What Happens If You Forget to Change Your Oil?
Adulting is hard. You have bills to pay and appointments to keep. There’s also the 9-5 grind that seems to permeate every other facet of life. Just when you think you’re caught up on the laundry list of chores to be checked off, you’re blindsided with an unexpected errand. It’s almost impossible to keep up with everything that needs to be done. But some of of life’s numerous mini disasters can be avoided with a bit of foresight and planning. Taking out the thrash or washing the dishes in a timely fashion keeps germs and accidents from spilling over into an already messy life. The same can be said with tidying up. A little can go a long way in keeping a household humming along in the throes of chaos. But what about routine maintenance? In the rush to meet deadlines and drop the kids off on time, many weekday warriors forget the importance of car care. Just like your home, your personal vehicle needs to be routinely serviced, so you can steer clear of speedbumps that tend to blindside you at every curve in the road of life. Changing your oil is one of the best routine repairs to extend the life of your vehicle. It will also keep your busy life right on track. But what happens if you forget to change your oil?
A Well-Lubricated Engine Reduces Wear and Tear
Depending on factory specifications, car owners should change their oil every 3,000 miles or every six months. Engines that rely on synthetic oil can go anywhere from 7,500 to 10,000 miles between changes, but it’s always best to consult your car’s owner’s manual before skipping servicing. Some higher end synthetic oils can keep your engine revving high for up to 15,000 miles, but you should only rely on trusted bands. When in doubt, contact your car’s closest dealership or a professional mechanic. Oil is the life blood of your engine, so it’s crucial that you put the correct grade of oil in your engine. Almost every make and model of car has the exact specified grade on the top of the oil cap. Hint: it’s right under the genie looking lamp thing. It will probably say something like 5w-40 or 0w-20. That brings us to another interesting point. Engine oils are becoming thinner and thinner. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it does indicate an increase in engine efficiency and design. Oil not only keeps your engine operating smoothly and at the right temperature, but it also prevents friction and moving metal parts from colliding. Because oils are becoming super thin, this means that engine parts are being machined much closer together to increase efficiency, which is why we see a change in oil. While this optimizes performance and maximizes output, it puts even greater emphasis on routine maintenance. Thinner oil and closer machined components reduces the margin of error. Allowing your car to dip below factory specifications increase possible friction and wear and tear on your engine.
What Happens If You Forget to Change Your Oil?
If you don’t change your car’s oil at regular intervals, the lubricant will become dirty and prevent it from protecting your engine. Once this happens, your engine could seize up completely, rendering it useless. If you think a $60 oil change is pricey, just wait until a mechanic hands you $7,000 bill for a complete engine replacement! As you can tell by now, routine maintenance can go a long way in extending the life of your car. But changing your oil is only one way to keep your car in a well-maintained working order. You should also keep track of all fluid changes, and replace all belts and the water pump in regular intervals. One way to streamline or simplify all necessary maintenance is to invest in a steel carport or garage. A metal enclosed garage will not only protect your car from the elements and extreme temperatures, but it also provides the perfect place to change your oil or make other necessary repairs. Even if you aren’t mechanically inclined, a steel metal garage is the perfect classroom to learn the ins and outs of basic auto care.