How big a deal is it really if you skip a few oil changes? It might be a much bigger deal than you think. Choisser Automotive Services wants you to know the big and the small impacts that not getting your oil changed regularly can have on your car.
Overheating Is a Possibility
Did you know that your car’s engine oil is partially responsible for helping it to stay cool? The engine oil cleans and lubricates the engine, and it cools parts as it goes. When the engine oil is old, it gets full of dirt and grime. It also starts to break down, which means it isn’t able to keep the engine cool. That leaves the job fully on your coolant, and it might not be enough at some point.
Gas Mileage Gets Worse
Gas mileage can clue you in to a variety of problems in your car’s engine. When you’re sending dirty, old oil through the car’s engine, it’s just not able to be as efficient. That means that you’re ending up burning a lot more gas than you really need to in order to keep the engine running. You’ll notice that you’re gradually going to get gas more and more often, which may cause you to wonder what’s happening.
Engine Wear Also Gets Worse
Because of all that engine oil does, it also serves as a protectant. When oil breaks down, it isn’t able to offer the protection that your car’s engine needs in order to keep functioning. Microscopic wear gradually becomes bigger and bigger, often until something happens.
Your Car’s Engine May Even Fail
The biggest problem you might encounter from skipping oil changes is that your engine literally seizes up and fails. This is a big problem and there are usually several warning signs before this happens. You can prevent this, though, by listening to those warning signs well before something preventable happens. Never ignore the check engine light, and if your car has an oil light, pay attention to what that means as well. You’ll be glad you didn’t ignore those indicators.
Make sure you protect your car’s engine and get back on track with regular oil changes. Get in touch with Choisser Automotive Services in Davidsonville, MD today and we’ll set up an appointment for your next oil change. We can even help to remind you when your next oil change is due so that you’ve always got fresh oil in your car’s engine.