Why Vehicle Oil Needs to be Changed Regularly
Many people put off their oil changes, but it’s a bad idea. One stroke of bad luck and you’ll be paying for the mishap for years. In this article, you’ll learn why timely oil changes are necessary, what they prevent, and how they benefit your vehicle’s performance.
Keeping your vehicle’s oil in good condition ensures a smooth driving experience. It maintains the engine’s health and changing the oil regularly keeps your car running smooth while helping prevent wear and tear on your engine.
Oil Changes and Vehicle Health
It sounds funny, but your car needs to be healthy too and oil plays a major role in it, Engine oil lubricates the engine and is a cooling agent that keeps it from overheating when you’re driving. When it has fresh oil running through it, it helps your car perform smoothly and age more slowly.
It’s Lubrication for Engine Parts
The main function of oil is to lubricate the engine components. So as you drive, the engine parts move at very high speeds and create a lot of friction. But fresh oil acts as a protective layer that reduces this friction and prevents wear on crucial engine parts like the pistons and engine valves.
Oil Absorbs Heat and Cools the Engine
Oil also absorbs and disperses the heat that’s generated by the engine. When the oil isn’t circulating properly because it’s old, the engine’s temperature can get so hot that it damages parts of the engine. When oil becomes old it loses its cooling effect and the engine overheats.
If you regularly maintain clean oil it will properly lubricate and cool the engine and keep your car running smoothly.
Consequences of Skipping Oil Changes
If you don’t change your at the times your mechanic suggests, it can lead to some serious engine issues. Old oil loses its protective qualities and collects impurities that can harm your engine performance over time.
The condition of your vehicle’s oil plays a role in emissions testing and can influence performance diagnostics during inspections. When oil is old and contaminated, it increases the amount of unburned fuel and harmful particles released from the engine, all of which can affect testing and diagnostics.
Fresh oil ensures that the engine burns fuel more efficiently, which helps reduce emissions and can improve the likelihood of passing an emissions test. Keeping up with oil changes not only benefits engine performance but also supports cleaner emissions.
Increased Engine Wear
When oil is old it thickens and loses its ability to effectively lubricate. Without proper lubrication, engine parts rub too closely against each other and cause premature wear on them. In time this leads to damaged parts and can shorten the lifespan of your engine.
The Risk of a Overheating Engine
Old oil doesn’t absorb heat as efficiently and can cause the engine to overheat. A constantly overheating engine usually leads to severe damage, and sometimes requires costly repairs or even a complete engine replacement.
Examples of Damage Due to Poor Oil Maintenance:
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- Increased engine noise or knocking sounds.
- Decreased fuel efficiency.
- Frequent engine repairs due to internal wear.
The bottom line is, if you skip oil changes, you can expect many engine troubles down the road with a higher risk of breakdowns and costly fixes.
When To Change Your Oil
You can find information about when to change your oil in your driver’s manual but note that other factors can influence when you should service your car’s oil including the weather, your typical driving conditions, and the type of oil you use. Most vehicle manufacturers generally recommend changing oil every 5,000 to 8,000 kilometres.
Driving Conditions That Affect Oil Life
Many short trips, stop-and-go traffic, and extreme weather can all affect the lifespan of your oil. If you drive in these conditions a lot, you may notice that you need to change your oil more frequently. You can asking your mechanic if he notices your oil change intervals should be shorter.
The quality of your vehicle’s oil plays a significant role in fuel efficiency. As oil becomes dirty and thickens, it creates more friction in the engine, forcing it to consume extra fuel to function. By keeping the oil fresh, you reduce resistance in the engine, helping it run smoothly and maximize fuel economy. This simple maintenance step can make a noticeable difference in how much fuel your car uses over time.
The best advice we can give you is to keep an eye on your oil levels and make sure to use the right type of oil if you top it up before your next oil change.
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