Did you know that a significant number of Americans admit that they don’t know a whole lot about car maintenance or the upkeep of their vehicle? If that sounds like you, you’re not alone. But at some point, you’ll likely need an oil change to keep your car running smoothly and reliably.
So what is an oil change, and why do you need one? Let’s take a look at some of the basics and many of the benefits so that you can make an informed decision about when you should get your oil changed.
What is Engine Oil?
Engine oil is a lubricant used to keep the internal components of an engine running smoothly. It helps reduce friction, heat, and wear on the engine’s parts while protecting against corrosion and rust. Engine oil also helps clean the engine by removing dirt and debris that can build up over time. An engine can suffer from severe damage or even seize up completely without proper lubrication. Regularly changing your vehicle’s engine oil is essential for keeping it in good condition and ensuring its longevity.
Why Does Your Car Need Oil?
Oil is essential for the proper functioning of a car’s engine. Without it, the engine would not be able to operate efficiently and could suffer from wear and tear due to friction between its moving parts. Oil plays several important roles in a car’s function, including lubrication, cooling, cleaning, sealing and corrosion prevention.
Lubrication is the most important role of oil in an engine. It helps reduce friction between the engine’s moving parts by creating a thin film that separates them as they move against each other. This reduces heat buildup within the engine and prevents wear and tear on its components.
Oil also helps cool down an engine by transferring heat away from its components and dissipating it through the radiator system. Additionally, oil helps clean out any dirt or debris that may have accumulated inside the engine over time. It does this by trapping particles in its molecules and carrying them away when it’s drained during an oil change.
Oil also acts as a sealant to help prevent air leaks in certain areas of the engine, such as around piston rings or valve stems. Finally, oil can help protect against corrosion by providing a barrier between metal surfaces and atmospheric moisture or oxygen.
Overall, oil is essential for keeping your car running smoothly and efficiently for years to come. Regular maintenance, such as regular oil changes, is necessary to ensure that your car’s engine continues to perform at its best. Let’s look at all the reasons why.
11 Oil Change Benefits That Make It Worthwhile
1) Cleaner Engine
One of the main benefits of regular oil changes is that they keep your engine clean. Over time, dirt and debris can build up in your engine, causing it to run less efficiently and eventually leading to costly repairs or even complete engine failure. An oil change helps prevent this buildup by flushing out any contaminants that have accumulated over time. This helps ensure that your engine runs as efficiently as possible and prevents any significant damage from occurring.
2) Improved Fuel Economy
Regular oil changes are a great way to improve your vehicle’s fuel economy. When you change your oil regularly, it helps keep the engine clean and running smoothly. This reduces the amount of friction between moving parts, which in turn reduces the amount of energy needed to power the engine. As a result, you’ll get better gas mileage and save money on fuel costs over time. Using the correct oil type can also help maximize fuel efficiency. Synthetic oils are designed to reduce friction and provide superior protection for your engine, allowing it to run more efficiently and use less fuel.
3) Enhanced Lubrication Protection
Oil acts as a lubricant that helps reduce friction between moving parts in your engine. It also helps keep the engine cool by carrying heat away from hot spots. Over time, however, oil breaks down and becomes less effective at protecting your engine from wear and tear. Regular oil changes help prevent this by replacing the old oil with fresh oil that will provide better protection for your vehicle’s components.
4) Helps Keep Your Car Running Smoothly For A Long Time
Regular oil changes are essential for keeping your car running smoothly for a long time. Over time, the oil in your engine breaks down and becomes less effective at lubricating and cooling the engine components. This can lead to increased friction, which can cause wear and tear on the engine components. Regular oil changes help keep these parts properly lubricated and cool, preventing them from wearing out prematurely.
5) Helps Maintain Your Vehicle’s Value
When your car or truck’s engine and other components become worn and dirty over time, their performance is reduced significantly. In addition to decreased acceleration and fuel economy, worn-out parts can lead to costly repairs that can take a severe toll on your car’s resale value. So, when you go to sell or trade-in your vehicle, these signs of wear and tear will be visible upon inspection, ultimately reducing its value. This will be especially true if you haven’t been changing the oil regularly since this is one of the most important maintenance items for keeping your vehicle in good condition. Additionally, regular maintenance reports can help you negotiate a better value down the road if selling your vehicle is something that arises.
