Oil Change: Three Big Reasons

How long you are able to drive your car or truck really is going to depend on many different things. The first of these is going to be how often you take care of it, or how often you take it in for an oil change or other maintenance. So many people neglect their cars and then, when they're in the worst possible situation: their car no longer works. This happens not just with older cars, but it can happen with the newer makes and models as well. It's all about keeping up with the care of your vehicle so that it can take care of you.

A few key things that need to be taken care of regularly, including that oil change: the filters need to be changed out, transmission services need to be run, and there will also be other fluid changes and tire care to be aware of. Ultimately, for people who do pay attention to these concerns and address them in a timely fashion, really expensive repairs can be avoided much of the time.

Many people do not realize that there really are three reasons why your car needs an oil change regularly to really perform at its best. These reasons are typical of pretty much any vehicle, new or old and almost every driving condition. The first of these is sludge. It's a funny word, but it isn't a funny thing to have happen to you. Sludge is talked about in commercials all the time: engine sludge is rough on your car. If you are not regularly taking care of your lubricants, odds are good you may have a sludge problem. Basically, this is what happens when old oil meets constant streams of contaminants. It collects it, protecting the engine but as it does so the oil gets thicker and gooier. Hence the name sludge. It's exactly what it sounds like and one of the biggest reasons you need to get that lubricant replaced. When it does turn to sludge, it's no longer working to benefit your vehicle, but against it.

Another reason to keep up with these tune-ups is because you really would like to keep your car around a while. These trips to take care of it are not expensive and usually will include a filter change, too. Best part about having it done is also not having to worry about where you're going to put the old oil. Dump it down the drain in most cities, or even down the road-drain near your curb and you could be fined for that or worse. It's illegal. Cars that have their lubricants and filters changed out regularly simply last longer and convenience is definitely a factor in getting that done.

Your car is also dealing with some stress. Perhaps you feel like that annual trip to your mother-in-law's place is pretty stressful, but road trips like that stress your car out a bit, too. If you're going to be driving, you usually need your car working at top performance. If you're not getting it taken care of regularly, it just can't. If you're making that trip in weather or if it's all stop and go along the highway, your car's going to be in worse shape than you when you have to explain all those little things to the in laws about your life. Getting your lubricants replaced will just make for one less thing to deal with, no matter what the trip is going to be.