A doctor makes oil
Dr. John Ellis founds the Continuous Oil Refining Company in Binghamton, New York, to make a lubricant for steam engines. It's later named Valvoline.
SoCal oil changes
Pull the stick.Fix it now.
Oil and filter, booked from your phone. Tell us the car and the ZIP, and shops near you quote it. Your owner's manual sets the schedule.
Drag the dipstick up
Windshield, top corner
Next oil change
- Car
- Pick your car
- Oil
- Per owner's manual
Your number, from your manual
Next dueCheck your number
We don't pick your interval. Your owner's manual or oil life monitor does. Check it for a time limit too.
Not sure when it was changedHeat and soot darken oil as it works. Color alone doesn't say it's due. Your manual or oil life monitor does.
Why people book
The car
is telling you
A sticker, a light, a spot on the driveway. Tap what you're seeing and we'll match the job.
01 STICKER
The sticker says it's due
The mileage on the windshield came and went. Book the change and get a fresh one.
Oil and filter02 DASH
Oil life is running low
Your car's oil life monitor is counting down. Your manual explains what its number means.
Oil and filter03 STICK
Low on the dipstick
Near or under the low mark? Your manual says how to top up. Ask the shop to look for the cause.
Oil and filter04 DRIVEWAY
A spot under the car
Dark drips where you park can be oil. A shop can trace where it's coming from.
Leak check05 SMELL
Burning oil smell
A burning smell from under the hood is worth a look. A shop can find where it's coming from.
Leak check06 TRIP
Road trip coming
If you'll pass your number on the drive, change it before you load up.
Oil and filter07 NEW TO YOU
Just bought it used
No records? Start your own with a fresh change and keep the receipt.
Oil and filter08 COME TO ME
Do it at my place
A mobile mechanic can change the oil at home or at work. Ask how they handle the old oil.
Mobile mechanic09 YOUR RIGHTS
Worried about the warranty?
The FTC says a dealer can't deny warranty coverage just because routine maintenance was done somewhere else.
FTC advice ↗How a change works
Dark out,
amber in
- 1
Drain the old oil
The drain plug comes out and the used oil runs into a pan. It goes to recycling, not the gutter.
- 2
Swap the filter
The old filter comes off with the oil it's holding. EPA says used filters can be drained and recycled too.
- 3
Pour in the right oil
The grade and type your owner's manual lists, in the amount it lists.
- 4
Check the stick, reset the count
The level should land between the marks. Ask them to reset the oil life monitor and note your next one.
Read the bottle
What 5W-30
actually says
The label is a spec sheet. Tap the dots.
Dot 1 of 5The 5W
The first number, with the W, is the winter grade: how the oil flows when it's cold.
The shelf
Pick a can
Not sure which oil? Pick oil and filter and tell the shop to follow your owner's manual.
Can 01Start here
Oil and filter
Drain, new filter, the oil your manual calls for, level checked.
- Drain
- Filter
- Fill
- Check
Can 02If your manual says so
Full synthetic
Some engines call for synthetic oil. Your owner's manual says what yours takes.
- Synthetic
- Filter
- Reset
Can 03Older engines
High mileage
Oils made for engines with a lot of miles. Ask the shop if it fits your car and your manual.
- High mileage
- Filter
- Leak look
Can 04Comes to you
At your place
A mobile mechanic changes it in your driveway or work lot. Ask how they catch and haul the old oil.
- Driveway
- Work lot
Can 05Drips and smells
Leak check
Spots under the car, low oil between changes or a burning smell. Find the source first.
- Inspection
- Estimate
Can 06Light on
Engine light
Check engine light on along with the oil service? Have the code read while it's in.
- Code scan
- Diagnosis
Where the old oil goes
Used oil
has a second life
Doing it yourself? Take the old oil and the filter to a certified center. Never down a drain.
1 gal
of used oil can foul a million gallons of drinking water, according to CalRecycle.
3,000+
used oil collection centers certified by CalRecycle. They take used oil from the public and can pay a 40 cent per gallon recycling incentive. Find one.
70%
About how much used motor oil in California gets collected, of roughly 115 million gallons sold each year, per CalRecycle.
