IS IT IMPORTANT TO CHANGE YOUR CAR’S OIL?
In short, yes; oil is incredibly important for keeping your car running safely and smoothly, but many often put this job at the bottom of their to-do list. It’s easily done – life just gets in the way.
However, not changing your oil regularly comes with consequences:
Poor engine performance
Oil is considered the lifeblood of a vehicle, so it makes sense that regular oil maintenance would have an impact on engine performance. It keeps the inner workings of your car clean; dirt and debris that builds up and moves around with the oil is removed during an oil change, preventing it from affecting the engine.
Oil is there to reduce friction in the engine; if it’s degraded, it does the opposite, meaning the engine has to work harder. Simply out, old and contaminated oil does not protect the engine as it should do. Good-quality, fresh oil in an engine improves its performance. It’s also worth noting that degraded oil can actually cause engine noise as well.
The easiest way to understand what happens to your oil if left unserviced for too long is thinking about it as cooking oil. Imagine you’re heating oil in a pan on the hob – what happens if you cook it too hot for too long? It turns nasty and inedible, of course. A similar thing happens with engine oil if not seen to; go too long without getting it changed and it becomes ineffective and harmful to your car.
Engine failure
In worst-case scenarios, avoiding an oil change could cost you your car. Ultimately, once oil becomes degraded, it no longer protects the engine. Running like this, the engine will eventually destroy itself and/or seize up.
Voided warranty
If your car is under warranty, you will have to adhere to manufacturer specifications, which should include instructions to change your oil regularly. You will also have to use specific oil.
How often should the oil be changed?
You can change your oil every 3,000 miles (as some people suggest, however, it’s always best to check and adhere to the service interval recommended by your vehicle manufacturer. In fact, lots of new cars have extended service intervals – but these must be adhered to rigidly. Both the climate you drive in and your driving style can impact the duration between oil changes.
Most cars have some sort of service indicator that will appear on the dashboard and it’s vital that this isn’t ignored – it has appeared for a reason!
In conclusion, although it can be a pain to book your car in for something that may seem insignificant on the face of it, the ramifications can be costly. It may be worth pushing getting your oil changed further up your to-do list after all!
Our technicians are able to access any manufacturer recommendations and service your car with the approved oil to ensure you keep your warranty, and car, intact.
Contact us for more information or to book your oil change.