What Happens If You Don’t Change Your Oil?

When life gets busy, it can be easy to push simple tasks like oil changes to the back burner. While certainly natural, there can be major consequences that come along with unnecessarily delaying car care. What happens if you don’t change your oil regularly? Over time, the oil in your engine will break down and become less effective. Since oil is used to lubricate the moving parts within an engine and keep temperatures under control, neglecting oil changes can cause your engine to overheat and more. Learn more about what happens if you don’t get your oil changed with the Suntrup Kia South service pros below!

What Does Motor Oil Do?

As the lifeblood of your engine, motor oil holds many responsibilities. So, what happens if you don’t change your oil? Your oil won’t be able to properly fulfill the following roles:

• Oil works to reduce wear and tear on engine parts caused by friction. 
• Motor oil that contains dispersants is designed to remove sludge from the engine. 
• Detergents found in oil clean varnish from the engine. 
• With routine changes, motor oil can help neutralize acids that are formed by fuel cells, improve piston ring seals, and keep the engine cool. 

Trust us, you don’t want to learn what happens if you don’t get your oil changed during your commute from St Louis to Jefferson County!

How Often Should I Change My Vehicle’s Oil?

Growing up, you may have learned that an oil change was needed every 3,000 miles. But how often should you change your oil with a modern vehicle? Today, oil changes are only needed once every 7,500 to 10,000 miles. However, this can vary based on vehicle type, driving habits, terrain, and more. 

How Do I Change the Oil Myself?

If you’re eager to take on your car care projects, you can learn how to change your oil in your own St Charles garage. Once you have your oil, follow the seven simple steps below:

1. Raise your car on jack stands or with steel ramps.
2. Find the oil drain plug on the bottom of your oil pan under your engine. Place an oil basin directly beneath it, unscrew the plug, and allow the old oil to completely drain. This can take up to 15 minutes. When you’re sure all the oil is gone, replace the plug. 
3. Locate the oil filter and remove it with an oil filter wrench. You may see a bit of extra oil drain at this point, so keep your basin nearby to catch it. 
4. Rub oil around the seal of your new filter, this ensures that it is watertight. 
5. Tighten the new filter by hand. 
6. Now that your old oil is gone, you can remove your oil cap. Add the proper amount of oil, this figure can be found in your owner’s manual. Once you’ve reached a sufficient volume, replace the oil cap.
7. Check your oil with the dipstick. If you’re a bit low, slowly add an ounce of oil at a time until the proper volume is reached!

Turn to Suntrup Kia South for Car Care

Now that you know what happens if you don’t get your oil changed, you can keep your vehicle in pristine condition. Whether you need a simple oil change or a major repair, you can schedule service with us in St. Louis for trustworthy care. If you have any lingering oil change questions, contact us at your convenience!