Oil Change | Binder's Automotive

The oil change is a staple in the routine maintenance that contributes to the lifespan of your vehicle. If an oil change was defined at the simplest level, it would describe replacing engine oil, replacing the oil filter, and a visual inspection of the vehicles most necessary components.

Below, you’ll see how we take the basic idea of an oil change and expand on it to provide you with the best value possible. We invite you to explore the links below to discover exactly what makes a Binder’s Automotive Signature Series Oil Change so valuable.

Engine Oil

Engine Oil can be very confusing. There are different weights and API ratings, that essentially mean nothing to the consumer. Our signature series oil change takes the mystery out of the language. We stock and use only the top performing engine oils for the health of your vehicle. Through extensive research and industry-backed data, we choose Mobil engine oils for many of the jobs we face daily. Did you know that more than 70 of today’s top performance vehicles leave the factory with Mobil1 in their engines? Currently, we have 12 different engine oils in stock, with more being added as needs arise. If we do not stock the oil that’s BEST suited for your vehicle, we will find it and keep it on hand for as long as we have your business.

Engine Oil Filters

Engine oil filters are a little more straightforward and represent a key component of the oil change. Much like how your vehicle left the manufacturing line with a particular type of oil in it’s engine, it also left with a particular type of oil filter. The filter that is on the vehicle when it leaves the factory is known as “OE” or “Original Equipment”. The reason that we stock 40 different SKU’s from 17 different manufacturers is because “OE Equivalent” is NOT “OE”! Engines are complex machines. The engine oil is the lifeblood of the engine, and we believe that in order to keep your vehicle performing as designed, it needs to have the parts and components that it was designed to use.

Battery Testing & Maintenance

Today’s vehicle has more computers and electronics than the first space launch! This is why your battery should be an absolute priority any time your vehicle comes in for service. When a battery is not properly maintained, this puts the entire electrical system at risk of failure which could cause related component damage and leave you stranded. To prevent these unnecessary breakdowns and costly repairs, we test your vehicles battery at every oil change. The average consumer will not be able to recognize the subtle indicators of a battery experiencing low charge. Our specialized testing equipment provides an accurate and comprehensive reading of your battery’s state of charge and overall health. Discount and outdated equipment has been known to actually drain and damage the battery during testing. Routine tests combined with well maintained battery terminals will ensure you’re never left stranded by a faulty battery.

Lube Door Latches & Hinges

Every one of our signature series oil changes is performed with an acute attention to detail – whether it’s your weekend beauty, a daily driver or brand new off the lot. Many consumers are unaware, but replacing hinges and latches can be very expensive. Preventative maintenance is as simple as routine lubrication of those areas, and you can always count on this extra step from Binder’s.

Exterior Light Inspection

Another value added service performed with your signature series oil change is an exterior light inspection. Consumers are rarely able to verify the performance of the exterior lights on our own. More likely, we are told by a fellow driver, OR in the worst case scenario, pulled over and cited. Exterior lights are a major contributing factor to the driver’s safety, and the only time an inspection of these lights are required are during a PA State Inspection. To keep our customers safe, we inspect exterior lights at every oil change.

Power Steering Fluid

Power steering fluid is a commonly overlooked fluid. Indicators of a power steering system failure include whining noises through turns, difficulty steering, and leaking fluid. Unfortunately, when these symptoms arise there is a large chance that damage has already occurred. Your power steering fluid will never fall below the fill line unless a leak is present in the system. Anytime that we notice fluid levels off the mark, we proceed with a careful examination to determine the cause and advise the customer. The condition of the power steering fluid is equally as important as the level. Fluid is often dirty from normal use, which can cause damage to the internal components and seals. Clean fluid at the proper level will significantly reduce the chance of system malfunctions and power steering-related repairs.

