What Happens If You Wait Too Long For An Oil Change?

Regular oil changes are essential for maintaining the condition and performance of your engine. One reason why oil needs to change regularly is that it will become contaminated over time. The main function of oil is the lubrication, sealing, cleaning and cooling of the engine. So, if it is contaminated, the engine will no longer be able to perform its full functions.

The engine will burn up the oil if you use the vehicle all the time. That’s why, if you prolong the change in oil, it causes a number of problems for the engine, which, in turn, could have a serious impact on the performance of your vehicle. Many problems with the engine result from no change in oil or a prolonged change in oil. People tend to just top off the oil instead of completely changing it. While this may prolong your use of oil, it is only a short-term solution. Oil change is the ultimate solution that needs to be done as the vehicle requires or as its condition requires.

Your vehicle oil needs to be changed before it becomes overly contaminated. The purpose of the engine oil is to cool, clean, seal and lubricate the engine. When your oil gets dirty from flowing through the engine, it can no longer perform any of these functions.

Another reason you need to change the oil is your vehicle’s tendency to burn up oil. If you put off your oil change for too long, the engine can burn all the oil, causing major problems for your engine. One solution is to simply top off the oil. But this is just a temporary solution. Which brings us back to our original question, “What happens if I don’t change my oil?

There are a number of possible consequences for skipping an oil change. First, and least likely, nothing is going to happen at all. While it is possible, depending on the climate you live in and your driving habits, that your car or truck may be completely unaffected-though this will rarely be the case.

The fact is that not changing your oil is very difficult for your engine and is almost certain to cause long-term problems-or total engine failure. If your car has a turbo engine, it’s even more important that you change your oil regularly. Remember, too often changing your oil can also cause problems.

At the end of the day, the danger of skipping this important maintenance step is that major issues may arise. It’s all going to depend on what kind of engine you have, the climate, and the type of driving you do. In the worst case scenario, your engine may stop, catch fire, overheat, melt down, and the fact is that one of these situations is almost certain to occur if you forgo oil changes long enough.

So what happens when you wait too long for an oil change?

There are cases where nothing bad is going to happen, even if you skip an oil change. Your vehicle is not going to be badly affected. However, this is rarely the case. And if you keep skipping oil changes, your luck will eventually run out.

Extending the time between oil changes or not changing your oil can lead to long-term problems for your engine. In severe cases, the engine may suffer badly, which could result in a total engine failure. There is no one-size-fits-all formula to change the oil. It all depends on the type of engine your vehicle has. For example, a turbo engine needs oil changes more often than other engines require. Apart from the type of vehicle and engine, you must also consider other factors, such as the type of driving you are driving, the climate and the frequency of use of the vehicle.

As a general rule, oil change is an important part of vehicle maintenance. Skipping oil change can lead to major engine issues and other possible repercussions. While in rare cases nothing bad will happen to your engine, there is a high chance that your engine will suffer from any of the above problems if you forgo oil changes for a long time to come.


By Jon ‘ShakataGaNai’ Davis, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3177569

Are You Looking for an Auto Repair Shop you Can Trust?

If you’re considering making a change to an auto repair mechanic trusted by thousands of happy customers, look no further than autoTECH Blackhawk. Why? We differ from other independent automotive repair stops because we are a relationship shop. This means that the more of your car repair needs we support you with, the better able we are to customize our recommendations based on your driving habits and needs. Whether you want to keep the daily driver in ‘good enough’ condition, style your new car so that it’s customized just for you, maintain your favorite car in ‘like new’ condition, or even train your whole family to be more knowledgeable about cars – we partner with you to ensure that your cars meet your needs. We also offer an industry-leading 3-Year/36,000 mile warranty, so we only use Original Equipment and manufacturer recommended products. Contact us now to book your no-contact, friendly appointment!