What Happens If You Don't Change Your Oil?

What Happens If You Don't Change Your Oil?

Most drivers already know engine oil is one of their vehicle’s most important fluids. That’s true whether you’re driving a brand-new sedan or a pre-owned pickup truck, but what happens if you don’t change your oil?

Well, you’ll be looking at anything from the inconvenience of a breakdown to serious engine damage. If we’ve piqued your curiosity, go ahead and read on for answers to the following common questions:

• What Does Engine Oil Do?
• How Often Should I Change My Vehicle’s Oil?
• How Can You Change the Oil Yourself?

What Does Engine Oil Do?

Engine oil is often rightly described as the lifeblood of your vehicle. Just a few key responsibilities include:

• Providing proper lubrication to prevent metal-on-metal contact and avoid overheating.
• Absorbing heat away from engine components to avoid overheating.
• Picking up dirt and small pieces of debris to ensure blockages and clogs cannot form.

If your vehicle doesn’t have a healthy supply of clean oil, the pistons can actually end up welding themselves to the cylinders since the heat will have nowhere to go.

How Often Should I Change My Vehicle’s Oil?

The old rule of thumb that oil should be changed every 3 months or 3,000 miles is now slightly outdated. Most modern vehicles should go anywhere from 5,000 to 7,500 miles before needing an oil change. You can find the exact recommended figure by checking your owner’s manual.

Signs your oil needs to be changed include:

• Check Engine Light On
• Oily Smell in Your Vehicle
• Decreasing Fuel Efficiency
• Sounds of Rumbling or Knocking from the Engine
• Visible Exhaust Fumes

How Can You Change the Oil Yourself?

You’ll need to start by purchasing the right type of oil for your vehicle. Once you have it, you’ll need to drain the old oil by putting an oil pan beneath the drain plug, then removing the plug.

Once the old oil is gone, secure the drain cap, then start adding more from the top. Go slowly, checking oil levels regularly to prevent putting in too much or too little. You can also visit your local American Fork auto shop for an oil change, but this is one piece of routine maintenance that’s easy enough to handle yourself.

Changing Your Oil as Recommended is Vital for Reliable Performance

What happens if you don’t get your oil changed is never going to be good for your vehicle, so make sure you don’t go longer than what the manufacturer recommends. For any further servicing tips and tricks, feel free to contact us today.