Drive Belts

Have you ever heard a car squeal when it starts up, makes a turn, or accelerates? You may have witnessed a malfunctioning drive belt, tensioner or pulley. However, those symptoms are far from the only times that a belt could be causing you issues. Our signature series oil change always includes a visual inspection to ensure that the silent symptoms of worn or misaligned belts don’t go unnoticed. We will always provide our customers with photographic evidence of any anomalies we see in the condition of your accessory drive belts.

Coolant Condition

Coolant condition is a critical factor in engine, automatic transmission, air conditioning and heater performance. Most motorists do not realize that the engine coolant and cooling system regulates automatic transmission fluid temperature and provides efficient passenger compartment air conditioning and heater performance. If the engine overheats, this means the transmission also most likely overheated. Much like how each engine is designed to perform with a certain motor oil, the coolant that is used in your vehicle can make a huge difference in the vehicles performance and longevity. Using wrong or unsuitable coolant is the most subtle way to sabotage your vehicles health. You could drive your vehicle for months or years before the full effects of incorrect coolant become apparent. One of coolant’s many roles in the performance of your vehicle is to regulate the point at which boiling/freezing can occur. The mechanisms in your vehicle’s powertrain are made up of many different materials including aluminum, iron, magnesium, synthetic rubber, plastic and others. Each of these materials can be compromised by your choice of coolant. Things like gaskets and seals can fail prematurely based on an incorrect coolant formula. Every signature series oil change is another occasion to check on the condition and compatibility of your
coolant.

Automatic Trans Fluid

Automatic transmission fluid is the lifeblood of the transmission. The modern day automatic transmission is far superior to the transmission of yesteryear. As a result, manufacturers have developed hi tech fluids to support this. It is becoming increasingly more common for manufacturers to omit a transmission oil dipstick making a quick inspection of the fluid impossible. Recently, manufacturers claim that transmission service of any kind is never required for the lifetime of the vehicle. While this makes things easier for the manufacturers and their main constituents, the dealers, we have serviced enough transmissions (before and after those warranties expire) to know better. When we see transmission failure of any kind, it’s most often attributed to dirty, deteriorated fluid. To translate the manufacturer’s statement honestly, they most likely mean that no service will be required for the lifetime of the transmission. As common sense would dictate, the lifetime of the transmission is greatly increased by proper and routine maintenance, so we monitor transmission fluid to keep your vehicle running smoothly. Also, most transmissions do not have a serviceable filter making fluid changes even more important. If your vehicle has a dipstick for inspection, we will be able to easily assess the fluid condition and make an accurate recommendation for service. If your vehicle does not provide a dipstick, we will make our recommendation based on your driving habits as well as our experience regarding failure rates with your particular transmission design. Our goal is to provide you with accurate information to help you make an educated decision regarding your vehicle maintenance.

Hose Inspection

Hose inspection is not just the radiator hoses. We also perform visual inspections for all hoses that are visible so long as it would not require any disassembly. On most vehicles this includes radiator hoses, heater hoses, coolant bypass hoses, vacuum hoses, and engine crankcase breather hoses. We look for signs of wear and contamination, usually evident when hoses feel spongy, look swollen, or exhibit cracking, splitting, or leaks. These signs can often give us clues about other underlying issues within your vehicles systems that can be prevented by our visual inspection. As always, we will provide photographic evidence of any problems that we find.

Brake Fluid

Brake fluid is the most neglected and misunderstood fluid, yet it is highly significant because it is essential to the proper operation of the braking system. Hydraulic brake fluid itself is hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs moisture. This is essential as the brake fluid in your car is exposed to extreme temperature changes. The fluid in the brake components at the wheels can become exceedingly hot as well as underhood temperatures where the brake fluid reservoir is located. This constant heating up and cooling down of the fluid causes condensation to form in the system. The brake fluid is designed to absorb this moisture to maintain the hydraulic characteristics necessary for safe brake system operation. Add that in an ABS (Anti-lock Brake System) system, this fluid is pumped through the system during ABS activation. There are no serviceable filters in the brake fluid system and the fluid is only capable of absorbing a limited amount of moisture. Without proper maintenance, dirty, contaminated brake fluid will act like a cancer. Even though the brake system may seem to be operating normally, damage could be happening inside. Some common examples of damage caused by contaminated fluid are leaking calipers, wheel cylinders or master cylinder. Seized caliper pistons, wheel cylinders and ABS control valves are commonly caused by moisture inside the system leading to rust and corrosion. Brake fluid replacement frequency is determined by system design, driving conditions and driving habits among other things. We inspect the brake fluid condition at every oil change service ensuring
you are always aware of when brake fluid service is coming due.

