Frequently Asked Questions

  Motor oil is one of the most important fluids in your car's engine. A high quality oil must:

Lubricate: This is motor oil's most important job: to prevent wear and scuffing of engine parts by coating every moving part with a protective film that reduces friction.
Clean: It is essential that your motor oil cleans your engine, as well. Soot, ash, acids and moisture form sludge and resins that can become baked onto engine parts and prevent normal performance and result in wear.
Seal: Your motor oil coats the uneven surfaces with a film that is about .001 inch thick. It's not much, but it's enough of a seal to prevent loss of power in your engine.
Cool: Only 60 percent of your engine's cooling job is achieved by water or air. The rest is cooled by motor oil.

Despite advances in motor oil technology, no oil will perform indefinitely. Motor oil becomes contaminated with combustion by-products, dirt and water vapor,
causing its chemical additives to wear out. Most people drive under conditions more rigorous than mere freeway driving (for example, stop and go driving, dusty
conditions and high temperatures). These require more frequent oil changes.

Regular oil changes lead to longer engine life. For maximum engine life, Jiffy Lube recommends changing your oil and filter every three months or 3,000 miles.

Have you ever wondered what all the letters and numbers on an oil bottle mean? They stand for different oil weights. For example, a bottle that reads "SAE
30W", assures that the oil conforms to the SAE's (Society of Automotive Engineers) oil weight or viscosity standards. The "30W" represents the oil weight, and
the lower the number, the thinner the oil. Use low numbers in cold weather, higher numbers in warm climates.

You can buy oils in single grades for warm or cold weather driving. However, most people prefer multigrades which suit your car during all seasons.
Multi-viscosity grades (for example, SAE 10W-30) will provide a wider range of use and permit you to drive from one climate extreme to another. They are also
insurance against sudden temperature change in your own area.

It is important to use the correct motor oil weight to reduce wear on your engine. The optimum oil weight for your car depends on the climate you live in, your
vehicle manufacturer's recommendations, your driving conditions and the maximum fuel economy you want out of your car (the lower the weight of the oil, the
greater the fuel efficiency).

You can determine the best oil weight for your vehicle by checking your owner's manual or by asking a Jiffy Lube technician to recommend one for you.

  Even though most engines hold only 4 to 5 quarts of oil, constant re-circulation of that oil means that approximately 15,750 gallons will pass through your car's
oil filter in 3,000 miles. This is why it is so important to have a clean oil filterñ regular oil and filter changes extend the life of your engine.

Oil helps to equalize temperatures in your engine by traveling from hot areas to cooler areas. Gradually, engine heat evaporates lighter components of the oil,
causing it to oxidize and thicken. In addition, oil picks up contamination: soot from the piston rings, metal filings, dirt and grit that get past the air filter and other
contaminants from normal operation of your engine.

Fortunately, your oil filter acts as a second-line defense for fighting these contaminants. It prevents dirt and other contaminants from damaging internal engine
parts by constantly cleaning the oil as it flows through your engine.

An oil filter is a low cost way to keep your engine healthy. Since 80 percent of motorists drive under severe conditions, Jiffy Lube recommends replacing your
filter every three months or 3,000 miles. Consult your owner's manual for more information.

Oil change frequency depends on the type of driving you do. Most manufacturer's recommendations are based on optimal driving conditions. Unfortunately,
most of us don't drive under perfect conditions. Here are some common types of driving that make your engine work harder:

The Cold Start: After you start your car, the engine takes a while to warm up to peak operating efficiency. During this time, it doesn't completely burn gasoline,
leaving fuel residues which contaminate the motor oil.

Short Distance Driving: Your engine works most efficiently on longer trips at constant speeds. Unfortunately most of us run quick, short trips. City driving is
extremely tough on your engine and its oil; each trip, your oil has to contend with warm-up contaminants and increased engine heat during snail paced traffic.

The Loaded Car: If your car has many convenience options, your engine runs at much higher temperatures. An automatic transmission, air conditioner or power
steering can each add 15-20 degrees to engine temperature, forcing motor oil to work harder to cool it.

Infrequently Used Cars: Cars which aren't driven regularly have rusting problems from moisture that develops in the engine. This moisture also combines with
fuel residues to form corrosive acids.

Towing: Towing a boat or other load puts stress on you car's engine and increases its operating temperature. High temperatures demand more from your motor
oil to cool the engine.

