The Importance Of Changing Your Oil

Car maintenance is never at the forefront of anyone's thoughts. Between buying groceries, picking up the kids from school, chauffeuring the soccer team to practice, and hauling the family's furry friends to the vet, busy parents do not have much time to spare. However distant are the thoughts of oil changes, tire rotation, and new brake pads, if car maintenance is not properly performed you just may find yourself stuck on the side of the road. Despite the inconvenience of having your car's oil changed regularly, it really is an important part of your car's maintenance regiment and will save you trouble, and money, in the long run.

Some cars can go longer than others between oil changes, depending upon the year of the car and the kind of oil it uses. The most common rule of thumb is to get the oil changed every 3,000 miles; however most newer cars can easily go 5,000 miles and some can last up to 10,000 between oil changes. Once you establish how often your car needs to have an oil change you will be able to schedule regular maintenance visits with your mechanic.

The best way to keep track of how long you go between oil changes is to use the trip tracking feature, which most cars have. This feature is a part of the odometer and can be reset at any time to allow you to see exactly how many miles you have gone. Not only is this a convenient tool, it may prove indispensible to your vehicle's maintenance schedule.

Not changing your oil often enough presents several problems that could ruin your vehicle. Your car runs smoother and more efficiently when it has enough clean oil to coat the engine. Lubrication is the main purpose of oil, and if there is not enough oil to properly lubricate the engine the car may overheat, due to excessive friction in the motor. This seemingly small problem has the potential to escalate, even to the point of expensive repairs or new parts. If the oil is dirty, pieces of dirt can get trapped in the inner workings of the motor and may cause considerable damage. Not only may these materials cause wear and tear to the inside of the engine, they may also contribute to corrosion and the necessity of new parts. This can become very expensive, as each piece in the engine affects the rest. If not properly replaced, dirty oil can cause tremendous damage to your vehicle.

Changing your car's oil on a regular basis will help keep your car running at an optimum level longer. The better care you take of your vehicle the longer it will last. If you are good to your car, your car should be good to you.

So, despite the fact that car maintenance will never be an enjoyable task, it is undeniably important. The effort to squeeze an oil change into your busy schedule will save you the pain of having engine troubles later. Besides, the half hour or so spent waiting at the mechanic's could prove to be a welcome break in your hectic schedule.