If you drive a BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Volkswagen or another European car, the oil that goes into your engine matters more than you might think. These cars don’t just call for synthetic oil. Many of them call for a specific oil that the manufacturer has tested and approved for that engine.
You’ll see these approvals printed on the back of the bottle as a code from the carmaker. European engines are often built with turbochargers, tight tolerances and long service intervals, and the approved oil is designed to hold up under those conditions. It also helps protect emissions parts that can be expensive to replace.
Using the wrong oil won’t usually cause a problem the same day. Over time, though, it can lead to sludge, extra wear, oil being burned off faster than it should and trouble with parts like the turbocharger or timing components. It can also create problems if you ever need to make a warranty claim on the engine.
This is one of the reasons quick oil change places can be a risk for European cars. They may use one or two oils for every car that comes in. At Reliable Automotive, we look up the exact requirement for your engine and use oil that meets it.
European cars also tend to have longer recommended oil change intervals, sometimes 10,000 miles or more. Those intervals assume ideal conditions. Lots of short trips, Tennessee summer heat and stop-and-go traffic count as harder driving, and many owners do better changing their oil a little sooner.
We’ve built our reputation on Hondas and Acuras, and we work on European cars too, with the same attention to detail. If you drive a European car and want a shop that takes its needs seriously, give us a call. Call Reliable Automotive at (615) 472-1825 or stop by 112 Alpha Dr in Franklin, Monday through Friday from 7 to 5.
