Why you should Beware of a Cheap & Speedy Oil Change

Euro experts, Master Technicians, and long-time car owners will tell you that your engine oil is the lifeblood of your vehicle, so waiting too long to change the oil in your car can result in irreparable engine damage that could have easily been avoided. Improperly performed oil changes are another area of concern that most drivers dont think twice about. Here at TMJ Bimmers, we have seen a growing number of serious engine issues due to delayed oil changes, or oil services being performed improperly. And, we aren't talking about the usual inferior oil & oil filters. We are referring to inexperienced non-euro "lube" technicians rushing through oil services, using cheap oil & filters and focusing speed and quantity over quality.

One of the most often seen issues on BMWs is the oil filter cap assembly plastic inserts being inadvertently discarded. This part is responsible for feeding oil directly to your vital engine components. Then, the new filter goes back in without the integral plastic insert, and you the vehicle owner never notices until the check engine light illuminates (see video - center piece should remain inside the cap).

Also, notice the cheap oil filter itself has been compressed around the center piece thus making it hard for an inexperienced technician to notice that they have just thrown away a critical component part that is necessary for performing your next oil change correctly. This is a dangerous combination of inexperience, too much of a focus on quick and cheap oil changes over quality and expert oil services.

Another issue we see often are cheap non-OEM oil filters, like the filter displayed in the below video, that have been compressed so tightly around the center that deep impressions are left in the interior of the filter. This collapses the filter significantly reducing oil pressure and causing long term damage to your engine. In this case, even before the critical component was discarded, this engine was suffering long term damage from inadequate lubrication from a cheap non-OEM oil filter.

Remember servicing your oil regularly presents a great opportunity to keep your car running without issues. When taking your vehicle in for an oil change, be sure to ask your service advisor to take a quick look at the overall health of your engine. While under the hood, they may find something that needs to be replaced or fixed. This will allow you to avoid expensive repairs and further damage to your car.