What the $55 and the $100 cover
An oil change with regular, non synthetic oil is $55 before tax. Synthetic starts at $100 before tax. The old oil is drained, a new filter goes on, and the engine is filled with the grade your manufacturer lists.
Synthetic is priced "from" $100 because engines are not all the same size. A small four cylinder holds around four litres, a V8 truck can take seven or more, and some European engines need oil carrying a specific manufacturer approval that costs more by the litre. If your car is one of the bigger or pickier ones, call (613) 744-1521 and ask for the synthetic price for your exact engine before you book.
Regular or synthetic for your car
Your owner’s manual, and often the oil filler cap, tells you the grade, something like 0W-20 or 5W-30. Thin grades such as 0W-20 and 0W-16 are almost always synthetic or a synthetic blend, and the engines that call for them, including most small turbocharged engines, are designed around that oil. Putting regular oil in one of those is not a saving.
Older engines that list 5W-30 or 10W-30 usually run fine on regular oil, and for a car that mostly does steady highway kilometres the $55 change is a sensible choice. Synthetic will not hurt an older engine, it just costs more. We wrote up the longer version in synthetic vs regular oil if you want the detail.
What an Ottawa winter does to engine oil
The first number in the grade is the cold rating. On a minus 25 morning in January, a 0W oil reaches the bearings and the top of the engine noticeably faster than a 10W, and the first seconds after a cold start are when most engine wear happens. That is a good reason to stick to the grade in the manual and not go thicker for winter.
Short trips are the other problem. A drive that ends before the engine is fully warm leaves water from condensation and a little unburned fuel in the oil, and they never get hot enough to cook off. A white, mayonnaise like film under the oil cap in February is usually that, not a head gasket.
Most owner’s manuals have a severe service schedule for short trips, extreme cold and stop and go traffic. A winter commute along Innes Road at rush hour checks every box on that list, so if your car lives in Ottawa, the severe schedule is probably the one that applies to you.
How often to change it
Go by the oil life monitor if your car has one. A good monitor already counts cold starts and short trips, which is why it sometimes asks for oil sooner than you expect. If your car has no monitor, use the severe schedule in the manual. The sticker on the windshield is a reminder, not a rule.
Check the level yourself between changes, on level ground with the engine off for a few minutes. Some engines use a litre or so between changes and the manufacturer considers that normal, but you only know if you look. If the red oil pressure light comes on while you are driving, pull over and shut the engine off. An engine with no oil pressure can be ruined in minutes.
A look underneath while the car is in
The oil change is a good moment to look at the parts you never see. While the car is in, we look for oil leaks around the drain plug, oil pan and valve cover, and at what the salt has been doing to the brake lines, exhaust hangers and underbody. If something needs attention you hear about it, and nothing extra is done without your OK.
If the underbody is starting to scale, ask about rustproofing, which is $140 for a car and $180 for an SUV, and fall is the usual time to do it. If the car is also due for filters and plugs, the tune up and yearly maintenance visit is the bigger version of this one. And if a warning light came on since the last change, a computer diagnostic scan on the same visit saves a second trip.
Booking an oil change on Star Top Road
You can book an oil change online at any hour. Pick regular or synthetic, scan the VIN with your phone camera or type in the year, make and model, and say if you want to drop the car off. Last drop off is 2pm. If you are not sure which oil it takes, say so in the description and we will check before anything goes in.
The shop is at Unit 1, 1541 Star Top Road in Ottawa, ON. From the 417, take Exit 112, turn right on Innes Road, then right on Star Top Road. Unit 1 is about 350 m up. Hours are Monday to Friday 8:30am to 6pm and Saturday 9:30am to 2pm, with service in English and French.
Questions people ask
How much is an oil change in Ottawa?
At SA Auto Repair on Star Top Road, an oil change with regular, non synthetic oil is $55 before tax. Synthetic starts at $100 before tax, and the final price depends on how many litres your engine holds and which oil specification it needs.
Does my car need synthetic oil?
Check the owner's manual or the oil filler cap for the grade. Engines that call for thin grades like 0W-20 or 0W-16, and most small turbocharged engines, are built around synthetic oil. Older engines that list 5W-30 or 10W-30 usually run fine on regular oil if the manual allows it.
How often should I change my oil in an Ottawa winter?
Follow the oil life monitor if your car has one. Without one, use the severe service schedule in the owner's manual, because short trips, deep cold and stop and go traffic are exactly what that schedule is written for. The windshield sticker is a reminder, not the rule.
Can I get an oil change on a Saturday in Ottawa?
Yes. SA Auto Repair at 1541 Star Top Road is open Saturday from 9:30am to 2pm, and weekdays from 8:30am to 6pm. Online booking is open 24/7.
What does the W in 0W-20 mean?
The W stands for winter. The number before it is how the oil behaves cold, and a lower number flows faster on a minus 25 morning. The number after it is the thickness once the engine is at operating temperature.
