Changing The Oil In Your Car
Old habits die hard. A long time ago, mechanics recommended that you change the motor oil (MO) in your car every 3,000 miles. Decades of improvements in design and function have made engines far more efficient than in the past. To that end, they need new oil less frequently.
So, when do you need to change it? In this article, we’ll approach this issue by first exploring what your motor oil actually does inside your engine. I’ll then describe some of the reasons it needs to be changed periodically. Lastly, I’ll provide a short guide for doing the job yourself instead of paying your mechanic to do it.
What Your Oil Does Inside Your Car’s Engine
Your MO has three main jobs, but it’s important to understand your engine’s operation to appreciate the oil’s value. Your engine consists of moving parts. When you drive, many of those parts make contact with other parts. The oil’s first job is to lubricate the parts and prevent them from creating excess friction and heat when they rub together. Otherwise, they would quickly destroy each other.
Its second job involves heat transfer. High temperatures come about as a result of combustion. The oil absorbs some of this heat and moves it away from the cylinders.
The third job involves moving the derivative chemicals generated by the combustion process. These include silicon oxide and a number of acids. If these elements were to remain in the cylinders, they would eventually cause a build-up and impact your engine’s performance.
Why It’s Important To Change It
Over time, the MO becomes dirty. This is due to the constant circulation over thousands of miles. The viscosity gradually breaks down while the level of foreign particles (i.e. soot, metal, etc.) contained in the oil increases. Both make the oil less capable of providing adequate lubrication for your engine’s moving parts. Moreover, the dirt and reduced viscosity combine to make it less efficient in transferring heat and chemical byproducts away from the combustion chambers.
If you allowed the oil to continue to break down, it wwould eventually turn into sludge. At that point, it is ineffective for protecting the moving parts; you’ll likely suffer a failure due to excess friction and overheating.
With the above in mind, let’s return for a moment to the original question: how often should you change your oil? Today’s cars (diesel and performance vehicles aside) can usually go 5,000 miles without a change. Some manufacturers even recommend 7,500 or 10,000 miles. You should refer to your owner’s manual to find the recommended interval.
Do It Yourself
First, drive your vehicle for a few minutes to warm the motor oil. Then, park on even ground, turn the engine off, and block the front and rear wheels to prevent rolling. Crawl under the front of your car. If you lack enough room, lift your vehicle on a sturdy jack.
Look for the drain plug. It should be the part that hangs nearest to the ground. Use a socket wrench to loosen it. Next, position a small basin under the plug to catch the oil. When you have done so, loosen the plug further and allow the oil to drain.
Next, you’ll need to find a filter wrench. The oil filter should break loose easier than the drain plub. Use the filter wrench to create a little slack and your fingers to remove the filter. Slip out from underneath your car, pop the hood, and take the oil cap off.
After twenty or thirty minutes (to allow for thorough drainage), put the new oil filter in and tighten it. Then, replace and tighten the drain plug. Add as many quarts of new oil as the manufacturer recommends before replacing the cap. Lastly, start your engine and let it idle for a few minutes while you check underneath your car for leaks.
Changing your car’s oil is an easy job that you can perform in less than an hour. Given the protection it offers your engine, the time spent is a good investment.