What many drivers don’t realize or choose to overlook is the damage that can be done to your car if you wait too long between oil changes. Oil helps lubricate all the moving parts of your engine, and they’ll start to grind against each other if your oil becomes compromised. As the oil moves, it will naturally pick up contaminants from the engine like dirt and debris, which can eventually turn the oil to sludge. When that happens, the oil loses its efficiency as a lubrication. Plus, oil helps regulate the temperature and stops the engine from overheating—it can’t do that if it’s too thick to properly work. So even if a person doesn’t drive their car often, they still need regular oil changes to switch out the old, contaminated oil.
If drivers want to decrease the wear and tear happening on their car’s engine, they should reference the driver’s manual to see optimal miles in between each oil change. However, that recommended range often accounts for “normal” driving conditions. If you often drive short distances or do a lot of stop and go, for example, then you might need oil changes more often. The type of oil also decides how often you should go in for maintenance. When your car uses a synthetic oil, you can go a little longer between changes than with a regular oil.
In general, drivers should try to schedule an oil change every 3,000 miles to keep their vehicles in good shape. Depending on your driving conditions and the type of oil you use, you might be able to go longer between changes. If you’re not sure when you last got an oil change or what kind of oil you use, make an appointment at our Woodbury location. We’ll make sure your oil isn’t low or filled with debris so your engine won’t suffer from heavy wear and tear.
