Why Make The Oil Change A Priority?

One of the biggest problems that people who miss an oil change may not even notice at first is that a build up starts to goop itself around the cooler parts of your engine. This includes the camshafts, the valves and the crankcase. Carbon deposits and sludge begin to be released from the old lubricant and as this happens, the engine becomes dirtier and dirtier. The dirtier your engine becomes, the harder it becomes to clean. This is because once the builds up begins- parts have to be taken off to clean each.

In some cases, if more than one oil change has been skipped, it gets worse. Sometimes, the sludge gets so thick it cannot even be pumped and this begins to cause problems for your vehicle's piston rings. If they do start to really wear out, they're not inexpensive to fix because they require a bit of work to deal with. Additionally, those pistons may seize and the camshaft is damaged. The cost of those repairs is quite a bit more than you'd pay to have your regular maintenance conducted when it needs to be. These things are fairly easy to avoid though, and if you pay attention to what your manufacturer says is the best interval in these tune ups, you'll be doing better than someone who ignores them.

There are many different types of lubricant out there for use in your oil change and it's also pretty simple to figure out what kind you need. First off, the owner's manual will tell you the viscosity the oil your vehicle needs. You can also look right there on the reservoir cap near or on the engine and you will find it there. However, there's a bit more to your lubricant than just it's viscosity. Usually the API has some standards in place that will be based on automaker's criteria combined with the opinions of oil producers and engine builders. The lubricants that meet those standards will be certified and that's always easy to spot on the bottle.

Another thing you'll probably notice about your lubricant may be the category it falls in. The highest API category currently in use is called SM. This is a lubricant that can be used in all engines, runs on gas, and offers an improved deposit and wear protection, better low temp performance, as well as improved oxidation resistance. Other categories you will usually see are SL and SJ. These are older categories intended for categorizing lubricants that are best for- you guessed it, older engines.

When you are getting your car's maintenance done, be sure you're not going with an inferior lubricant without intending to. Always ask your technician what the differences are in the types they are recommending and go with the one that will best suit your needs. This may not always be the least expensive, but in the long run it will be the one that keeps you on the road much longer and your fuel economy much better. Your car's performance tends to benefit from the better quality lubricants as well.