Oil and fluids
When a mobile oil change is actually due
The sticker in the windscreen is a clue, not a law of physics. Here is how we decide an oil change is due, and what we bring to the drive.
Most petrol and diesel cars in our diary are on a 12-month or 10,000-mile oil interval, whichever arrives first. The handbook beats any general rule. Long-life schedules of 18,000 miles exist, but they assume the correct oil and a highway-heavy life. School runs and short hops around Calgary or Airdrie do not qualify.
Signs you should not wait for the sticker
- The oil on the dipstick is black and gritty, or it smells of fuel.
- The level is dropping between checks. That is a leak or the engine using oil, and fresh oil alone will not fix it.
- The service light is on. Some cars count days, not just miles.
- You have just bought the car and the last change is a story rather than a invoice.
What happens on the visit
A mobile oil change needs a level place and about 45 minutes. We warm the engine lightly, drain the old oil, swap the filter and washer, refill with the grade for that engine, and take the waste away. It is not a full service: brakes, cambelts and diagnostics are separate conversations.
If the washer bottle is empty or another visible level is low, say so on the same oil and filter booking. One visit, less time with the vehicle off the road.