What Happens If You Don’t Change Your Oil Regularly?

If you’re a car owner in the Birmingham area, you can probably agree that routine auto maintenance is sometimes inconvenient. However, it is absolutely essential for the health and performance of your vehicle. If you’ve ever wondered what happens if you don’t change your oil, our service team is here to explain the importance of this ongoing service requirement. 

Motor oil lubricates the moving components of your engine, reducing the effects of friction. But motor oil breaks down over time and becomes dirtied with contaminants, at which point its ability to lubricate the engine is reduced. The result is more friction within the engine, which leads to more heat. If things get hot enough, your engine can overheat and sustain costly damage. Suffice it to say you don’t want to learn what happens if you don’t get your oil changed through firsthand experience! Read on with us to learn more about the importance of oil change. 

What Does the Engine Oil Do in Your Car?

In addition to acting as a lubricant for the engine’s moving parts, motor oil serves these essential functions to help your vehicle run smoothly in Vestavia Hills:

• Reduces engine wear caused by friction 
• Some motor oils have dispersants that help prevent sludge buildup in the engine 
• There are detergents in engine oil that prevent varnish 
• Acid-forming fuels are neutralized when you change your oil regularly 
• Clean engine oil helps keep piston ring seals tight, preventing gaps that can harm your engine
• Finally, motor oil keeps the engine cooled to prevent overheating

When Do I Need to Change My Oil? 

Healthy motor oil is your best line of defense to protect your engine and enjoy optimal performance on every trip to Bessemer, so don’t risk finding out what happens if you don’t get your oil changed. Exactly how often should you change your oil? Most drivers can adhere to the standard recommendation of every 7,500 to 10,000 miles, but if you use synthetic oil, it may last up to 15,000 miles.

However, if you rack up a lot of miles every day or you use your vehicle for strenuous activities, you might need to change your oil more frequently. We invite you to contact our service advisors to get help creating an oil change schedule tailored to your driving habits.

How to Change Your Oil

Changing oil on your own is pretty simple in most vehicles. Before you get started, you must check your owner’s manual to find out what type of oil your vehicle requires. When you have the correct oil, follow these instructions:

1. Use jack stands or steel ramps to elevate your car
2. Place an oil basin underneath your car’s oil drain plug. Unscrew the plug and let the old oil drain out, which may take up to 15 minutes. Replace the oil drain plug when you’re positive all the old oil has drained, but don’t move the oil basin yet.
3. Use an oil filter wrench to detach the old oil filter — you may see some extra oil drain out when you remove the filter, but the oil basin should catch it.
4. Before you seat the new oil filter, you should first rub a little bit of clean engine oil around the rubber seal. This will keep the filter seal watertight.
5. Now you can seat the new oil filter into place and tighten it by hand.
6. With the old oil drained and a fresh oil filter installed, you can proceed to remove the oil cap. Use a funnel to pour in your new oil, being careful not to overfill it. If you aren’t sure how much oil your car takes, you can check your owner’s manual. When you’re done, remember to put the oil cap back on.
7. Before you close the hood, we suggest that you check the oil level with the dipstick to make sure you’ve added enough. If the level is a little low, you can add more oil ounce by ounce until you reach the proper level.

Rely On Us for Your Oil Changes

If you need an oil change and you prefer to get it done by a professional, you can count on the Hendrick Chevrolet Hoover service department for expert level car care. Schedule an appointment to get started, and be sure to check out our current service offers to keep your maintenance budget-friendly!