An oil and filter change addresses the need to replace old motor oil with fresh oil. The old oil filter also gets replaced after the oil is drained.
Should I change my car’s oil at the suggestion of a professional?
Overall, it is a good idea; regular oil changes are one of the single most important maintenance routines to become accustomed to. In the long run, your car will thank you, and you will find that you’ll save yourself a lot of money as well.
There is a lot of confusion in terms of how to determine the point when engine oil is too old and should be replaced with fresh oil. Since there are many variables that affect when it is time for an oil change (e.g., how hard you drive, the age and condition of the motor, the climate and weather surrounding the car, and how much highway vs. local driving you participate in), knowing when to change the oil is never an exact science. As a result, owner’s manuals may recommend an oil and filter change anytime between 3,000 and 10,000 miles.
As a safe bet, it is recommended that you change your oil and filter once every 5,000 miles. Depending on the vehicle, it may be too late for some and too early for others. But for most of us, 5,000 is the magic number that will increase the life of our cars.
It might be a good idea to change your oil more often if:
Since it operates at such a high temperature, oil experiences a thermal breakdown. When this happens, the oil loses its efficiency as a lubricant. When an engine lacks sufficient lubrication, it causes a lot of wear and tear on the parts due to unwanted friction. Some of the key ingredients of oil are additives that have the ability to neutralize acids. As oil ages, these additives are slowly exhausted and lose their effectiveness. Oil also is absorbent and can hold water, dust, and combustion byproducts in suspension. However, once the oil becomes oversaturated, it loses its sponge-like characteristics, and everything that it once absorbed gets caught in the engine and may even cause corrosion.
What happens if I don’t follow my car’s guidelines for an oil and filter change?
You engine will have a shortened lifespan. Oil is as vital to an engine as water is to the human body, and clean oil allows an engine to function more fluently than contaminated oil. Oil has not really escalated in price too much over the years, so changing your oil every 5,000 miles on average is an extremely cheap insurance policy to protect car owners from drastic repairs in the future.
Should I expect any maintenance in between scheduled oil changes?
Yes. You should be checking the oil level every 400 miles or so. Park the car on an even surface, remove the oil dipstick, wipe it clean with a cloth, and drop it back in. Remove it again, and note the new oil level. Preferably, the oil level should be even with the “maximum” fill mark. If it’s equal to or under the “add” mark, it means you’re a quart too low and need to add a quart of oil to the crankcase. If the level falls somewhere in between the two marks, add less than a quart until it reaches the full mark. Remember, the distance between the add and full marks signifies a quart, so use that to gauge what portion of that quart you need to pour in. Beware that since oil moves at a slower pace in cooler temperatures, the dipstick may not show the true amount of oil that you just topped it off with. Come back later in the day or the following day to get an accurate reading, and make sure the oil level is at the full mark.
Be careful not to fill the vehicle’s crankcase with too much oil. If it is filled too high, the engine’s crankshaft, which is turning at several thousand spins per minute, may come in contact with the oil and whip it into a frothy substance. If this happens, the oil pump is unable to push the oil to areas of the engine that require lubrication. This could result in an engine breakdown that is costly to repair.
If you are running low on motor oil, you can add whatever grade of oil you wish, but you should consult your vehicle owner’s manual before you decide on a brand. If you constantly seem to be low on oil, don’t hesitate to notify your mechanic. This could mean you have a leak or are burning oil—both indications that you are in for some expensive repair work.
Quick tip
At some point in any engine’s lifetime, it will begin to burn oil. If you are in the habit of checking your vehicle’s oil, this could prevent a major breakdown from occurring someday.