What Happens If You Don’t Change Your Oil?

Owning and maintaining your vehicle can be a challenge, especially if you’re like most Omaha drivers and are busy from sunrise to sunset. More times than not, our service center gets the question, “what happens if you don’t change your oil?” This is one of the most important maintenance aspects to consider, as motor oil breaks down over time, and excess friction occurs, therefore, increasing the temperature of the engine. If the engine gets too hot, the components could get damaged or warp, causing expensive repairs in the future. Let’s take a closer look at what happens when you don’t change your oil with the experts at Sid Dillon Buick GMC Fremont! For more information, feel free to contact us anytime!

What Does Motor Oil Do?

When answering the question, “what happens if you don’t change your oil?”, it’s first important to understand what function motor oil plays in the health of your vehicle during your Lincoln drives. These functions include:

• Motor oil reduces the overall wear and tear on moving parts, reducing friction.
• If motor oil is mixed with dispersants, it clears your engine of any sludge or grime.
• There are various detergents included in motor oil that help dislodge varnish, which is extremely detrimental to the health of your engine.
• Motor oil assists in the neutralization of acids that form as a result of fuels, improving the piston ring seals, keeping the engine cool.

How Often Should I Change My Vehicle’s Oil?

Depending on the model of vehicle you own, or the type of oil used, oil should be changed every 3,000 miles, however, with advancements in technology, it can go anywhere from 7,500 to 10,000 miles between oil changes. However, this depends on your driving habits. If you travel often, you might have to change your oil more frequently.

How Do I Change the Oil Myself?

Now that you know what happens if you don’t change your oil, you’ll likely want to keep your vehicle on a regular maintenance schedule. If you want to change your oil yourself, it’s important to check your owner’s manual to see which type of oil your vehicle requires. Then, follow these simple steps:

1. Jack your car up with jack stands or steel ramps.
2. Find the oil drain plug on the bottom of your oil pan underneath your engine. You should then place the oil basin directly underneath the plug, unscrew the plug and allow the old oil to drain out completely. When you’re sure all the oil has drained, you can replace the plug.
3. Next, you need to find your oil filter and remove it with an oil filter wrench. At this stage, you might see some extra oil drain out when you remove the filter, so it’s best to keep your basin underneath the plug so it doesn’t leak onto the driveway.
4. Now, just get your new filter, and put a little bit of oil around the rubber seal to make the seal watertight.
5. Set the new filter in place, then tighten it by hand.
6. You can remove your oil cap. Check your owner’s manual to make sure you’re using the right oil, and fill up the oil reservoir.
7. Before the job is complete, it’s important to check your oil level by pulling out the dipstick. If you’re still low, you may add another ounce and check the level again. You should continue doing this until it reads the proper level.

Schedule Your Oil Change with Sid Dillon Buick GMC Fremont Today!

Now that you know what happens if you don’t get your oil changed, come stop by the Sid Dillon Buick GMC Fremont service center to get your vehicle serviced by our expert technicians. Schedule service online, and be sure to take advantage of our service specials to save near Columbus!