It’s An Oil Change. It Can Wait. Right?
Oil Change Basics: Reasons Why Oil Changes are Important
In a time when everyone seems to be busy and most families have to be mindful of their budgets, it may be tempting to delay or skip routine oil changes for your vehicle. It’s just an oil change, not a major repair. Right? It can wait a while longer. Can’t it? While it’s true that changing your engine lubricant isn’t a major repair and 20 extra miles between changes isn’t a big deal, significant delays between changes is a horrible idea. Not only will you fail to save money when you don’t change your car’s oil, you will actually cost yourself money in reduced performance and premature engine failure. If skipping the next oil change no longer sounds like a bargain, bring your ride to Mecklenburg Automotive & Collision Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Choices
Even if you’re a little late on your current oil change, you don’t have to panic. We’ll educate you about your choices, and you can move forward from here with a plan. So how often should you change your oil? There is not a single answer. You should consult your owner’s manual for the manufacturer’s recommendation. Also, consider the type oil you’re using as well as your driving conditions. Our technicians can help you with weighing all the contingencies and settling on a schedule that you can follow unless you experience problems. Further, you have a choice of what type engine oil to use. Conventional oil, as the name suggests, is “regular” lubricant made from crude oil. It is the least expensive, and most auto manufacturer’s suggest it be changed somewhere between 5,000-7,000 miles. (Some mechanics recommend a more frequent exchange.) Full synthetic oil is formulated with chemical additives to make it hold its properties and last a long time. However, it is quite a bit more costly. Synthetic blend is a combination of the two, making it less expensive than full synthetic yet longer lasting than conventional.
Consequences
Motor oil serves three important functions. First, it lubricates the moving metal parts so that they don’t rub against one another. Also, it absorbs and removes a great deal of heat produced by friction. Finally, it suspends the dirt and debris that can cause corrosion, keeping it away from the metal it may damage. As oil ages (a product of not only time, but also mileage), it loses some of its ability to perform properly. Degraded oil doesn’t protect your engine as well as it should, and it can combine with the dirt it can no longer suspend to form sludge. Sludge is a dark, gooey, clogging substance that lurks inside your engine and may even sometimes be seen outside the engine (indicating that you likely have a huge sludge problem). The bottom line is that continuing to operate your car with nasty oil has consequences. It causes a decrease in performance, an increase in engine temperature, and may lead to premature wear of your engine components.
Your Best Choice for Oil Change
Therefore, you can choose to spend a little time and money now to change your car’s oil, or you can opt to skip preventive maintenance and really pay for it later. If you’re rethinking that decision to wait, make the easiest choice of all. Bring your vehicle to Mecklenburg Automotive & Collision Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, and let us help you properly care for your auto.