An oil change is essential for car maintenance that you should pay close attention to. Your car needs oil in good condition so your engine won’t quickly overheat. Changing your oil during its recommended schedule helps prolong the lifespan of your vehicle.
Thus, you must not skip your oil change to save a few dollars. Forgetting to change your oil periodically also has various consequences, which will be discussed in this post.
Outline:
Skipping Your Oil Change Leads To Bad Results
Most car owners assume that changing oil is necessary because it helps the vehicle to run well. However, this statement is only half of the picture.
The primary purpose of the oil is to lubricate the engine’s parts that grind against each other. Oil also helps manage the heat from friction from its rubbing mechanical components.
Here are a few adverse effects on your car when you did not perform that scheduled oil change:
- Sludge Buildup
Sludge is that wet, thick, and dense mixture of old oil starting to solidify. This gel-like substance can cause severe damage to your engine. Moreover, it can block oil flow to essential components such as camshafts, cranks, and bearings. A regular oil change helps remove gunk and dirt particles in your engine before they develop into sludge.
- Poor Gas Mileage
A poorly lubricated engine is inefficient and has to work harder to work well. Your car will also consume more gas for the same distance. Ultimately, you will have to spend more money just for fuel. When you think you are saving money from skipping an oil change, the truth is you’re going to spend more.
- Engine Wear
When your engine is not coated well with oil, it will run hot in no time. As a result, the hot engine will break down the oil in a thermal breakdown process. When oil is exposed to too much heat, it will lose many properties, including its ability to lubricate. Eventually, this cycle will lead your car engine to corrode.
- Rougher Ride
A car with no scheduled oil change has a rougher ride quality. It will be harder for you to drive your car if it isn’t maintained correctly. Additionally, you might significantly decrease your car’s performance if it’s not well-oiled.
- Costly Repairs
Oil is vital to keep your car’s engine healthy. A poorly maintained engine can result in serious issues that will cost hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars. Here is a breakdown of the cost of repairing critical components of your car’s engine:
- Oil pump replacement- $400 to $600
- Piston Repair- $800 to $1,800
- Engine Head Gasket Replacement- $1,100 to $2,000+
- Complete Engine Rebuild- $2,000 to $4,000+
Compare that to an oil change which costs between $20 to $60, depending on your car’s type of oil.
- Lower Resale Value
Car owners sell their cars for various reasons, such as to get money and buy a new one. The problem, however, is that engine problems and other issues also affect a used car’s value. Some buyers may also want to see your car’s service history, including the number of times its oil was changed. A well-maintained car gives you more leverage during these negotiations.
- Voids Car Warranty
Most manufacturers place warranties on their cars, especially if you buy them brand new. However, a car’s warranty can be voided if it isn’t maintained well during the first few thousand miles. To keep the warranty, you must regularly change its oil and perform other essential maintenance.
5 Signs That Your Car Needs An Oil Change
Let’s say you forgot to change your oil as scheduled. Then, it would help if you looked out for these signs that should warn you to replace your oil immediately:
- Your car’s oil change reminder icon is lit up on your dashboard. This sign means you need to change your oil right away. The oil warning light will light up if you encounter a more severe case.
- A loud knocking noise indicates that some of your engine parts might have misaligned because they ran out of good oil. If you have an oil leak, you might notice a strong oily smell inside the car.
- Dark and thick smoke will go out of the tailpipe during slow acceleration, or idling may signal that something is burnt inside your engine. Old oil isn’t good at cooling your engine’s moving components.
- You need an oil change if you check your engine oil level using a dipstick that shows dark, dirty oil. Black oil indicates overheating and potential damage to internal components.
- If your automobile accelerates slowly after stopping, it might be time for an oil change. Slow acceleration occurs when the cylinder walls are not sufficiently lubricated, which leads to less effective combustion during firing cycles.
How Often Should You Change Your Oil?
If you have an older car model, you must change your oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles registered on the odometer. On the other hand, newer car models, especially synthetic oil, must change the engine oil once every 10,000 to 15,000 miles.
Aside from mileage, you also need to consider time, as most oil loses its lubricating properties after three months. Check your car’s manual and follow the recommended oil change interval.
Conclusion
It’sIt’s essential to change your oil for two reasons. The first benefit is that it keeps your engine in good shape and averts future expensive repairs. Second, failing to replace your oil on schedule could result in a disastrous engine failure.
Because your engine is a complex mechanism, you should give it all the care and attention it requires.
If you need assistance with your vehicle, contact Z Auto Service right away. Our Englewood, Colorado-based full-service car repair facility offers professional services for all makes and models of automobiles, including oil changes, tune-ups, and much more.
Visit us online at https://zautoservice.com/ for additional details about our auto services, or give us a call at (303) 781-2855 right away.
