3 Ways Neglecting Routine Oil Changes Hurts Your Engine

Having your engine’s oil replaced regularly is one of the most basic auto maintenance procedures. It’s also one of the most important. In many ways, oil is the lifeblood of your engine. It lubricates your engine’s moving parts, allowing them to work smoothly and efficiently without suffering too much wear. Clean oil, therefore, lengthens the lifespan of your engine by preserving its parts. Here are three ways neglecting routine oil changes hurts your engine and leads to more expensive auto repair issues down the road.

The most obvious effect of neglecting routine oil changes is increased wear for your engine’s moving parts. Oil’s primary job is to lubricate your engine’s moving parts. This in turn reduces friction. When you neglect to change your oil, the oil’s lubricating properties begin to fade. This in turn increases friction between your engine’s components. As friction increases, so does wear. When your engine parts get worn down, your engine’s lifespan is cut short dramatically. Unlike a routine oil change, fixing a broken engine can be prohibitively expensive.

Over time if you fail to replace your engine’s oil, the old oil can lose its viscosity. In addition to compromising its ability to lubricate your engine’s parts, thinner oil is also more likely to contaminate other parts of your engine. For example, old engine oil has been known to leak into the engine’s combustion chamber. This leads to a variety of problems. First, when oil enters the combustion chamber, exhaust smoke will take on a decidedly darker color. In addition, oil contamination can also compromise the combustion process, leading to decreased gas mileage.

Corrosion is a particularly dangerous effect of neglecting routine oil change. As oil becomes older and more contaminated, it will increasingly react with heat and oxygen in the engine. The byproducts of these reactions are corrosive, acidic compounds. These compounds can corrode engine parts, increasing the chance of engine failure and leading to sludge buildup.

Taking care of your car can lengthen your engine’s lifespan and save you money in the long run. Changing your oil regularly is one of the most important parts of basic auto maintenance. To learn more about why it’s important not to neglect routine oil changes, call Casey Automotive at (866) 709-3522.