One of the most significant maintenance items you can follow regularly to keep your vehicle performing is an oil and filter change. Many drivers do not consider the importance of motor oil for their vehicles, and neglect can easily lead to lower performance and/or damage to your engine.
Why is motor oil so important to your vehicle?
In this blog, we examine the purpose of motor oil and why a regular maintenance schedule is so vital to keeping your vehicle operating effectively.
What is the purpose of motor oil?
Motor oil is an extremely vital fluid and serves three main purposes for your vehicle’s engine:
- Lubrication: Many of your engine parts are made of metal. When metal rubs against other metal, it creates friction. Oil provides the lubrication to keep parts from getting damaged from friction and wear during continuous movement.
- Insulation: Like other fluids within your vehicle’s engine, oil provides some insulation for temperature control and carries heat away from parts as it circulates through the engine.
- Cleaning: As motor oil travels through your engine, it cleans engine parts by picking up loose dirt and grime. Oil also neutralizes acids that are created from the combustion of fuel.
The bottom-line is that without motor oil your vehicle would quickly cease to function resulting in catastrophic failure.
Why does motor oil need to be replaced?
Your vehicle’s motor oil is subjected to a variety of conditions that can either deteriorate its efficacy or even diminish the amount of oil in your engine. Engines are designed to hold a specific amount of oil in order to operate effectively, typically four to eight quarts depending on engine size.
- Natural Burn Off: Over time, a certain amount of motor oil will burn off or evaporate through engine parts. This burn off is a normal part of your engine’s oil consumption.
- Dirt and Grime: If you have not changed your vehicle’s oil in a long time, you will notice it is much darker. This is because oil picks up grime and sludge from the engine. Motor oil is clear or opaque when it is clean, and gets darker as it ages.
- Viscosity Changes: Viscosity is the “thickness” of the oil. As oil ages, it gets thicker and more viscous. This slows down its ability to circulate through engine parts and perform its vital functions.
- Oil Leaks: If your engine is low on oil more frequently, it may be the result of an oil leak somewhere within your engine. Do you notice pools of oil on the ground beneath your vehicle? If so, your engine is being deprived of oil and should not only have the oil replaced, but the source of the leak should be located and repaired.
How often should oil be replaced?
The timeframe for replacing your oil can depend on many factors, including the type of oil you are using along with the typical amount and type of driving you do regularly.
Type of Oil: With the introduction of “synthetic” oils, vehicles do not need oil changes as often as conventional oil. Synthetic oils are manufactured oils that are designed to last longer under harsher conditions. Keep in mind that synthetic oils are more expensive but will last longer so make sure to weigh the cost benefits of each.
Driving Habits: If you do a lot of heavy driving or towing, more frequent oil changes are necessary. This is because towing causes your engine to work harder, and may increase the overall temperature and so oil consumption is greater than under normal driving conditions.
Oil change intervals may vary greatly, with the range from every 3,000 up to 16,000 miles. Timeframes really depend on the specific oil you are using and your vehicle. It is always best to consult with your service technician or the manufacturer for recommended oil change intervals.
Contact us at Car Kings today to schedule an oil and filter change. Our service professionals will also suggest a regular oil change routine and provide you with more information about your vehicle’s needs.
If you want to increase the longevity of your vehicle, make sure to include oil and filter changes as a critical aspect of your vehicle maintenance routine.