The Importance of Changing Your Car Oil

If you’re a car owner, someone might have told you to change your car oil regularly to keep your car in top shape.

But you never listen and wonder why you keep having car troubles. 

But with car troubles comes spending a lot of money.

So you finally put your foot down and are now trying to figure out how dirty car oil is damaging your car. 

Well, good thing you’re in the right place because in this article, we’re tackling the importance of changing your car oil. So follow along to learn more.

Why do you change your car oil?

Think of it this way, when you see dust start to pile around your house do you leave it alone or do you grab the vacuum cleaner?

Hopefully, your answer is to grab the vacuum cleaner.

Since it’s annoying to live in a house surrounded by piles of dust, you need to clean it regularly.

The same goes for your car. If you don’t consistently change your car oil, it will affect the way it runs. 

So here are a few reasons why having clean car oil matters:

Keeps the engine running smoothly

Do you notice when your car breaks down, it somehow has to do with its engine? 

That’s because your car engine contains several moving parts that grind against each other whenever you drive.

The car oil protects these parts from deteriorating by lubricating them to prevent friction.

However, car oil tends to burn away the more you use your car. 

So if you don’t top up your car oil frequently, the engine won’t contain enough oil to lubricate the parts. And that's when the engine begins to have issues.

Cools down the engine

As mentioned above, car oil prevents the engine’s moving parts from rubbing against each other.

Since these parts move at high speed whenever you drive, they tend to cause friction that eventually turns your engine hot.

To prevent overheating, the car oil distributes the heat away from the engine allowing it to run smoothly.

Since the oil depletes over time, insufficient car oil in your engine can cause it to overheat. 

So if you leave it unfixed, it can result in bigger damages in the future.

Prevents dirt accumulation

Depending on your environment, dirt and debris can accumulate inside your car’s engine. Which can cause corrosion that shortens your engine’s lifespan.

Luckily, car oil creates a protective barrier against these corrosive materials. 

But when the car oil starts to break down, it turns into sludge. A thick, dirty substance that loses its ability to filter out the dirt from entering the engine.

So when there’s nothing protecting and filtering the engine from dirt and debris, they eventually pile up. Making it difficult for your engine to work.

Reduces gas consumption

Broken parts and piled-up dirt inside your car engine can make it work harder. And in turn, makes your car consume more gas.

With how fast gas prices are increasing nowadays, would you really want to spend that much on gas?

So going in for a routine oil change can increase your car’s performance, reducing its gas usage. Thus, saving you money in the long run.

Allows you to pass the emission test

Annually, cars need to go through an emission test to find out how much pollutants it gives out into the environment.

If you don’t change your car oil regularly, it’s probably harboring a lot of dirt and burnt oil by now.

Since dirty car oil accumulates hydrocarbons that burn out to the atmosphere, your car will have a hard time passing the emission test.

But if you regularly take your car for routine maintenance, not only will you pass the emission test on time, you will also be contributing less to pollution.

How often should car oil be changed?

Previously, mechanics would advise you to change your car oil every 3 months, or whenever your car gets to 3,000 miles.

But nowadays, cars are continuously upgraded so some can take up to 7,000 miles before needing one.

So the current general rule is to change your car oil every 6 months, or whenever it gets to 5,000 miles.

But it can also depend on the type of vehicle you're using. Since different cars have different engine models.

So if you’re not sure, you can always ask a trusted mechanic to determine when your car should come in for routine maintenance. 

What are the signs you need an oil change?

If you think you can get away with not changing your car oil every year, think again.

Aside from damaging your engine, your car can also show other signs of declining if you don’t change its oil.

The most obvious one would be the engine light on your car’s dashboard lighting up. It can indicate that your engine doesn’t contain sufficient oil to allow it to run smoothly. 

But in severe cases, it can also mean that your car is sensing a malfunction in your engine. 

Another indication that your car needs an oil change would be loud noises in the engine. Since there’s no oil to lubricate the parts when you’re driving, they will rub against each other creating metallic scratches.

If you notice your car releasing dark exhaust smoke, that’s also a sign you should be bringing it to a mechanic immediately. Aside from having dirty oil,  it can also be an indication of broken parts in the engine. So it’s better to bring it early than to make the problem worse.

The bottom line

As a car owner, it’s your responsibility to take care of your car so you can get the most out of it.

You can even make it a monthly habit of checking the quality of your car oil through the dipstick. 

Do this by removing it from your car’s engine to know the level of oil it still contains. If the level is too low, then you’ll need to top it up.

Next, wipe the oil off the dipstick so you’ll know what color the oil currently is. 

If it appears amber, then the oil is still good. But if it appears dark, then it’s time to visit your mechanic.

Maintaining your car can be a nuisance, but it’s necessary if you want your car in peak performance. 

Besides, nobody wants a car that keeps breaking down on them.