Why You Actually Need an Oil Change
If you have no oil in your car’s engine, the metal pieces are rubbing together as you drive, creating friction. Oil lubricates your engine and keeps it from overheating. You can’t run a car without any oil in it. You probably aren’t doing that, since most cars will have oil in them when you buy. Still, you need to get your oil changed regularly.
The old adage (or marketing slogan) says to change your oil every three months or three thousand miles—whichever comes first for you. While nothing drastic is going to happen if you go an extra month or a few hundred miles, waiting too long can take its toll on your car.
As the oil moves through the engine, it picks up dirt and water and becomes less efficient. It can deposit dirt around your engine and cause gunk to build up. This could lead to expensive engine cleanings or even lead to massive failures that require you to replace entire parts of your engine.
Changing your oil offers a lot of noticeable benefits, as well. Regular oil changes improve your car’s gas mileage. As the fresh oil moves through the engine, the lubrication of the metal parts increases your engine’s performance and helps it run more efficiently with less work so it doesn’t eat up as much gas. Clean oil will also prevent your engine’s many parts from wearing down and breaking, since they don’t have work as hard.
Oil changes aren’t expensive, and they don’t take long, especially if you make an appointment in advance. Many places offer 30-minute oil changes, and often have coupons and specials. Taking the time to do some basic car maintenance now will save you lots of time and money in the future.
Frequently asked questions
What does engine oil actually do?
Engine oil lubricates the metal parts moving inside your engine and pulls heat away from them. Without oil, the metal-on-metal contact creates friction that overheats the engine and quickly destroys it. You literally cannot run a car without oil in it. Even with oil, as it circulates it picks up dirt, water, and combustion byproducts, which makes it thicker and less effective over time. That's why fresh oil isn't optional, it's the fluid your engine depends on to stay alive.
How often should I really change my oil?
The classic rule is every three months or 3,000 miles, whichever comes first. Going an extra few hundred miles or one extra month isn't going to wreck anything, but waiting much longer than that lets dirty oil deposit gunk throughout the engine. Many modern vehicles and synthetic oils stretch that interval out, so always check your owner's manual for the manufacturer's recommendation. When in doubt, follow the manual or your dashboard oil-life monitor rather than the old 3-month/3,000-mile slogan.
What happens if I skip oil changes for too long?
Old oil loses its ability to lubricate and starts depositing dirt and sludge around the engine. That gunk buildup can lead to expensive engine cleanings, and in serious cases it causes major components to fail. You could be looking at replacing entire parts of the engine, which costs thousands of dollars more than a routine $40 oil change. Skipping oil changes is one of the fastest ways to shorten a car's life.
Does changing the oil really improve gas mileage?
Yes. Fresh oil lubricates the metal parts efficiently, so your engine doesn't have to work as hard to do the same job. That improved efficiency translates directly into better fuel economy. Clean oil also keeps internal parts from wearing down prematurely, which keeps engine performance consistent. Drivers who stay on top of oil changes routinely notice smoother running and a few extra miles per gallon compared to a car that's overdue.
How long and how expensive is a typical oil change?
Oil changes are cheap and quick. Many shops advertise 30-minute oil changes, especially if you call ahead for an appointment, and most chains run coupons or specials. Compared to almost any other car repair, this is the maintenance task with the best return on investment. Spending a few minutes and a few dollars now prevents the kind of repair bills that put a car off the road for a week.
