Even with all the new technology that goes into vehicles these days, the oil change is one regular maintenance job that will never go away.
As long as we use internal combustion engines for our vehicles, we'll always need that stuff to help it run the way it should.
It has to be changed from time to time in order to ensure the proper functioning of the vehicle.
Oil As Lubricant The main reason why you need a regular oil change is that it works as a lubricant which is essential for the smooth running of your engine.
It not only helps your car run better, it can actually save your engine's life! In your engine, everything is happening at an incredibly high temperature.
All the little parts are rubbing against each other.
Without proper lubrication, the moving parts would wear each other out quickly.
There would also be too much friction, which would cause it to lose power and build up heat.
This is why we need it there, but why do we need an oil change? The reason is that all this excessive heat causes a thermal breakdown where this essential lubricant loses its ability to keep things moving smoothly.
Keep It Clean It also keeps everything clean in there.
For one thing, it has additives that neutralize acids which build up over time.
These acids can cause corrosion to a very important part of your car.
When the engine gets really hot, it burns up these additives, and gradually they become ineffective.
This is especially true for people who drive in the city, where traffic stops and goes.
If your driving habits regularly include lots of starting and stopping, you should get the oil changed more often.
All of this stopping and going is also not good because the oil absorbs water, dust and other junk.
All of this stuff mixes together into a sort of sludge that can cause major corrosion.
If your engine is running hot enough, it will naturally burn off some of this sludge, but over time it will build up and this is why you need to get an oil change regularly.
When To Get It Done For a passenger car or light truck, get it changed every 7,500 miles.
If you drive a diesel vehicle, or drive a lot, get it done every 3,000.
As we mentioned earlier, if you drive in a lot of stop and go traffic, or if you live in an area with extreme weather, you should have it done more often.
It never hurts your car to get it changed more frequently.
You can either do it yourself or take it to any local garage where they'll do it quickly, cheaply and hassle-free.
Getting an oil change on a regular basis is a cheap and easy way to ensure a longer life for your engine.
Corrosion, wearing down of parts and excess friction all cause it to die a premature death.
If you take care and make sure you get it properly maintained, you'll actually save money in the long run by keeping your car happy and healthy.