Anyone that has, or currently owns a vehicle has likely been told time and time again that you need to change your engine oil regularly – usually at every service interval. However, life can get busy and not all of us are good at remembering dates or may not think it’s important and skip a change or two. The question is, could this actually be harming your car? Manufacturers offer oil change schedules for a reason and it’s important to keep to them as best we can to avoid build-up, efficiency loss and more.

What Is The Oil Used For?

A car’s engine is an intricate system with a number of moving parts that all operate to get you moving. The oil you put in your vehicle helps those moving parts to continue to move without friction and with minimal wear and tear – without it, you could expect grinding, faster wear and, in some cases, parts that wouldn’t move well at all. The oil not only lubricates these parts, but helps to protect, cool them and even keep them clean. The intervals between oil changes will differ between cars but generally speaking, oil needs to be kept clean and free of debris in order to work effectively.

What Happens If It Isn’t Changed?

Changing the oil in a vehicle is one of the core necessities for any vehicle, and often one of the more basic maintenance tasks. Without regular changes, your car could face anything from reduced performance, to complete engine failure depending not only on the severity but in some cases, even luck. Though some might be lucky enough to keep driving for miles without worry, the unlucky few could see their engine fail completely all because of dirt or debris build-up. If you don’t keep on top of oil changes, your vehicle could face:

Build Up

As the oil moves through the engine system and through the oil filter, it will pick up dirt and debris and over time, this can build up and clog the filter. If the filter becomes clogged, the dirt can pass through the filter and push the oil back through the engine. Oil that has been contaminated with dirt or debris will work far less efficiently and can leave deposits around the engine that build up over time and cause operational problems. If left too long, it can cause the engine to shut down completely.

Wear Down

As mentioned above, oil that is carrying dirt and debris can clog filters, thicken and ultimately become abrasive. When travelling through your engine, abrasive oil can cause premature wear on the components even though it may be keeping them lubricated enough to function. Poor oil can lead to overheating and poor efficiency, which may ultimately cause warping of the engine’s components. If left unchecked, this can lead to the engine failing completely. Without being seen to, it could lead to costly repairs and in severe cases, may even result in the whole system needing to be replaced or written off.

Sludge

When dirt builds up in the oil and around the engine, this can create a thick, sludge-like substance. Over time, the entire oil reserve may become thick and viscous and ultimately fail to lubricate anything within the engine. It can cake parts of the system that may fail to move with this level of sludge. Clearing the engine of this sludge takes more work than an oil change alone, so you may expect to pay more for your oil change and engine repair than you would at any regular maintenance interval.

Efficiency Loss

Even before the point where the oil becomes thick or filled with dirt, oil that has gone past its given timeframe could prove to be less effective. Engine oil is made up of additives that help to keep the engine running smoothly, but over time these additives can wear out. Without oil changes, you can expect loss in efficiency as a result. There could be a drop in lubricating ability too, which may make your engine have to work harder to perform at the same rate, ultimately reducing the efficiency.

Engine Failure

The one potential side effect of not changing your oil that you most definitely want to avoid, and the most costly of them all, is complete engine failure. If you leave your oil over time, the engine can wear down and reach a point where it can’t function any further. Seized engines are impossible to fix and will need complete replacement which can be incredibly costly. Simply changing your oil regularly can prevent this issue in the future and keep your car in top shape. 

For more information about how oil changes can affect your engine or to book your vehicle in for a service and oil change, simply get in touch. We will help you book in with your local Service4Service garage as soon as possible and get you back out on the road in no time.