To work well, vehicles need regular maintenance. Different vehicles need different levels of maintenance. However, all automobiles need an oil change after about every 3,000 miles. No matter how tempted you may feel to skip an oil change, you should resist this temptation. Here is some information about why you should never skip oil changes for your vehicle.
What Is the Purpose of Oil?
Ask any driver about the purpose of oil and they will likely tell you that oil is necessary to keep a vehicle running well. While this answer is correct, it does not tell the entire story.
The purpose of oil is to lubricate the vehicle’s engine and help the transfer of heat from the engine. Oil circulates through the engine of the vehicle and lubricates its many components. All of these components play an important role in a vehicle’s operation. As the oil moves through the engine, it also draws heat produced by the engine.
Now that you know the purpose of oil, here are a few reasons why oil changes are so important.
1. Thermal Breakdown
With time, the high temperatures of the engine break down oil. This process is known as the thermal breakdown of oil, and it’s because of this that oil loses its ability to lubricate the metal parts of the engine. Lack of lubrication increases the friction between the moving joints of the engine, causing the parts to wear prematurely.
There is a limited amount of particles that oil can harbor. If you don’t change the oil in your vehicle, the particles in the oil settle, thus leading to corrosion of the components of your vehicle’s engine.
2. Sludge Buildup
One major danger of skipping oil changes is sludge buildup. Old oil that starts to solidify or gel within an engine leads to sludge buildup. Once sludge builds up in an engine, the oil loses its ability to flow within the engine. This can lead to oil starvation to various components of the engine, such as the bearings, crankshafts, and camshafts. Over time, oil starvation will lead to major damage to the engine. In some cases, engine rebuilding or replacement could be needed because of sludge buildup.
3. Excess Heat
Another reason you shouldn’t skip oil changes is that it can lead to excess heat within the vehicle’s engine. Oil helps keep the temperature of the engine under control. If there is excess heat within the engine, it will not run as efficiently. Over time, the excess heat will cause the components of the engine to wear and warp. Of course, the lack of lubrication will also speed up the wear of the engine’s components.
Many drivers don’t realize the dangers of skipping oil changes. Even though it may seem harmless to skip an oil change every once in a while, this negligence can destroy an engine. Not changing the oil of a vehicle regularly can cost a driver thousands of dollars.
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