What Happens If You Don’t Change Your Oil?

Even when life in Modesto gets busy, it is crucial that you keep up with your vehicle’s regularly scheduled maintenance. If you want to know what happens if you don’t change your oil, the service experts at Acura of Modesto can tell you. As time goes on, motor oil breaks down and loses its effectiveness at lubricating all the moving parts in your engine. The resulting increase in friction can cause your engine to overheat, which can lead to serious damage such as excess wear and tear and even warped components. Read on to learn more about the importance of regular oil changes in the guide below. 

What Does Motor Oil Do?

Motor oil acts as a lubricant for your engine. More precisely, oil performs the following roles:

• Mainly, motor oil is meant to reduce the wear and tear that moving parts experience due to friction.
• Motor oil with dispersants is designed to clean sludge from the engine.
• Detergents in motor oil help to clean varnish from the engine.
• When changed regularly, motor oil is effective at neutralizing acids that can form from fuels, improving piston ring seals, and cooling the engine by moving heat away

In short, what happens if you don’t get your oil changed is a lot more trouble than it’s worth.

How Often Should I Change My Vehicle’s Oil?

The recommendation used to be to change your oil every 3,000 miles, but now, it’s usually only necessary to get your oil changed after every 7,000 to 10,000 miles. Of course, this figure varies depending on the vehicle and how the car is driven. If you’re more regularly putting your vehicle through longer trips, you may need to get your oil changed more often.

How Do I Change the Oil Myself?

Make sure you consult your owner’s manual to determine what type of oil is recommended for your vehicle. Once you have the proper oil, follow the steps below:

1. Use steel ramps or jack stands to raise up your car.
2. Locate the oil drain plug underneath the engine on the bottom of your oil pan. Place an oil basin directly underneath the plug to catch the oil, then unscrew the plug and allow the old oil to completely drain – this can take up to 15 minutes. Once the oil has drained completely, replace the plug.
3. Locate your oil filter, and use an oil filter wrench to remove it. Some extra oil may drain out when you remove the filter, so make sure you keep the basin underneath to catch it. 
4. Grab your new filter, and be sure to rub a bit of oil around the rubber seal – this ensures a watertight seal to prevent any leakage. 
5. Set the new filter in place, then tighten it by hand. 
6. You can now remove your oil cap since the old oil is completely drained and the new filter is in place. Pour in the correct amount of new oil, which should be specified in your owner’s manual. Replace the oil cap.
7. The last step before you can call it complete is checking your oil level by removing the dipstick. If you’re still low on oil, add another ounce and check the level again. Once your oil is at the correct level, you’re ready to take a drive around the streets of Stockton!

Rely on Acura of Modesto for Your Routine Maintenance

Now that you know what happens if you don’t get your oil changed, you can proactively prevent any damage due to neglect. Changing your oil yourself in Manteca can be intimidating, so if you’d prefer to leave it to a professional, schedule an appointment at our Modesto service center! If you have any remaining questions or want to learn more about our service specials, contact our service team or call us at (209) 527-7000, and our experts will be glad to assist you with all your service needs!