Why Regular Oil Changes Are Essential

In a way, many people see changing their oil like brushing their teeth. When it’s convenient, it’s done often and on time. But when it’s inconvenient, you tend to economize, mentally compromising that putting it off a little bit won’t hurt. Eventually, though, that compromise can mean big payouts for your dentist, and for your mechanic in the instance of missed oil changes.

Okay, so maybe it’s not the perfect analogy, but the point is making sure your oil gets changed on time is one of the most important things you can do for your car. Regular maintenance is a great way to decrease the chance of highway breakdowns and expensive repairs in the future. It will also help to keep your resale value high.

But why is oil so important? Wouldn’t it be better to design a system that didn’t need to be changed? Let’s take a look.

Motor Oil: the Life Force of Your Car

Your engine has lots of moving parts that move at very fast speeds, which means lots of potential friction and heat. High heat can warp delicate engine components, creating serious damage.

Oil gets in between these parts, cuts down on friction, and evenly distributes heat. Modern oil also has special cleaning agents in it that grabs debris taken in from the road, debris that can slowly erode your engine. Your filter works to eat up a lot of this debris, allowing your oil to go and suck up more.

Over time, though, the oil and the filter become over saturated with debris and need to be changed out. The best way to know when you need to do this is to look in your vehicle’s manual.

The Time in Between: Watch Your Oil Level

Even if you’re not comfortable changing your oil yourself, there’s still a little bit of oil maintenance that you can do yourself. During normal operation, your oil slowly begins to burn off. You need to top off your oil level from time to time to make sure that all parts of your engine remain properly lubricated.

I personally keep a few bottles of motor oil in the trunk in a plastic bucket, along with a funnel. (I use a plastic container because a cardboard box can let oil leaks escape.) After I’m done pumping gas, I typically check how the oil level is doing using the dipstick. If it’s low, I add a little bit at a time, checking the dipstick as I go so I don’t accidentally overfill the engine.

Get Service From Cox Chevy

Are you due for an oil change? We can help. To make an appointment with us, simply give us a call or make an appointment with us online.