When you own a car, keeping the engine properly and regularly maintained is vital to its longevity. As part of this maintenance, keeping the oil changed every few months or few thousand miles is a key part of keeping your vehicle's engine running in the best condition possible.
Having the oil changed regularly is often overlooked or forgotten about when the time comes for it to be done. Or, even if it's not forgotten, you may believe that since the oil level is sufficient, you do not need to change it. However, there are a couple of reasons why you should never skip or delay changing the oil in your car.
1. Degraded Oil Causes Friction Within Your Car's Engine
One reason why you should not skip your car's oil changes is that the oil will start to degrade after a certain amount of time or a number of miles driven. As the oil degrades, it no longer fully lubricates the moving parts within the engine.
Because the engine is no longer lubricated as well as it should be, the metal grinding on metal will create a tremendous amount of friction, which produces excess heat within the engine. This excess friction and heat will then cause undue wear on the motor, greatly shortening its lifespan and increasing the chances that one or more parts will break down faster.
2. Dirty Oil Can Adversely Affect Your Car's Gas Mileage
Another problem caused by degraded, dirty oil that runs through your engine when it has not been changed regularly is that it adversely affects your car's gas mileage. Because the oil is dirty and is not lubricating the internal parts properly, the engine will have to work harder to keep up with its demands.
Because the engine is working harder, it will need extra fuel to run. If you have noticed that you are spending more time and money at the gas pump and know that the oil has not been changed recently, there is a good possibility that old, dirty oil is causing the issue.
If you tend to skip changing your car's oil, you are not only winding up paying more at the gas pump more often but also causing undue wear and tear on the engine. If you cannot remember the last time this maintenance task was done for your vehicle, you should consider doing it as soon as possible. Contact an automotive shop near you that offers car oil change services to make an appointment.
