Oil Change: What Is The Purpose?

When to schedule an oil change is a matter of debate. Some say three months others say six. Some people think it needs to be done every three thousand miles some others say it doesn't need it for ten thousand. Whatever the interim period and no matter whether you do it yourself or have others do it for you there is no debating that it is absolutely necessary to have this work done from time to time. The actual time frame for doing it has less to do with how long or how far the car has been driven but more to do with how it has been driven. Let us just set aside the argument on what constitutes the best and most appropriate schedule for doing this work and focus instead on the fact that it needs to be done.

Petroleum products have made life indescribably easier. There is no telling where we would be without the benefits of plastic and gasoline. Of course we are talking about one specific type of application specifically we are talking about the use of these materials for lubrication of engine parts. Without this vital component there would be no internal combustion engine. This wonderful fluid reduces friction and dissipates heat. It also works to clean out debris and contaminants where they can be filtered out. The metaphor of it being the blood of an engine is very apt when you consider all of the different functions it serves.

It does each of these tasks in a unique way. First of all the fluid put in during an oil change is used to cool the components of the motor. While circulating through the parts heat is transferred into the lubricant. After it has circulated it collects in a pan beneath the car. This pan is exposed to the air rushing beneath and is cooled. This means that when it is pumped back up into the machinery it is refreshed and sheds dangerous high temperatures through heat exchange.

Next the lubricant reduces friction and literally lubricates. We don't often think about the fact that internal combustion means that inside each of the cylinders there is an explosion happening over and over again. That explosion moves the metal parts with such force to create enough drive to make the whole vehicle move. That is not an insignificant movement. Between the metal parts the only things reducing friction and thus heat and seizing is the yellow fluid poured in during an oil change.

This miracle fluid does a great job but because so much is relying on it, it does not always hold up very well. As a result it needs to be periodically replaced. It is a quick job that can be done on one's own or inexpensively at one of thousands of mechanic shops specializing in oil change care for cars and trucks.