Benefits of Getting an Oil Change

Oil is essential for the proper performance and longevity of your vehicle. It’s important to maintain proper oil levels and ensure that your oil doesn't become old and contaminated with debris or else your vehicle might suffer from poor performance, shortened lifespan, overheating, or possibly even more serious problems. Oil is the very lifeblood of your vehicle. It lubricates the moving parts of your engine to ensure that everything can move smoothly. This is designed to reduce friction so that the metal parts last longer and less heat builds up during normal operation. When your oil is old or the oil level starts to get low, you risk causing damage to your vehicle. This can decrease your engine life and also lead to overheating. This is why it’s important to have your oil changed regularly as this ensures that you’re looking out for the health of your vehicle’s engine. 

All manufacturers provide recommendations on how often the oil of each vehicle should be changed. This recommendation consists of a maximum number of miles or a maximum number of months you can drive your car before it’s time for an oil change. Some vehicles need to have their oil changed after 3,000 to 5,000 miles or 90 days, whichever comes first. It’s best to have your oil changed as soon as your vehicle has exceeded the specified time or mileage. If you notice that your engine oil is low before the recommended time to get it changed, you should still bring your car in and have it checked and not just have it topped off. Taking your car in for a professional oil change service will let you get an expert opinion about your engine’s oil health.

Getting an oil change is a relatively quick and simple process, yet there are many drivers that ignore doing it. It’s important to remember that an oil change is a necessary routine maintenance procedure. Here are some benefits of having your oil change done on time:

• Engine Efficiency - Routine oil changes not only keep your engine clean but also improve its performance. Oil naturally carries dirt and debris which flows into the engine. As a result, sludge begins to accumulate inside the device over time. Those who do not have their oil changed during the correct time periods indicated may notice a difference in their engine performance and output due to the built-up particles inside. Changing your engine oil and replacing your filters regularly will help you prevent a slow-working, inefficient engine.
• Better Mileage - An efficient engine provides the very best mileage when traveling. To do that, it is important to keep your engine clean and free of debris. As engines run efficiently with fresh oil, their performance changes and so does the capacity to utilize fuel more efficiently. This simply means that having regular oil changes leads to better gas mileage and significant savings.
• Engine Longevity - Filthy oil usually has a lot of built-up particles that cause increased friction and can lead to further wear and tear. A cleaner engine runs more smoothly, works efficiently, and typically has a longer lifespan. 
• Protects Engine - Regularly cleaning your engine protects your engine from excess wear and tear and particle build-up. You can greatly help and protect your engine by doing routine maintenance and oil changes which leads to it running flawlessly. 
• Increases Resale Value - If you have maintained your routine of changing your engine oil and oil filter, you are likely to benefit from a higher resale value when you decide to put your car on the market. A history of timely oil changes shows that you have taken good care of your car’s engine and prevented it from experiencing any premature wear and tear.
• Reduce Costly Repairs - Since the engine is going through less strain, your car parts will see less wear and tear. This ensures that there is less risk of any expensive repairs occurring down the road. One of the most common reasons for engine damage is the owner’s failure to perform an oil change on time. An oil change is a very inexpensive process that can take as short as 10 minutes to perform. This is a much better alternative than risking any serious damage to your engine.
• Cools Engine Components - Both friction and the combustion process within your engine generate a lot of heat, which can damage its components if the excess heat is not released elsewhere. Engine oil helps prevent excessive heating of your engine parts by reducing friction and transferring heat away from the vulnerable parts. Just make sure that the oil is clean, which prevents the engine from overheating.

The main role of engine oil is to lubricate the engine parts, which are in constant friction. It thus reduces friction which tends to increase the wear and tear of the engine’s parts. With use, the oil gradually deteriorates due to the extreme operating conditions within the engine. New engine oil is usually a thick and smooth fluid with a golden brown color. With use, it turns darker and gritty. The viscosity also changes and becomes thinner or thicker. The oil filter gets clogged with use and beyond a point, it loses its ability to supply clean oil. Apart from the degradation of its physical and chemical properties, the quantity of oil also starts falling as some of it gets burnt in the engine. Engine oil can be topped up, but if its quality has deteriorated, it needs to be replaced or there is a risk of engine damage. Without proper engine oil, your engine will start to overheat and its efficiency will go down. If the oil is not replaced, the engine will eventually shut down which means that you’ll need to get a new engine which could cost anywhere from $4,000 to $7,000. Getting an oil change is clearly a much cheaper and better solution.