We all do it—push off getting our oil changed, and sometimes well past that 3,000-mile milestone. What’s the worst that could happen? we think, procrastinating.
Well, luckily for all of us, our vehicles are not going to immediately break down if we put off our oil changes a little bit. But if you make a habit of it, the minor damage caused by the old oil—the general wear and tear and the engine deposits––can grow into something more serious. And if you wait too long, long enough for your oil to lose its lubricity at engine temperatures, you’ll absolutely destroy your engine and need expensive engine repair in Conway, AR.
What’s the worst that could happen?
In the worst-case scenario, your oil loses its lubricity, and your engine’s metal parts begin to grind against each other, heating your engine up to such an immense temperature that parts of your engine actually begin to soften and then fuse together, stopping your engine dead. How long would you have to go without changing your oil for this worst-case scenario to happen? It’s different depending on your engine, it’s age and where you live, but we’d suggest you not try to find out.
What are the normal risks associated with putting off an oil change?
The most standard problems associated with not changing your oil often enough are the following:
- Dirt in your oil: Your oil is cleaned by your oil filter, which is pretty much only changed when you change your oil. Eventually your filter will get so caked with dirt that your oil won’t get cleaned anymore. The dirt creates additional friction on your engine parts, and speeds up general wear and tear.
- Less effective oil: Not only does your oil’s lubricity and viscosity alter as it ages, but its additives—deposit shields, detergents and anti-foam chemicals—become less effective as well, meaning your oil is less lubricating, dirtier and unable to protect your engine as it should.
Bottom line—How to avoid needing engine repair in Conway, AR
Routine maintenance can help you avoid early and costly engine repair. We understand that everyone has a busy life, and sometimes it seems impossible to make it in for an oil change every 3,000 miles. If you must push off your oil change, try not to put it off for more than another 500 miles or so. A lot of people think every 5,000 miles is good enough, and by the time they bring their vehicles in to get their oil changed, their oil has more debris in it than it should. This damage really does accumulate overtime, and can eventually require repair.
And of course, even the greatest engine repair service wouldn’t be able to do much for you in the worst-case scenario.
We do oil changes and engine repair
While providing engine repair in Conway, AR, we’ve learned to appreciate people who take care of their vehicles. Your engine is everything to your vehicle—and by far the simplest and most effective way to maintain your engine is to pick the oil that works best in your vehicle, and then regularly change the oil every 3,000 miles. Your car will perform better and live longer––tens of thousands of miles longer.