How often do you schedule oil changes for your car? Many people will tell you without batting an eye that you’re supposed to change the oil every 3,000 miles. While more advanced engines and synthetic oils mean many cars can go far longer than 3,000 miles between oil changes, it’s still a task you can’t skip altogether. Learn what happens inside the engine if you skip that all-important oil change. Then determine how often to bring your car to Scott’s Fort Collins Auto & Repair for an oil change.
The purpose of oil is to provide lubrication and carry heat away from the engine. When your car runs, oil circulates past thousands of engine components that must work together to keep your car running. If they aren’t lubricated and cooled by oil, these components will grind against each other and create enough heat and friction to weld together, causing the engine to seize up. In short, running your car without oil will destroy the engine in a very short time.
Even if your car has plenty of oil, it won’t last forever. As it circulates through the engine, oil picks up dirt and debris. While this is important for keeping the engine clean, eventually the oil becomes too dirty to be effective. If you never get an oil change, here’s what happens:
The fact that dirty oil can ruin an engine is a scare tactic some mechanics use to convince you to change the oil more often than needed. However, the 3,000-mile recommendation is greatly outdated, what with astounding advancements in oil and engine technology in the past 30 years.
Synthetic oils are largely to thank for leaving the 3,000-mile oil change recommendation in the dust. They’re more robust and able to protect engines from wear and heat for a longer period. Tighter tolerances (smaller gaps between engine parts) in modern cars also put less stress on engine oil.
The disastrous effects of never changing the oil only occur after many thousands of miles. As former GM service advisor David Langness puts it:
“The 3,000-mile oil change is a marketing tactic that dealers use to get you into the service bay on a regular basis. Unless you go to the drag strip on weekends, you don’t need it.”
To save money and reduce oil waste, follow these oil change recommendations:
When it’s time to change the oil in your car, stop by Scott’s Fort Collins Auto & Repair. Our team of trained experts will have you in and out in no time. Schedule an appointment ahead of time or call us at (970) 682-4202 to let us know when you plan to stop by. We’re open 7:30 am to 5:30 pm, Monday through Friday.