The typical oil change will take anywhere from 20-45 minutes to complete, while a tire rotation takes an average 30-45 minutes.
How Long Does It Take For An Oil Change And Tire Rotation?
In most cases, vehicle owners can expect to wait an average of one hour for an oil change and tire rotation. Since these are some of the most important preventative maintenance steps to take with your vehicle, it’s good to know the process is quite quick, overall.
Motor oil keeps your engine running clean at all times. As the oil flows through your engine, preventing both wear and friction, it picks up dirt and other contaminants. Over time, the oil becomes saturated, forming sludge. This can ultimately lead to engine damage and some costly repairs.
Tire rotations are needed to switch the position of your tires so they wear evenly while in motion.
What Happens During An Oil Change?
The professionals will do much more than simply pour fresh motor oil into your engine. Let’s take a look at what this comprehensive preventative maintenance check includes:
Step 1. Change Oil
- The pros will appropriately change your oil at this time.
- The oil filter will also be changed out.
Step 2. Cleaning
- Exterior mirrors and windows will be cleaned.
- Interior floors will be vacuumed.
Step 3. Inspection
- Engine air filtration, belts, brake fluid level, coolant/antifreeze levels will be checked.
- The pros will also inspect your wiper blades, chassis, and exterior lights.
Step 4. Check And Fill
- Lastly, tire pressure, transmission fluid, and power steering fluid are checked and filled, when needed.
- Battery water and windshield washer fluid are checked at the end of the process.
What Happens During A Tire Rotation?
Rotating your tires is crucial to prolonging tire life. Ideally, your tires should be rotated every 6,000-8,000 miles. However, depending on specific driving habits, you may need to rotate them more or less often. Let’s take a look at this process below.
Step 1. Jack Up The Vehicle
- The professionals will first jack up your vehicle.
- This ultimately allows them to take the wheels off to switch them out.
Step 2. Swap Tire Positions
- The technicians will now rotate the tires in either a parallel or diagonal fashion.
Step 3. Check Tire Pressure
- Once the new tires are in place, the pressure will be checked.
- Ensuring they are properly inflated will help prevent flats in the future.
DIY Vs Professional Oil Change And Tire Rotation
If you are attempting to change your own oil, it will more than likely take more than 45 minutes to complete. The biggest issue with DIY oil changes is properly disposing of the oil. Simply dumping the oil is illegal.
Anyone changing their own oil must collect the dirty, used oil and transport it to a recycling or disposal center. Considering the potential hassle, it’s always recommended to take your car for a professional oil change.
Live In The Scottsdale Area? Get Your Inspection Done At Bridwell Automotive Center!
Get your road trip inspection and preparation service done at Bridwell Automotive Center, located at 7171 E Lincoln Dr. Scottsdale, Arizona 85253 or call (480) 948-4781 for more information.