6) Keeps Your Warranty Valid
If you’re driving a vehicle with a manufacturer’s warranty, regular oil changes are essential for keeping that warranty valid. Many warranties require proof of regular service and maintenance to stay active, so if you want to ensure that your car or truck is covered if something goes wrong, then an oil change is a must. Don’t think of it as a chore, though. Instead, consider it an investment in your car’s long-term reliability.
7) Minimizes Emissions
Oil helps reduce vehicle emissions, so when you don’t change it regularly, those emissions can increase significantly. This is because dirty oil has a harder time lubricating the engine and cooling parts, so the engine has to work harder to produce the same amount of power. This increased strain on the engine can lead to more pollutants being released into the environment, so keeping your oil fresh is essential for reducing emissions and protecting our planet.
8) Helps Protect Your Engine From Corrosion
Corrosion is when metal components in your engine become pitted, worn, or rusted due to exposure to heat and moisture. Regular oil changes help prevent this by providing a layer of protection that keeps the engine components safe from corrosion and wear. This helps ensure your engine lasts longer before needing repairs or replacement parts.
9) Allows Your Engine To Operate At Optimal Efficiency
Regular oil changes also help keep your engine running at optimal efficiency. As the oil ages, it can become thick and less effective at lubricating the engine components. When this happens, your engine must work harder to produce the same amount of power, resulting in decreased fuel economy and performance. By keeping your oil fresh, you can keep your engine running at peak efficiency and enjoy better performance from your vehicle.
10) Prevents Costly Repairs Down The Road
We all have nightmares about our car suddenly breaking down and needing expensive repairs, but regular oil changes can help prevent this from ever happening. By keeping the engine lubricated and cool, you significantly reduce your risk of a catastrophic breakdown that could cost thousands of dollars in repairs. So, an oil change is one of the most important investments you can make to protect your vehicle’s long-term reliability.
11) Peace of Mind
Lastly, getting regular oil changes is a simple way to ensure peace of mind. By keeping your car or truck in good condition, you can rest assured that it will serve you faithfully for years to come, with fewer chances of any unexpected repair bills. With regular oil changes, you can enjoy worry-free
When and How Often to Change Your Motor Oil?
When to change your motor oil isn’t always straightforward. It used to be that you had to change your oil every 3,000 miles, but with advances in both engines and oil, this is no longer the case. Oil change intervals can now vary greatly depending on your vehicle’s age, type of oil, and driving conditions.
Generally speaking, most cars need an oil change after 5,000 to 8,000 miles have been driven. However, some newer vehicles may be able to go up to 10,000 miles between changes. Therefore, checking your vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations for specific details about when and how often you should change your motor oil is essential.
It’s also important to note that if you drive in harsh conditions such as extreme temperatures or dusty roads, or live in a coastal area where you can experience corrosion from saltwater in the air, you may need more frequent changes than what is recommended by the manufacturer. This is because these conditions can cause the oil to break down faster and become less effective at protecting your engine. Additionally, if you use conventional motor oil instead of synthetic motor oil, you’ll likely need more frequent changes. And these days, synthetic engine oil is safe for all types of vehicles, so feel free to search for synthetic oil change near me, and you’ll find many options.
No matter what type of vehicle you have or how often you drive it, regular maintenance is key for keeping it running smoothly and efficiently for years to come. So ensure that checking and changing your motor oil is part of your regular maintenance routine.
Where to Get an Oil Change
When it comes to routine maintenance like oil changes, there’s no need to overcomplicate things. Our drive thru oil change service is fast, convenient and affordable. You don’t even have to make an appointment or leave your car — just pull up, pop your hood, and we’ll take care of the rest. Just don’t forget your drive thru oil change coupon for extra savings.
We specialize in oil changes for all cars and truck makes and models, so no matter what you drive, our experienced technicians will get the job done quickly and correctly. We also use premium oil filters to ensure the highest level of protection for your engine and a variety of high-quality motor oils to best suit your vehicle’s needs. Just search for 10 minute oil change near me, and you’ll surely find a Strickland Brothers 10 Minute Oil Change nearby.
So don’t wait until it’s too late — get your vehicle an oil change today and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing your car or truck is running at its best.