The history
From steam
to your number
Motor oil started as a doctor's lubricant for steam engines. The schedule moved from a flat number to the car counting for you. Swipe through.
Synthetic hits the road
In the mid 1970s, synthetic motor oils are formulated and used in cars for the first time.
The plastic bottle
Polyethylene bottles start replacing glass and metal oil containers in the early 1980s.
Thinner oils
By the mid 1980s, recommended viscosities drop to 5W-30, mostly to improve fuel economy.
The car starts counting
GM is granted a patent for an automatic oil change indicator that tracks engine revolutions and temperature.
Oil life on the dash
GM adds its oil life system to all new Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra full size pickups.
Check your number
CalRecycle launches a campaign telling Californians to check the oil change interval in their owner's manual.
SAE 16
SAE introduces an SAE 16 viscosity rating for even thinner oils.
GF-6 on shelves
Licensed sales of oils meeting ILSAC's GF-6 spec begin in May 2020.
Book it from your phone
Tell us the car and the ZIP, compare shops near you and pick a time on Lokuli.
Sources: Wikipedia's motor oil and Valvoline articles, GM's patent US 4,742,476, Machinery Lubrication on GM's oil life system, and the 2011 CalRecycle release as reported by WardsAuto.
Know your number
The rules
and the facts
State and federal sources on how often, which oil, your warranty and the old oil. All from the agencies themselves.
CalRecycleThe old 3,000 mile standard is out of date for most cars. Check your owner's manualCheck your number →
CalRecycleFind a certified used oil collection center by city, county or ZIPCenter lookup →
CalRecycleCertified centers must take at least 5 gallons per person per day and post a sign visible from the streetCertified center program →
US EPARe-refined oil meets the same standards as new. Drain and recycle the filter tooUsed oil recycling →
fueleconomy.gov, DOE and EPAThe grade your manual recommends can improve gas mileage 1% to 2%Keep your car in shape →
Federal Trade CommissionRoutine maintenance done elsewhere can't by itself void your warranty. Keep the recordsAuto warranties →
How it works
Drain, fill, done
- Tell us the carYear, make, model and ZIP. That's what a shop needs to quote the right oil and filter.
- Pick a shop and timeCompare oil change shops near you and request a slot on Lokuli.
- Keep the receiptIt's your service record. The FTC says to keep records like oil changes.
Near you
Oil changes
around town
Good to know
Oil questions
How often should I change my oil?
Check your number: your owner's manual or your car's oil life monitor sets it. CalRecycle says the old 3,000 mile standard is out of date for most cars, and many cars can go 5,000, 7,500, 10,000 or even 15,000 miles between changes.
Do I need synthetic oil?
Use the type and grade your owner's manual lists. Fueleconomy.gov says using the manufacturer's recommended grade can improve gas mileage by 1% to 2%.
What does the oil color tell me?
Not much on its own. Heat and soot darken oil as it does its job. Go by your owner's manual or oil life monitor.
How do I check my oil level?
Follow your owner's manual. A typical one says to park on level ground, warm the engine, shut it off and wait a few minutes, then pull the dipstick, wipe it, push it back in and read the level between the marks. Overfilling can harm the engine too. Can't find a dipstick? Your manual shows how your car reports the level.
Will an independent shop void my warranty?
The FTC says it's illegal for a dealer to deny warranty coverage just because routine maintenance or repairs were done by someone else. Keep your receipts and service records.
What happens to my old oil?
Ask the shop how they recycle it. If you change it yourself, take the oil and the filter to a CalRecycle certified collection center. EPA says re-refined oil must meet the same standards as new oil.
Do electric cars need oil changes?
The Department of Energy says all-electric cars have fewer fluids, like engine oil, that need regular maintenance. It says hybrids and plug-in hybrids need the same general maintenance as conventional cars.
How much does an oil change cost?
Each shop sets its own price based on your car, the oil it takes and the filter. Shops quote you through Lokuli, so you can compare before you book.
Run a lube bay?
Get these bookings
Oil Fix Now sends drivers to shops on Lokuli. Claim a booking page free, take requests online, and pay no commission on any plan.