Most car engines are built to last up to 100,000 miles. However, proper
care and maintenance can have a profound affect on the life of a
vehicle. Many cars that still run efficiently with over 100,000 miles
have had regular maintenance. An oil change is a simple preventative
care method that can extend the life of a vehicle by keeping the engine
parts lubricated and clean to prevent premature wear and tear.
Every time an engine runs, a system of pistons, cylinders, and valves
grind against each other, creating heat and combustion byproducts. Motor
oil makes this process much more efficient by lubricating these parts
to avoid direct contact. Under ideal circumstances, vehicle
manufacturers recommend an oil change every 7,500 miles, and this is
especially true for new engines with less than 15,000 miles. However,
the typical driver makes frequent short trips of less than 10 miles
during cold weather, or stop and go traffic. These factors can have an
effect on how hard the engine must work. Driving at sustained highway
speeds in extremely hot weather can also have a profound wear and tear
effect on the engine parts. Vehicle manufacturers recommend getting an
oil change more frequently for these severe driving conditions. Under
these conditions, the engine must work harder, which means that there is
more friction between the metal parts, and more combustion byproducts
circulate in the engine.
As the engine accumulates more miles, getting a regular oil change for
your automobile is recommended because the wear and tear cause the
engine to work harder and lose some of its efficiency. The pistons,
cylinders, and bearings need extra lubrication to clean the engine and
fill-in cracks and pits caused by the metal parts constantly expanding
and contracting from the temperature changes. Over time, metal
particulates created from friction develop in the engine, which can
compromise its efficiency, and eventually damage the engine. Specially
designed high mileage motor oils are more appropriate for engines with
over 75,000 miles because they contain additives that clean the engine
and restore the metal parts. These lubricants are a mixture of synthetic
and petroleum, or conventional motor oils. Seal conditioners, the
primary additives, soak into the valves to prevent oil from entering the
cylinders. Copper-Silver-Lead (CSL) compounds will fill in tiny pits in
the cylinder walls; gas escapes from these tiny cracks and causes the
engine to work much harder.
It is possible to drive a vehicle for up to 200,000 miles with the same
engine as long as the engine is well-maintained. Among other habits,
good engine maintenance includes avoiding severe driving conditions and
using the correct motor oil. If severe driving conditions are
unavoidable, consult the owner's manual for a more appropriate
alternative. As the engine accumulates mileage, consider a specially
blended high mileage lubricant. These oils have additives that can
restore the engine and extend its life. As an added benefit, gas mileage
will improve with this regular maintenance technique.
