Most car owners know that their engine oil needs to be changed regularly, but MotivWerks has some additional information that might help you to stick to a schedule for oil changes.
You Really Should Check Your Oil Between Oil Changes
Lots of car owners skip out on checking their oil between oil changes, but it’s an important part of the car maintenance process. When you check your own oil occasionally, you’re able to spot when the oil looks dirtier than it should and when it’s unexpectedly low. This can help you to know that there’s a leak much sooner, which means you can get the problem corrected much sooner.
Check Your Owner’s Manual for Information about How Often to Get Oil Changes
There’s a lot of advice floating around out there about how often you should get the oil changed in your car. The very best advice comes from the manufacturer of your car and is found in your owner’s manual. Most car manufacturers recommend oil changes around 3,000 to 5,000 miles, and they may include a timeframe, too.
Make Sure You’re Getting the Right Oil for Your Car
Something else to check for in your owner’s manual is what type of oil you need. Oil is available in conventional, synthetic, and a blend of conventional and synthetic. There are also a variety of weights available in all of these types. The weight of the oil gives you information about the viscosity of the oil, or how it flows at certain temperatures. Your car might need a specific oil weight in the winter and a different one in the summer and your owner’s manual will detail that for you.
Skipping Oil Changes Is a Really Bad Idea
To understand why skipping oil changes is such a bad idea, it helps to understand what engine oil does in your car. The first job of engine oil is to lubricate engine parts. That’s pretty straightforward, and as engine oil breaks down it doesn’t lubricate as well. It’s also important to know that as engine oil moves through your engine, it picks up dirt and debris, cleaning the engine. Oil also doesn’t do this well when it’s older and dirty. The third job of engine oil is to help keep your engine cooler. Old oil isn’t protecting your engine as well and can lead to catastrophic failure.
Need an oil change? Give us a call at MotivWerks in Chambersburg, PA and we can take care of that for you. We can also help you to get back on a regular schedule of oil changes, to make sure your car’s engine is protected.