The engine is one of the most fundamental parts of the car, and if it is damaged, it could stop working.
Find out how often the engine oil should be serviced, the minimum and maximum oil levels, and where and with what instruments.
A vehicle’s engine requires a lot of care, without which it could be seriously damaged. One of them is maintaining the oil levels and ensuring it is in good condition. Therefore it is vital to replace it periodically.
The engine oil lubricates its different parts, avoiding unnecessary and harmful friction and cleaning and preventing corrosion, helping the engine temperature not rise too high.
All essential functions, so knowing when to change the oil is critical to take care of your car.
How often should you change your car’s engine oil?
Car manufacturers indicate which type of oil should be used in each vehicle model since not all are the same. They also show how often it should be changed to prevent it from decreasing its performance and causing damage to the engine.
Generally, the useful life of motor oil is measured in miles or time, which varies according to the type of oil used since not all are the same.
Mineral oils have the shortest life (5 thousand miles or six months), while synthetic oils have the most extended life (10 thousand miles or 12 months). The semi-synthetics are in the middle (8 thousand miles or eight months).
Experts from Youramazingcar.com recommend changing the car’s oil according to which comes first, either time or distance.
That is to say, if a vehicle that uses synthetic oil in its engine has covered only 5 thousand miles in the last year, it still needs an oil change after 12 months, the same if it has covered 10 thousand miles in 8 months, thus marking the time to replace it.
When changing the oil, a kind of reminder is usually placed in some area of the driver’s panel, indicating the date of the change and at what mileage the stated limit will be reached to replace it again.
How do I know if my car’s oil levels are OK?
Although the engine oil has an established useful life, a vehicle may require a change before this is fulfilled. To find out, it is necessary to check its levels periodically.
Engine oil levels can drop faster for several reasons, ranging from intensive demands on the car to mechanical problems or leaks that must be detected before they cause damage, among others.
Measuring oil levels is simple and can be done at a service station where they have the necessary instruments or at home if you have the necessary equipment.
Remember to make sure that your car’s engine oil is in good condition, being part of the periodic maintenance of the vehicle, thus avoiding damages that can cost you dearly.
Tips When It Comes To Oil Change Intervals
The recommendation is to change the oil at the time or mileage suggested by the manufacturer to preserve the engine conditions.
If the type of lubricant is to be changed, it must comply with the technical conditions and the recommended oil filter suggested by the manufacturer.
Not all engines are designed for these oils; these are thinner oils or oils with a thin film that will decrease when the temperature rises and may generate greater friction.
To achieve an oil with an adequate film, the type of oil filter must be taken into account; in the market, the oil filter is also designed for the time of use of the oil so that the filtering element also has a useful life.
Why is it important to change your car oil?
The lubricant ensures that the moving gears of the engine are perfectly lubricated and that the friction of the parts does not generate wear.
However, the lubricant may contain contaminants or metal shavings that, if not filtered out, would end up wearing and damaging the engine parts.
The oil filter purifies the lubricant before its journey through the engine gears. Plus, this would not be a good idea if you were planning to clean the oil filter instead of replacing it.
The oil filter is made of materials that make it very difficult to clean. The lubricant makes it impossible to dry the oil filter in depth for later reuse. Having an oil filter in good condition ensures a perfectly functioning engine.
It is difficult to detect when an oil filter is dirty or in bad condition, so it is recommended to replace it periodically.
F.A.Q.
Is the oil measured only at the usual oil change time?
No. It is not. It is important to check the car’s levels, especially the oil level; it is a fundamental practice before using the vehicle for long trips.
If the lubricant leaks and is not at the right level due to some fault, the car can suffer serious damage.
Does the engine work perfectly if the oil is never reduced?
That is not true. After the recommended service intervals, users should measure the lubricant level. If the oil level is not reduced even in one line, it is time to worry because the engine is not working properly.
The device replenishes the oil level with fuel. Therefore, if the car does not consume oil, it is better to ask for advice from a trusted mechanic.
Is it better to leave the car’s oil level too low than to use another brand?
False. When the lubricant level is too low, you must top it up. Otherwise, the engine may suffer serious damage.
All motor oils are compatible and must be mixed well with each other. This is a mandatory requirement that factories must comply with when developing lubricants.
When the lubricant turns black after some time off work, is it because it is bad?
No, it is not. When the oil darkens, it demonstrates that it is cleaning the engine and fulfilling one of the functions of lubricants, which is to clean the engine thanks to its detergent and dispersant additives that remove the carbon or soot generated by combustion.
