Regardless of your car’s make and model, what type of oil your manufacturer recommends, or how often you should perform routine maintenance, changing the oil at regular intervals is critical for your vehicle’s performance and safety. Learn more about the benefits of checking your car’s oil level and changing the oil regularly.
Changing Your Oil Regularly Increases Your Engine’s Lifespan
Checking the oil level and changing it protects your engine and increases its lifespan. The primary purpose of motor oil is to provide proper lubrication to an internal combustion engine, allowing it to run smoothly. When you start your car, the oil pump turns on and circulates your engine oil from the oil pan through the oil filter, catching dirt, grime, and contaminants before it continues to the engine block.
The oil then lubricates the engine’s crankshaft, bearings, pistons, camshaft, valves, and valve springs, coating these parts with a protective layer and allowing them to move freely and without resistance or friction. The oil then returns to the oil pan, completing a cycle.
What Happens if I Don’t Change the Oil?
Over time, as the oil repeatedly cycles through the engine block, it accumulates grime and contaminants. The oil filter’s efficiency decreases, and the oil quality degrades, providing less efficient lubrication. You can tell the oil’s condition by color; new or clean oil is usually amber-gold, whereas dirty oil is dark brown-black.
As the dirty engine oil degrades, friction increases, causing an increase in engine temperature and a decrease in performance. The hotter the engine runs, the more likely the oil will evaporate, decreasing your oil level and leaving an insufficient quantity to provide adequate lubrication.
If you continue using oil past the recommended change point, your temperature gauge may increase, and your Check Engine light may turn on, at which point you should take it to an auto shop for an oil change service.
Old oil transforms into a viscous, gel-like sludge if not changed. Continued use past that point risks gelling or evaporating the oil, leading to shorter engine life and an increased risk of excessive wear and damage to your engine components. In extreme cases, gelled oil risks seizing the engine and causing a total engine failure. An insufficient oil level can cause catastrophic engine damage.
Regular Oil Changes Keep Your Engine Clean (And The Environment)
Frequent oil changes are necessary for a car’s regular maintenance schedule because it ensures the engine runs as smoothly as possible. There are multiple benefits to keeping your engine running smoothly: decreased engine noise and reduced emissions.
As the oil grows old, it becomes thicker, and its ability to lubricate an automobile engine’s parts decreases, resulting in increased friction and metal-on-metal contact.
One of the warning signs of an engine with old oil is noise; high friction levels cause your engine to become noisier.
Old oil can also increase your vehicle’s emissions. The older your engine oil is, the less efficiently your engine runs and the more hydrocarbons your exhaust system expels.
In extreme cases, old and sludgy engine oil can even cause your car to fail an emissions test. Following your manufacturer’s recommended maintenance service schedule is critical to avoid this situation.
An Oil Change Improves Performance and Fuel Efficiency
Your car’s horsepower and fuel consumption figures are factory-measured ratings using clean, recently-changed engine oil. As the oil circulates and grows older, dirtier, and thicker, its viscosity and lubricity decrease, affecting your engine’s performance. Besides increasing emissions and decreasing the engine’s lifespan, old oil also reduces engine power and fuel economy.
Although it is impossible to calculate how much horsepower or miles per gallon you risk losing, your vehicle’s performance and fuel efficiency will decrease without oil changes at regular intervals.
The longer you leave your oil unchanged, the more likely these performance drops will accelerate the permanent wear and tear of your engine’s internal components, resulting in permanent performance losses and increasing the risk of major engine damage.
The only way to regain the lost horsepower and MPG from this type of permanent wear and tear is to perform a costly repair, such as an entire engine rebuild, or pay for an engine replacement service.
How Often Should I Change My Engine Oil?
Regular oil intervals allow you to cycle the dirty oil out and replace it with the fresh oil your engine needs. Frequent oil changes keep the engine cool and adequately lubricated, preventing you from spending thousands of dollars on parts repairs and replacements.
The exact interval depends on your manufacturer’s recommendations, your driving style, the age of your car, and the actual vehicle operating conditions. Newer cars equipped with modern engines can withstand between 5,000 and 7,500 miles between oil changes, assuming you drive it regularly, responsibly, and at a steady pace.
If your car is older, your driving style is more aggressive, or your driving conditions include frequent starts and stops, such as driving exclusively in cities, you may need to change your oil every 3,000 miles or less to conduct proper maintenance.
If your car supports synthetic oil, you may be able to last 10,000 miles or more between oil changes. Although there are many benefits to switching to synthetic oils, check your car’s user manual or contact your manufacturer to ensure your car can support this type of oil.
Service Your Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, or Ram Vehicle at Hometown
Hometown Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram is a proudly veteran-owned and operated full-service dealership in Albion, Michigan. Our parts and service departments can help you if you need automotive maintenance.
Visit us to give your vehicle a professional oil change, shop genuine Mopar parts, and benefit from the expert advice of our friendly staff. Schedule an appointment or contact us for more information at (517) 436-0433.
