Your vehicle’s engine is made up of numerous moving parts that need to be well lubricated to avoid being damaged. Engine oil is what is used to provide this crucial function. After a while, the engine oil will break down and become contaminated with dirt, dust, and debris from the environment and other engine components. Once this happens, the oil will not be able to do its job properly.
According to the Car Care Council, around 22 percent of vehicles have low or dirty engine oil. Changing your oil and oil filter at the required intervals set in your vehicle owner’s manual will enable your engine to continue to perform well and help prevent expensive repairs later.
Here are the top five reasons regular oil and oil filter changes are vital to your vehicle’s well-being:
Oil Changes Keep the Engine Lubricated
There are several parts of the engine, from the pistons to the valves, that all move at high rates of speed. Each of these parts creates heat that can wear the engine down severely if it is not properly lubricated with oil.
Check the oil levels regularly and make sure that it is filled to the recommended level. You should also have the oil changed at the intervals laid out in your owner’s manual. If you plan on changing the oil yourself, be sure to check your manual for the correct weight and grade of oil you should be using.
Oil Keeps Engine Components Cool
If the moving parts of the engine lack the proper amount of lubrication, they create friction which turns to heat. If the oil is not checked and changed regularly, it can eventually lead to the overheating of the engine. When an engine overheats, it can cause damage that is rather expensive to repair.
Keep the oil clean and full to prevent engine heating and damage.
Oil Removes Damaging Dirt from the Engine
A dirty engine can spell disaster. Dirt will, over time, cause corrosion and significantly decrease the life of your engine. Engine oil and the oil filter are what keeps the dirt from harming the engine. If you go a long time without changing the oil and filter, the dirty oil will break down and turn into a sort of thick “sludge.” The sludge substance may cause the engine to seize, which can cost thousands of dollars to repair.
Routine oil and filter changes will keep your engine clean and protect it from untimely damage.
Oil Changes Improve Gas Mileage
When there is not enough engine lubrication, your engine works harder, and it can increase the amount of fuel your vehicle consumes. According to the US Department of Energy, regular oil changes (with the proper oil) can improve your gas mileage by about two percent. In the average vehicle that equates to a savings of approximately a gallon of gas per year.
Routine Oil Changes Help Your Vehicle to Run Longer
We will say it until we are blue in the face, routine maintenance is crucial to the longevity of your vehicle. The buildup from dirty oil will rob your vehicle of its fuel economy and makes the engine components work harder and burn out faster. The harder the engine must work, the more (expensive) problems it will have in the future.
Kelly Blue Book states that if you perform regular maintenance on your vehicle it helps keep the resale value of your vehicle at the higher end.
Having your oil changed when necessary may seem like a hassle, but it is a necessary inconvenience that can save you a lot of time and money in the long run.
When it is time for your next oil change, we can help! The automotive repair and maintenance experts at Accurate Service in Tucson, Arizona are ready to meet all of your needs. Simply schedule an appointment online or call us at (520) 620-9129 today!