Engine Air Filter

The air filter is commonly inspected, and we are no exception. Sometimes the engine’s design makes air filter components difficult to access, but we ensure that each filter is inspected to ensure that it’s replaced when necessary, and not a moment before or after. By checking air filters at every oil change, we are able to give our customers a “heads up” when they should begin to think about replacing, saving them money in the long run.

Wiper Blades

Wiper blade replacement is probably the easiest item to recognize. Streaky, torn, skipping or chattering blades are signs that the wiper blades are due to be replaced. That’s why we inspect the wiper blades and the washer system for proper operation. Most consumers do not test the wiper and washer system regularly. Most only use them when needed so an unexpected failure with the system will be especially stressful. Finding out that you have a wiper problem while you’re driving and rain suddenly hits, could stop you in your tracks. Equally, finding out the washer system is not functioning when snow is melting and that annoying white spray on the windshield cannot be removed, can cause a dangerous driving situation. To prevent these scenarios, we always fill the washer fluid bottle at every oil change service making sure you will be ready in every situation.

Tire Inspection

Tire inspection should be an essential step during every oil change service. Regular inspection of the tire tread should be performed by you whenever convenient, however when the vehicle is on a hoist, a complete tread inspection is advantageous. Having the opportunity to inspect the complete tire tread, including the inside edges and sidewalls, will help you to avoid expensive, premature tire replacement as well as unsafe, overdue tire replacement. Inspecting the tires in this way will provide you with the peace of mind that an underlying problem is not secretly destroying your expensive tires. We also make cost effective recommendations for tire rotations based on our inspections. Often times when a mileage schedule will recommend a tire rotation, we can use these documented inspections to recommend against it based on current tread life remaining or evidence of uneven tread wear. We don’t believe in wasting your money on unnecessary services.

Correct Tire Pressure

Correct tire pressure cannot be determined by simply looking at the tires. The pressure must be measured and adjusted correctly. It is a common mistake to inflate tires to the pressure stamped on the sidewall of the tire itself which is actually the maximum pressure the tire is safely capable of operating at. This is often very different than the pressure requirement established by the vehicle manufacturer for safe vehicle operation. An improperly inflated tire will affect vehicle handling and braking. Remember the braking system stops the wheel, but it’s the tire that stops the car. Incorrect tire pressures can also hit your wallet without you even realizing it. Aside from not getting the most life out of your tires, low tire pressures will cause poor fuel economy and cause your engine to consume oil. Many of today’s vehicles will incorporate TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) to inform you of a tire pressure concern. If you experience a failure with this system, we have the required tools and training to correctly diagnose and repair it. Adjusting the tire pressure is included in our oil change procedure. We will adjust your tire pressure to the correct specification for your particular vehicle. And if we discover any tires have unusually low pressure as compared to the others, we’ll check it for leaks providing an opportunity to avoid the frustration of a flat tire on the side of the road or parking lot.

Engine Oil Life Monitors

Engine oil life monitors are becoming increasingly more common on modern vehicles. There is a lot of debate as to the accuracy of these monitors which can cause confusion for the motorist. In short, the answer is directly relevant to the system design of your particular vehicle and how you use your vehicle. Regardless, if your vehicle integrates an oil life monitor, we will reset it properly after every oil change. Some vehicles incorporate an on board reset procedure while others require a proprietary tool. No matter the architecture, there is never an extra cost for doing so.

