What does engine oil even do, anyway?
Right, so picture this: you’re cruising down Te Rapa Road in your Toyota Aqua, or maybe crawling through school traffic on Boundary Rd in your Mazda Axela. Under the bonnet, there’s all sorts of metal bits flying about, smashing past each other silly fast. If there’s no proper oil, those bits just grind on each other, heat up, and wear out. Doesn’t matter if you’ve got a trusty old Nissan X-Trail, a newer Hyundai Tucson, or a BMW X3 from down in Cambridge – no oil, big problems.
Engine oil’s like the unsung hero in all this. It stops your engine parts chewing themselves up, keeps things moving sweet, and helps keep your car from guzzling fuel or blowing out heaps of dirty smoke. Most decent oils these days have special additives, too – some of the oils we use here at Grimmer Motors have zinc mixed in, which gives the engine a tough-as coating so those Honda Jazz cams don’t wear down as quick.
Which oil do you actually need?
Walking into Repco or Supercheap, staring at all those bottles… hard to know what your car needs. Don’t sweat it! Your owner’s manual will have the right oil type and grade for your engine – check there first. Or just ask us, especially if you’re not sure whether your Suzuki Swift takes 5W-30 or something else.
Quick oil lesson: Viscosity’s just a flash word for how thick or thin the oil is. On the bottle it’ll say stuff like 10W-40. The first bit (10W) – that’s how the oil flows when it’s freezing cold, like a foggy Frankton morning. The second bit (40) is how it goes when the motor’s hot, say after you’ve done a run out to Morrinsville or fought your way over potholes by Chartwell. Lower numbers mean thinner oil, which flows easier.
If you get stuck or don’t want to muck around with bottles, just let us sort it. We do oil changes and service jobs all the time using proper, high-grade oil and filters.
If you’re ever wondering which oil’s right, pop in or give us a ring. We’ll look after the lot, no worries.
Synthetic oil – worth it or nah?
Short answer: yeah, if you want the best for your car. Synthetic oil’s made in a lab, so every bit’s the same size, flows smoother, and protects better – especially on those freezing Hamilton mornings or when summer’s roasting the dashboard. No waxy junk, so it moves easier in, say, a Euro wagon like a Skoda Superb or some hybrid Prius models. You pay a bit more, but it’ll pay off with less engine wear and better starts in winter.
When do you swap out the oil?
Most of the cars we see – Japanese, Euro, even the odd Ford Ranger from Tamahere – are due every 10,000km or so. By then, oil gets full of junk: carbon, tiny metal bits, muck from all those stop-start trips up Heaphy Terrace or bouncing across speed bumps in Rototuna. You’ll know it’s bad because it’ll look all black and grimy on the dipstick. Worse oil means more engine grit, and that’s a fast track to a pricey WOF fail.
Lots of newer cars have a dashboard oil light, but honestly you don’t want to wait for that. Regular oil changes keep engines happy – we’ve seen Honda CR-Vs go twice as far with just basic maintenance.
How to check your oil – easy as
Grab your dipstick (most cars have one – even Euro stuff like Peugeot or Citroën). Pull it out, wipe it, dip it in again. If the oil’s dark brown or black, time for a change. When it’s fresh, it’ll be light and a bit see-through. Try to check every few months, more if you’re driving to Raglan and back heaps, or doing big Auckland trips.
What oil do we use here?
We only use top-notch Penrite oils and Ryco filters. These are the good ones that’ll keep any warranty sweet, so you won’t get any stick at your next service. Doesn’t matter if you drive a Korean Kia Sportage, a classic Corolla, or a newer Mercedes GLA – we’ll use what matches your car, and you get the best oil change service in Hamilton for less than what the dealer will sting you.
Oil change services – Hamilton and around
Bring your car into Grimmer Motors and we’ll sort you out. From a standard basic oil and filter swap, to full-on premium car service packages, we’ve got options. All using top-grade oils and bits that go beyond the manufacturer’s specs. Helps your engine last longer, save on fuel, and pass that next WOF Hamilton inspection with no dramas. For oil changes, filter swaps, or to talk about your hybrid repair, just get in touch.