If you own a car, you undoubtedly have been told that regular oil changes are essential to keeping your car running efficiently and to expand the life of your engine — but is that advice true or just industry hype? The truth is that changing your oil is very important to the performance of your used car for several reasons. A recent study conducted by Car Care Council concluded that as many as 22% of vehicles in operation have either dirty or low engine oil. That can lead to costly auto repairs and more wear and tear on the engine, which can hasten your car’s aging.
There are five major reasons that changing your car oil is important to your car’s longevity.
1. It maintains the proper lubrication that an engine needs to perform
There are many moving parts within an engine that need lubrication to prevent excessive wear and tear. Because they are moving at high speed, they create a vast amount of heat that can wear the engine down if there isn’t enough lubrication to absorb the friction. If you don’t have enough oil, the right kind of oil, or if it has a large number of impurities in it, it will put more wear on your engine. To ensure that you are following the manufacturer’s recommendation for frequency or mileage changes, refer to your car’s owner’s manual. It will tell you the grade and weight of oil that is required, so you can ensure that there is always the required volume in place.
2. It helps to cool engine components
If all those moving parts of your engine don’t have the proper lubrication, it will create friction, which will cause your engine to overheat. If your engine overheats, that can cause a lot of damage to your car and ultimately lead to you needing an expensive engine replacement. If you maintain both the right amount of oil and ensure that it is clean, it will stop the engine from overheating and save you from a large mechanic’s bill.
3. An oil change will remove any sludge or particles
There is no way to save your engine from dirt. Unfortunately, the dirt that gets into your oil is one of your engine’s greatest enemies. When you don’t have regular oil changes, the built-up dirt can lead to corrosion and shorten the lifespan of your engine. Over time, the oil will also change to “sludge.” Sludge will slow the engine parts down and hurt its operation. Routine filter and oil changes are essential for removing dirt particles and to decrease the likelihood of sludge in your engine.
4. Clean oil improves the gas mileage of your car
If you don’t get your oil changed frequently, it can increase the amount of fuel that your engine uses. According to the US Department of Energy, routine oil and filter changes can improve your gas mileage by as much as 1-2% per year. Although this doesn’t sound like a whole lot, you aren’t just keeping a healthy engine; you are also wasting less money on gas.
5. Helps to extend the life of your engine
Routine oil and filter changes will increase the overall lifespan of your engine. When you take away the hardships of overheating, excessive wear and tear, and friction, you don’t put as much burden on the engine. That will allow it to work more efficiently and for a longer period of time. Also, according to Kelley Blue Book, if you change your oil frequently, you can increase the resale value of your car.
Oil changes might seem like an extra expense and inconvenience, but they actually save you money in gas mileage and increase the lifespan of your car’s engine. Ride Time’s service center is an excellent place to take your car to have your oil changed. While you’re in for an oil change, ask about all of the other services they offer for both repairs and customization. In an effort to make repairs and oil changes virtually painless, Ride Time is committed to keeping your car healthy for the long term. Stop in today to have your oil changed in no time.
No Comments