Dusty Conditions/Rough Roads: In dusty conditions, small particles of dust and dirt enter the engine. The air filter cannot trap all of it, and some becomes
suspended in your motor oil, causing premature engine wear.

The criteria listed above define severe driving conditions. A recent customer survey revealed that more than 93% of Q Lube customers drive under these
conditions, which means more frequent oil changes are necessary to achieve longer engine life. For severe driving conditions, most vehicle manufacturers
recommend changing your oil every 3,000 miles. Check you vehicle's owner manual or ask your Jiffy Lube specialist.

You may be surprised to learn that the vast majority of Jiffy Lube customers are.

So, what exactly are severe driving conditions? According to most vehicle manufacturers, severe conditions consist of the following:

Driving short trips of 10 miles or less.
Stop-and-go driving such as rush hour commuting.
Pulling a trailer or driving with a top carrier or camper on the vehicle.
Driving under hot or dusty conditions.
Experiencing three or more cold starts per day, in which the vehicle has been sitting for at least an hour or more between startups.

If one or more of these conditions apply to your driving habits, then you are a severe driver and should maintain your vehicle according to the severe
maintenance schedule outlined in your owner's manual. This means more frequent oil changes, usually at least every 3,000 miles.

For more details, check your owner's manual and ask your Jiffy Lube specialist. Both you and your car will be glad you did!

Your car's chassis provides a smooth ride, supports the weight of your car and enables it to turn corners. In order to
keep it working smoothly, however, the chassis must be properly lubricated.

To prevent wear and binding of suspension parts, heavy grease is injected between the moving joints and into grease fittings or "zerks". All car models have different numbers of zerks in different locations. At Jiffy Lube, we use a lithium based multi-purpose grease that has the capacity to protect moving parts in high temperatures and is water resistant. This lubrication provides excellent chassis protection, and can protect the steering and driveline components as well.

Some models have a sealed chassis, which has no zerks. A sealed chassis requires less maintenance; the joints are Teflon-coated and do not require grease.

Proper lubrication of your car's chassis insures its performance, and should be done in conjunction with regular oil changes.

Low engine fluid levels make driving more difficult and can lead to serious damage and shorter engine life. Jiffy Lube technicians will check the following fluid
levels with every full service oil change and advise you of their condition as part of your full service:

1. Power Steering Fluid (PSF) is made especially for the demands of a power steering unit. PSF has special additives to keep the power steering unit from
absorbing water or contaminants.

2. Brake Fluid is formulated to keep the brake lines soft and protect the brake parts from contaminants. The brake system is based on a hydraulic system, and it
is important that the fluid meet Department of Transportation (DOT) specifications to ensure system safety.

3. Windshield Washer Fluid, a mixture of water and methanol alcohol surfactant is needed on demand to clear road film from your windshield and improve
visibility.

4. Manual or Automatic Transmission Fluid provides lubrication, keeps seals and gaskets soft and protects parts. Transmission fluid also provides varying
amounts of slippage for the transmission parts.

5. Antifreeze prevents engine coolant freeze up in winter, raises the boiling point of coolant in the summer, and protects the cooling system from rust and
corrosion year round.

6. Battery Water levels need to be full to maintain the proper ratio of water to acid. The correct mixture allows the battery to charge properly. Some cars have
maintenance free batteries, which are sealed and do not require checking.

7. Differential Fluid protects the moving metal surfaces of the differential gears from friction and wear. The fluid also reduces shock and vibration in the rear of
the car.

The differential, commonly known as the gear box, contains gears which connect your car's two axles. It consists of a drive pinion and ring gear to permit the rotation of two shafts at different speeds. Differential gears are part of the rear-axle assembly. They are used to convert the lengthwise flow of power from the engine through the clutches, transmissions, and propeller shafts into a right-angle direction. This change allows the engine power to turn the rear wheels (four wheel drive is used in some designs) and permits the wheels to move at different speeds, as when turning a corner.

The differential gears are submersed in differential fluid to protect the moving metal surfaces from friction and wear. Normal driving subjects the fluid to high temperatures which eventually break down the fluid. The result is metal to metal contact and extremely high heat that eventually prevents gears from turning the car's wheels.

Proper differential fluid levels will reduce friction and wear and reduce shock and vibration. Checking these levels is part of Jiffy Lube's full service. For an additional cost, Jiffy Lube offers a drain and refill service which includes: draining old differential fluid and replacing it with high performance gear oil; lubrication that meets or exceeds manufacturers' specifications. Since 80 percent of motorists don't drive under ideal conditions, Jiffy Lube recommends changing your differential fluid every 30,000 miles. Consult your owner's manual for specific change intervals for your vehicle.

