The oil in your engine does a very important job of lubricating it so it works smoothly. Changing the oil is part of the maintenance of the car, and should be done at every 5 000 to 8 000 kilometers or at least twice a year. Here are 3 reasons why you should never skip an oil change.
- It will destroy your engine
Oil in your engine wears out; it gets dirty and loses viscosity. When the oil gets thin, it cannot build the oil pressure to get pumped throughout the engine as viscosity affects how well a liquid holds pressure. Thin oil does not get pumped throughout the engine and in places where it does, it does not lubricate properly. In an unlubricated engine, the friction and shock that occurs between engine parts will wear them out and soon enough, something will break.
- Time also wears oil
While mileage is an important factor to consider when changing the oil, it is wrong to assume that a lightly used car does not need an oil change. Oil is not only a lubricant, but also acts as a cooling agent and is a mean by which the engine “autocleans” itself. The oil pulls debris, particles and even chemicals, harmful to your engine into the filter. In a seldomly used engine, these particles and chemicals remain in the oil, making it contaminated and degrading its lubricating properties.
- Problems can go undetected for a long time
If the engine is new, even if the oil is contaminated, it might look like everything is running smoothly. Problems caused by contaminated oil may take a while to surface and meanwhile, it may get worse or produce other issues. Changing the oil regularly ensures your car runs consistently, allowing you to diagnose even if it is over long time periods.
Whether you use your vehicle extensively everyday or whether you use it only for a weekly trip, you cannot skip an oil change. Many people do it with each season change too, as temperature swings affect how the oil behaves. It helps with the longevity of the engine and the car runs much smoother too.