An oil change is the single cheapest thing you can do to extend the life of an engine. Over time, motor oil loses the additives that fight corrosion and stop wear, and it picks up combustion byproducts, dirt, and fuel dilution. Sticking to a real oil-change interval — at the schedule your manufacturer recommends, with the right oil — is the difference between an engine that goes 200,000 miles and one that goes 120,000. At Frank's Automotive in New Braunfels, oil changes are a 30-minute drop-in, not a sales pitch.
What's involved
A standard oil change at our shop includes:
- New oil in the specification your vehicle calls for — conventional, synthetic blend, or full synthetic
- New oil filter — OEM-equivalent, sized for your engine
- Drain plug gasket replaced if it's the crush-washer style
- Multi-point inspection — tires (tread depth and pressure), brake-pad thickness on what we can see through the wheels, belts and hoses, fluid levels (coolant, brake, power-steering, transmission, washer), battery condition, lights front and rear
- Reset of the oil-life indicator if your vehicle has one
We log the mileage and date on a service sticker inside the door jamb so you know your next interval. If your owner's manual calls for synthetic, we use synthetic — we don't downgrade to save a few dollars.
When to bring it in
Most modern engines on synthetic oil go 5,000 to 7,500 miles between changes; some manufacturers say 10,000 with full synthetic. Conventional oil is closer to 3,000-5,000. Check your owner's manual or ask us — guessing is how engines die.
Texas summer heat is harder on motor oil than mild northern climates. If you're commuting on TX-46 with the A/C running on max in August, your engine is running hotter and the oil is degrading faster. We tend to recommend full synthetic for daily drivers in the New Braunfels area for exactly this reason. If your oil-life indicator is at 0%, if it's been more than a year since your last change, or if the dipstick reads jet-black or milky, don't put it off.
Why Frank's for oil changes
Our service technicians are ASE Certified, and every oil change runs through the same multi-point inspection that customers have come to expect for the 26+ years we've been on TX-46. We use OEM-equivalent filters and name-brand oil, and the work carries our 24-month / 24,000-mile warranty — though for oil changes that's mostly a formality.
Most of the suspension, brake, and belt issues we fix start as something the tech noticed during a routine oil change. We catch them at every oil change so a small repair doesn't become a big one. Request an appointment or call (830) 627-3939 and we'll get you in.