  Your air filter performs two of the toughest jobs for your car: protecting the engine from contaminants and providing clean air for the engine.

Contaminants in the air can cause serious damage to engine parts. Your air filter traps dirt, dust, sand and microscopic exhaust particles and protects them
from entering your engine.

For every gallon of gasoline it burns, your engine consumes 12,000 gallons of outside air. Your air filter must clean all of it. Its job is to allow a sufficient flow of air to keep combustion working at peak levels to ensure the best performance of your engine.
What does a clean air filter do for your car?
Extends the life of your engine
Increases gas mileage
Increases horsepower
Allows easier engine starts
As a part of our full service, Jiffy Lube performs regular air filter inspections. If your filter is dirty, a Jiffy Lube technician will advise you of its condition, and
install a new one if you wish. Consult your owner's manual for more information.

The PCV (Positive Crankcase Ventilation) valve helps control pollution from your car by returning crankcase fumes to the engine's intake manifold to be
re-burned. Breather elements function similarly to air filters, filtering outside air into the PCV system. A clogged PCV valve or breather element causes heavy
engine sludging, poor engine performance and stalling.

These are warning signs of a PCV system malfunction:

Excessive Oil Consumption: Excessive oil consumption can be caused by a clogged PCV breather element or a bad PCV valve.
Air Filter Contamination: If the PCV valve is clogged, crankcase pressure forces vapors up through the breather element. When this happens, oil residue is deposited in the air cleaner housing and eventually contaminates the air filter.
Excessive Oil Leakage: When both the valve and breather element become clogged, the crankcase is no longer vented to the atmosphere. This causes the crankcase pressure to increase and results in oil leakage at gasket surfaces.
Rough Engine Idle: A PCV valve that does not close properly will directly affect the air/fuel mixture supplied by the carburetor. This can result in a rough idle and hesitation.
As a part of our fSignature Service, we check your car's PCV valve and breather element and replace them for an additional cost. For best engine performance,
they should be inspected regularly. Jiffy Lube recommends replacing the PCV valve every 15,000 miles (based on severe driving conditions) and the breather
element as needed. When in doubt, consult your owner's manual for details.

Headlights are a part of our car that we sometimes take for granted. We don't think about them, but headlights are one of the most important safety features in our cars. Without them, driving at night or in bad weather can be dangerous, even life-threatening.

As part of our service at Jiffy Lube, we check your headlights to make sure they are functioning correctly. If a headlight needs to be replaced, we install Wagner brand Halogen headlights. Halogen headlights give you an added margin of safety because they illuminate farther on high beam than incandescent headlights.

After visually inspecting your headlights during our full service, we advise you on their condition, and if you choose, install halogen headlights at an additional cost.

*Due to extensive time and/or equipment required for headlight installation on certain makes and models, Jiffy Lube does not replace headlights on all vehicles.

When you have your car serviced at Jiffy Lube, your car is covered by our Free Refill Policy. This means that for three months or 3,000 miles following your full service, Jiffy Lube will perform the following services free:

Check and top off motor oil
Check and top off most engine fluid levels
Check and top off differential fluid
Check and top off transmission/transaxle fluid
Check and inflate tires
Your car goes through rigorous driving conditions between oil changes, and requires more of certain fluids depending upon the types of driving you do. We know you don't always have time to check and maintain your engine's fluid levels, and we encourage you to use our Free Refill Policy between oil changes.

The answer is yes. By law, maintenance for your new vehicle may be performed at any automotive service or repair establishment, not only at the dealership where you purchased your carñ and your warranty will still be valid. (Magnuson Moss Act 15 U.S.C. Section 45 et seq.)

At Jiffy Lube, we use the quality and viscosity of oil recommended in your vehicle's owner's manual. In addition, all oil filters and lubricants that we use on your car meet or exceed the auto manufacturer's specifications of your car, foreign or domestic.

Our technicians are trained and have successfully completed Jiffy Lube's certification program. You can be assured that the Jiffy Lube technicians servicing your car are among the best in the business. And at Jiffy Lube, we service your car in minutes, not hours.

Regular maintenance on your car will extend its engine life and help to keep it running smoothly. We suggest that you save your Jiffy Lube invoices in you car's warranty booklet.