What Happens If You Don’t Change Your Oil?

It can be tough keeping up with your vehicle’s regularly scheduled maintenance tasks, especially when life gets hectic. At our service center in Baytown, we often have customers who want to know what happens if you don’t change your oil. Over time, motor oil breaks down and will become less effective at lubricating your engine’s moving parts. If your engine’s parts aren’t properly lubricated, this can cause friction, which can lead to an increase in temperature. When the engine gets too hot, the high temps can cause serious damage. Learn more about the importance of regular oil changes with the Big Star Buick GMC service team in the guide below.

What Does Motor Oil Do?

So what is motor oil and what does it do for your vehicle? Motor oil is a lubricant for your engine. More specifically, oil has the following important roles for your vehicle’s engine:

• 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 as well.
• 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

How Often Should I Change My Vehicle’s Oil?

Typically, it was recommended that you have an oil change every 3,000 miles, but with newer engine technology, most cars can go between 7,500 and 10,000 miles between oil change services. Keep in mind this is a recommended interval. These may be different for your specific model as well as your driving habits. If you drive long distances every day, for instance, you may need an oil change more frequently.

How Do I Change the Oil Myself?

Before changing the oil yourself, be sure to check your owner’s manual to determine what type of oil your vehicle requires. Once you have the correct oil, follow these instructions:

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. When you’re sure all the oil has drained, you can replace the plug.
3. Locate your oil filter, and remove it with an oil filter wrench. Expect a bit of extra oil to drain out when you remove the filter and make sure you keep the basin underneath to catch it.
4. Grab your new filter, being sure to rub a bit of oil around the rubber seal – this ensures your filter is watertight and is an essential step.
5. Set the new filter in place, then tighten it by hand.
6. Now that your old oil is completely 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 you call it a job well done, you should check your oil level by pulling out the dipstick. If you’re still low, you may add another ounce and check the level again. Once you get a proper oil level reading, you’re good to go!

As you can see, changing your oil at home requires some specialized tools and a significant amount of time. If you’d rather skip the work without breaking the bank, we offer money-saving GMC oil change coupons and Buick oil change coupons! We make it easy for you to find oil change specials near Crosby.

Save on Your Next Oil Change Near Houston

If you want the professionals to take a look for you, don’t hesitate to schedule a service appointment at the Big Star Buick GMC service center. Our technicians can help you get the oil changed and have you on your way in no time. We also offer GMC oil change coupons and Buick oil change coupons to keep the savings coming! We’re pleased to provide some of the best oil change specials near Channelview.  Contact us in the meantime with any questions about how often to replace a car battery and more.