Are you disciplined when it comes to completing your vehicle oil changes? When life gets busy, do you put off an oil change, or do you consistently stay on track with your oil maintenance?
While most drivers have neglected one or two oil changes at different times during the vehicle lifespan, the longer you go between changes the more problems you may experience. In this month’s blog post, we highlight how skipping those oil and filter changes can affect your vehicle and your expenses.
What’s the purpose of an oil change?
Motor oil is the lifeblood of your vehicle’s engine. This petroleum product provides many benefits to your engine, including lubrication of engine components, control of temperature during operation, and engine cleaning. The oil filter serves as a collector of dirt and grime that the oil cleans from the engine. Depending on the type of oil you use in your vehicle, your oil and filter changes may need to be as often as every 5,000 miles or up to 12,000 miles driven. Synthetic oils require less frequent changes, but many drivers choose conventional oil over synthetic based upon price. Regardless, regular oil changes at specified intervals improve your vehicle’s overall performance and protect your engine from damage.
What happens when oil changes are not as frequent?
You may void your vehicle warranty.
As with most warranties, there are owner requirements that must be adhered to as part of the warranty agreement. If you have a vehicle warranty, it most likely indicates that you need to get oil and filter changes based upon a pre-determined maintenance schedule. When you fail to do those changes, you may be voiding your warranty. Some warranties may even require you to show proof that your vehicle was serviced on a regular basis. If you are unsure, take time to clearly review your vehicle warranty.
You may damage your engine.
As your motor oil ages, it will thicken and lose the viscosity that is important for lubrication and temperature management. As oil thickens, it will not be able to absorb the heat in your engine as effectively as clean oil. When the engine heats up too much, it will overheat. Overheating can be very damaging to parts by warping them or even causing a blown gasket. Not only will a blown gasket disable the vehicle, but the repair cost will be significant.
The lubrication protection that oil provides to your engine can also be affected by thick and old oil. If engine parts are not properly lubricated, they will rub together and become damaged. In some cases, the engine may seize up altogether.
You will lower your vehicle’s performance.
The cleaning properties of your motor oil include various detergents and additives that help to carry dirt and grime out of the engine and trap them in the oil filter. If your oil is aged and dirty, it will not be able to perform its cleaning function. The oil that is trapped in the filter will become clogged, which forces the dirty oil back into the engine. Dirty oil is sluggish in the engine, which will cause it to work harder. Because your engine needs to work harder, your driving performance and gas mileage are impacted.
It doesn’t take much to keep your vehicle on a disciplined maintenance routine for oil changes. The cost and time that it takes to get an oil change greatly outweighs any expenses or inconvenience you may experience if you neglect to change the oil regularly. If you are interested in a maintenance routine, give the service professionals at Geller’s Automotive a call today to schedule an appointment.
