If you are looking for a simple and effective way to prolong the life of your vehicle, then investing in routine oil changes could be the answer. Engine oil plays a critical role in maintaining temperature and lubrication within your vehicle's engine, so having a constant supply of high-quality engine oil is important when it comes to ensuring your vehicle runs properly.

Here are three tips that you can use to help ensure your oil changes are providing maximum benefit to your vehicle in the future.

1. Make sure your vehicle is warm before having the oil changed.

When it comes to removing old engine oil from your vehicle, you want to ensure that your mechanic is able to clean out as much used oil as possible in order to make room for fresh engine oil during the oil change.

Engine oil becomes less viscous as it heats up, so you should take the time to drive around a bit prior to any oil change in order to decrease the viscosity of your engine oil. This allows the oil to flow freely, ensuring your mechanic will be able to drain all the old oil out of your car with ease during your next oil change.

2. Follow your mechanic's recommended oil change schedule.

Although your vehicle's manufacturer may provide you with a recommended maintenance schedule, these schedules don't take into account your unique driving habits. Your mechanic will be able to evaluate the condition of your vehicle's engine and ask you questions about your driving patterns.

Using this information, the mechanic will determine how often you should change your vehicle's engine oil in order to ensure maximum performance. Following your mechanic's recommended schedule will help you extend the life of your vehicle well into the future.

3. Don't forget about the oil filter.

In addition to having the engine oil in your vehicle changed on a regular basis, you need to replace the oil filter regularly as well. The oil filter is designed to help remove contaminants suspended in the oil as it passes through your vehicle's engine.

If the oil filter becomes too clogged, it cannot function properly, and the quality of your engine oil will suffer. Be sure to ask your mechanic to check the oil filter when having your vehicle's oil changed to ensure maximum performance in the future.

Regular oil changes can play a critical role in extending the life of your vehicle. Be sure that you get your car warm before the oil change, follow your mechanic's recommended maintenance schedule, and replace your oil filter to improve the quality of your oil changes in the future. Contact a company like PDR Automotive Inc for additional information.