From the time a person learns to drive, he or she has most likely had it drummed into their head by a parent about the importance of the almighty oil change.
Ever wondered what would happen if you didn't perform this maintenance chore? Here are some things to think about.
- What if it ran out? Oil is as crucial to an automotive vehicle as water is to living beings.
It keeps things moving, cleaned out and alive.
Without a regular oil change to replace old or lost lubricant, parts in an engine would grind against each other and be damaged.
A vehicle would break down and no longer be functional.
- How about if it was still full of lubricant but just not replaced with clean? This would be similar to having a sink full of soapy dish water that you never changed.
Sure; there's a full sink of sudsy water but after washing the dinner dishes in it, do you really want to wash the next day's breakfast dishes in it too? Notice how the water becomes grungy and full of residue? That's what happens to your auto oil, too.
It becomes dirty and turns to sludge.
You don't want to eat off of dishes washed in putrid dishwater and the same goes for operating your car.
- Will motor oils that have detergents in them be good enough? Well, they'll help keep the fluids purer for a while, but just like the kitchen dishwashing fluids, the detergent can only do so much.
- Isn't there a filter in there that should be able to handle it? A filter will help but it's not a magic wand.
A filtering device will screen out dirt and debris initially but eventually it will become too thick and acidic to be helped.
- What exactly does oil do? An automotive engine is comprised of many metal parts which must rub together to create friction, heat and motion.
An engine needs a lubricant to be able to do this job without the metal parts rubbing too hard and damaging each other.
- How often should this fluid be changed? It depends on the automobile.
In the past, 3,000 mile intervals were the hard-and-fast rule but this has changed.
Many newer models of vehicles are recommending intervals of 5,000 miles or even more.
The best way to figure this out is to consult the operator's manual of the car.
Not even the auto service shops always know the exact timeframe for every vehicle.
- What if I can't afford to have the oil changed? Many shops offer special sales and coupons to their customers in order to make an oil change affordable for most car owners.
It's far less expensive than paying a repair bill for letting the fluids become filthy or run out.
- Can I do it myself? A motorist can probably perform this task if they are fairly handy with tools.
A good "how to" manual, wrenches, funnel, work clothes, gloves, an automotive jack and jugs to recycle the old oil will do the trick.
A local car parts shop will recycle the filthy lubricant at no cost, protecting our ground water for generations to come.
The answer to the question about whether this maintenance task is important is "yes.
" Oil change is crucial to the health of a vehicle.