The oil change is the most important thing you can do for your car. This article gives you some related facts that most people don't - but should – know.
The oil change is the most common car repair problem. It's one of the most important things to keep your car running the way it's supposed to be. Lots of folks don't understand just how important this is,
and they end up paying for it big-time. Here are some things everybody should know about this important bit of maintenance.
What Happens If You Don't Get It Changed
Changing the oil in a car may be a simple procedure, but the consequences for not getting it done are extremely serious. If the oil gets dirty and gunky, it can cause corrosion inside the engine. It also won't work properly, which means that you'll have all the engine parts rubbing against each other. The end result is not only higher gas mileage and more money you have to pay at the pump, but this damage can dramatically shorten the lifespan of your engine. Getting a new engine is much pricier than changing out the engine's lubricant for fresh stuff!
When You Should Get It Done
How do you know when you need an oil change? Well, there isn't any gauge to tell you and there are no warning signs. It's just a bit of routine maintenance that you have to write on your calendar. Manufacturers will tell you how often to get it done for your model and make of car, but for most vehicles it's about once every 7,500 miles. What lots of folks don't know, though, is that you can get it done much more often than that. Why would anybody want to spend more money and have to visit the garage more often? The reason is that, as we mentioned before, it can seriously extend the life of your car. It's not a bad idea at all to do it every 3-4,000 miles, especially if you do lots of driving.
Save Money On Your Oil Change
So, we know that you need an oil change regularly or else your engine turns to crud. The good news is that this simple bit of maintenance is one of the cheapest. Not only is it cheap, quick and easy, you can usually find coupons and discounts to make it even more reasonable. We're talking the price of a fast food value meal here. Some garages even offer free deals in order to attract new customers to their shop. Take advantage of these deals as much as you can, and this will make getting it changed even more convenient for you.
Do It Yourself!
You can even change your car's oil out all by yourself. All it takes is a little bit of automotive know-how, a few tools and a willingness to get your hands a bit dirty. Doing it yourself makes it much easier and, of course, cost-effective. Study up on how to do it and see if it sounds like you're up to the task; if not, you can always take it to the local garage.
The oil change is one of the easiest but also most important repairs for your car. Make sure you get it done when it needs to be done, and you'll extend the life of your engine and save money down the road.
