What Happens If You Don’t Change Your Oil?

Have you found yourself wondering when your gas light turns on, what happens if you don’t get your oil changed? When life gets crazy in Danvers, it can be easy to give up on your vehicle’s regularly scheduled maintenance. What happens if you don’t change your oil? Well, over time, motor oil breaks down and will become less effective at lubricating your engine’s moving parts. This increases the friction, which can cause higher temperatures. When your engine gets too hot, serious damage can occur, like excess wear and tear and even warped components. Learn more about the importance of regular oil changes with us in the guide below. 

What is Motor Oil?

Motor oil is the lubricant for your engine. It has a few important roles in Burlington cars:

• Reduce wear and tear on moving parts due to friction.
• Motor oil with dispersants is designed to clean sludge from the engine.
• Detergents in motor oil help clean varnish from the engine as well.
• When changed regularly, motor oil can help neutralize acids that form from fuels, improve piston ring seals, and cool the engine by moving heat away

You don’t want to find out what happens if you don’t get your oil changed, as the damage can be quite severe.

How Often Should I Get My Vehicle’s Oil Changed

With the advancements in technology and oil formulas, most drivers can go 7,500 to 10,000 miles between oil change services. It’s important to consider every driver’s different habits and that every vehicle is different. If you drive long distances every day, for instance, you may need an oil change more frequently.

How to Change Your Oil

Check your owner’s manual to determine what type of oil your vehicle requires. Once you have the right oil, follow the steps below:

1. Jack your car up with jack stands or steel ramps.
2. Locate the oil drain plug on the bottom of your oil pan underneath your engine. Place an oil basin directly underneath the plug, then unscrew the plug and allow the old oil to drain out completely – this may take up to 15 minutes. When you’re sure all the oil has drained, you can replace the plug.
3. Locate your oil filter, and remove it with an oil filter wrench. Expect a bit of extra oil to drain out when you remove the filter and make sure you keep the basin underneath to catch it. 
4. Grab your new filter, being sure to rub a bit of oil around the rubber seal – this ensures your filter is watertight and is an essential step. 
5. Set the new filter in place, then tighten it by hand. 
6. Now that your old oil is completely drained and a new filter is in place, you can remove your oil cap. Pour in the specified amount of new oil, which you can find in your owner’s manual if you’re unsure. Finally, replace the oil cap.
7. Before you call it a job well done, you should check your oil level by pulling out the dipstick. If you’re still low, you may add another ounce and check the level again. Once you get a proper oil level reading, you’re good to go!

What Happens if You Don’t Get Your Oil Changed?

Now that you know what happens if you don’t change your oil, you are better able to care for your vehicle. Changing your oil by yourself in Lawrence can be a daunting task. If you’d like to leave it to a professional, simply schedule an appointment at our Danvers service center! Still have some questions or want to learn more about our service specials? Contact our service team or call us at (978) 539-5002, and we’ll be happy to help!