Engine Oil Level

Engine oil level is rarely on the minds of motorists after an oil change is performed, however it should be. An extremely overfilled crankcase will disclose symptoms promptly such as oil burning smell, engine oil leaking or a low oil pressure light/gauge warning indicator. Thankfully, this is not a common occurrence at all. However, a crankcase which is overfilled by even 1 pint can cause costly damage over time without any immediate indication to you. Unfortunately, it has been our experience that this is very common. The symptoms of a chronically overfilled crankcase include gasket and seal failure, catalyst system damage namely catalytic converters, oxygen sensor damage, crankcase breather ventilation system clogging and excessive oil consumption. When oil is added to a near empty crankcase it is not at engine operating temperature. If the crankcase is filled up to the FULL mark, it will consequently be overfull when it reaches operating temperature due to expansion. Not all manufacturers provide an engine oil dipstick for inspection, however ALL manufacturers provide a range for oil level to compensate for this expansion. We are very particular when refilling the crankcase to maintain correct oil level regardless of the level indicator design.

Inspection Results

Communicating the results of the Signature Series Oil Change to you is an important step to maintaining your vehicles health. Our goal is to provide you with an accurate analysis of what is needed immediately, what will be needed in the future and what is performing well. Arming you with this information, allows you the opportunity to prepare for repairs and services ahead of time rather than be surprised
with a breakdown. Every Signature Series Oil Change includes a straightforward condition report printout for your records. We also store all results directly on your vehicle file for future reference. Each of the components we inspect, receives a letter grade that is easily understood by all.
Example:
A – New or clearly new.
B – Normal wear/condition. No recommendation.
C – Recommend service/replacement within 6-12 months depending on operating conditions. We list this as a “Watch Area” for the Technician to pay close attention to during future service visits.
D – Recommend service/replacement today or asap. Continued operation will cause undue wear or damage.
F – Component or fluid failure. This would indicate the need for immediate repairs for continued safe operation.

All tire tread depths are measured and recorded on the printout.
Any additional notes from the Technician are recorded on the printout.
We always provide pictures of any concerns when possible.

Service Reminders

Routine vehicle maintenance is the best thing you can do to extend the life of your vehicle. Today’s world is busy and fast-paced. For many of us, if our car starts in the morning, that means nothing is wrong. This attitude can lead to serious damage and costly repairs when service is repeatedly performed past the recommended date. Each visit, we update your customer profile to remind not only us but also you, of what you can expect from your vehicle in the following months. Sometimes, repairs and maintenance can be a major investment. Driving with an expired state inspection can lead to tickets. Our reminder system makes sure that you’re aware of your vehicles needs to keep you on the road and out of trouble. Email, text, phone calls, and post are all options that we make available to keep you up to date on upcoming service due for your vehicle.

Roadside Assistance

We are always here for you. Included with every Binder’s Automotive Signature Series Oil Change is 1 Year of Nationwide Roadside Assistance. Regardless of how near or far away from home you are, we are here to help 24/7 in the event you:
1. lock your keys in your car
2. run out of gas
3. have a flat tire
4. need a battery jumpstart
5. require towing
Below is a link to a downloadable PDF file explaining our Roadside Assistance Program in partnership with TechNet.

You have many choices when deciding who to trust with your vehicles routine maintenance. As you can see, we provide so much more than just draining the engine oil and replacing the filter. Hopefully you’re asking, why do we do this? In keeping with our Guiding Principles of Leadership, we believe it is our responsibility to care for your vehicle in a manner which lives up to the true meaning of Preventive Maintenance.

Our goal is to provide you with authentic information about the ongoing condition of your particular vehicle which will allow you the opportunity to avoid unexpected vehicle breakdowns and enjoy stress free traveling. Our process will provide you warning before something is required, in order to help you budget your time and money accordingly. We are committed to changing the auto-service experience, but more than that we commit to changing how you view auto repair as a part of your life.

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We seek to make your experience enjoyable and stress-free, so you can leave with a vehicle that’s reliable for your needs. Our qualified automotive repair team are not just considered good mechanics, but the best local auto experts.

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