763-6811 for more information.