The Importance of Oil Changes

If you do not keep up with oil changes, then you could be paying for a significant amount of repairs down the road, and possibly for a brand new engine due to engine failure. It is not a good idea to put off getting your vehicle's oil changed. Two different types of oil are available: synthetic oil--which is pricey but will last longer--and regular oil. In comparison to other tasks you will need done for your vehicle, getting a routine oil change is relatively inexpensive.

Vehicles require oil changes because once time has passed, oil will begin to clump together and not flow as smoothly as it used to.  If you do not receive an oil change, clogs may occur and dirt might build up. When you get an oil change, old oil is drained out of the vehicle and replaced with new oil. Clean oil prevents parts of the engine from sticking together. Your oil filter is also replaced at an oil change, because it now has sludge and dirt inside it from when the oil has traveled through it. Pistons and valves in the engine will fail and make for a disastrous recipe. The engine can also become cracked and leaky from failure to get oil changes.

It is recommended that vehicle owners receive an oil change either every 3,000 miles or every three months. With synthetic oil, an owner can travel up to 9,300 miles or wait one year in between changes. Ultimately, how often you will need an oil change depends on how often you drive your vehicle. Each time you drive the vehicle, you put stress on the oil's lubricant that keeps the engine's parts separated. What is interesting is that in older vehicles owners used to have to get oil changes every 500 miles to make for a vehicle that ran well, which means that vehicles have gone through some technological advancements throughout time.

To be sure of what you should do with your vehicle in regards to oil changes--what type of oil you should receive and how often the changes should happen--it is smart to consult the owner's manual for your vehicle. The dealership is also available to counsel you on oil changes. It is recommended that one ultimately gets oil changes ahead of when they need their vehicle the most eg. in the spring for summer travel.