What Happens If You Don’t Change Your Oil?

What happens if you don’t get your oil changed? Oil serves an important purpose within your vehicle’s powertrain: lubricating the moving components to minimize friction, maximize efficiency, and reduce the risk of damage. So what happens if you don’t change your oil? You could find yourself stranded around Albuquerque. 

Your vehicle’s engine oil breaks down over time and gets much less effective at lubricating. Oil also picks up debris over time, and that debris can increase friction. As friction increases, key components of the vehicle heat up more than the manufacturer intended. This unexpected extra heat stress can cause vehicle damage. The good news is, damage is easy to avoid with routine oil changes. Visit the service center at University Mazda to learn more and keep your car running smoothly around Rio Rancho. From the small jobs like replacing key fob batteries, to large maintenance projects, University Mazda has you covered.

What Does Motor Oil Do?

Motor oil is a lubricant for your engine. More specifically, oil has the following important roles in Santa Fe cars:

• The main role of motor oil is to reduce wear and tear on moving parts due to friction
• Motor oil with dispersants is designed to clean sludge from the engine
• Detergents in motor oil help clean varnish from the engine
• When changed regularly, motor oil can help neutralize acids that form from fuels, improve piston ring seals, and cool the engine by moving heat away

Trust the reliable staff at University Mazda, you don’t want to find out what happens if you don’t get your oil changed.

How Often Should I Change My Vehicle’s Oil?

It used to be said that you should have an oil change every 3,000 miles, but with current technology, most drivers can go 7,500 to 10,000 miles between oil changes. However, driving habits and vehicle design impact the frequency of required oil changes. If you travel a long distance for your daily commute, for instance, you may need an oil change more frequently.

How Do I Change the Oil Myself?

What happens if you don’t change your oil filter? Don’t forget this critical step if you’re taking on the task at home. For starters, you need to check your owner’s manual to determine what type of oil your vehicle requires. Once you have your oil, follow the steps below:

1. Jack your car up with jack stands or steel ramps.
2. Locate the oil drain plug on the bottom of your oil pan underneath your engine. Place an oil basin directly underneath the plug, then unscrew the plug and allow the old oil to drain out completely (this may take up to 15 minutes). Once all the oil has drained, you can replace the plug.
3. Locate your oil filter, and remove it with an oil filter wrench. A small amount of extra oil will drain out when you remove the filter, so you should keep the basin underneath to catch it. 
4. Take your new oil filter and rub a bit of oil around the rubber seal. This important step ensures your filter is watertight.
5. Set the new filter in place, then tighten it by hand. 
6. Now that your old oil is drained and a new filter is in place, you can remove your oil cap. Pour in the specified amount of new oil, which you can find in your owner’s manual if you’re unsure. Finally, replace the oil cap.
7. Before calling it quits, you should check your oil level by pulling out the dipstick. If your oil level is still low, you can add another ounce and recheck the level. Once you have a proper oil level reading, you’re good to go!

Turn to University Mazda for Oil Change Service and Much More

Now that you know what happens if you don’t get your oil changed, you’ll be better equipped to care for your vehicle. Visit the team at University Mazda to learn about maintenance schedules for other important vehicle components. While changing your oil at home in Farmington can be daunting, you can simply leave it to the professionals by scheduling an appointment at our Albuquerque service center! With frequent service specials we’ll have your vehicle maintained on time and within the budget.