Can You Just Add Oil Instead Of Changing?

In today’s fast paced world, maintenance of the vehicle can be easy to place on the back burner. If you’re wondering if simply adding oil will prolong the life of your last oil change, there are a few things to consider first, in addition to accidental overfilling and causing problems.

First, how to check your oil level properly. To check your vehicle’s oil properly:

• Make sure your engine is cold.
• Pull out the dipstick and wipe it clean with a lint free cloth.
• Push the dipstick to a resting position and pull out to access the level and color.

Take a look at your oil dipstick to tell you a lot about the health of your vehicle. The level of oil on the dipstick will tell you how much oil your car has, and the color will tell you if your vehicle needs a change in oil.

Second , determine your current level of oil. If the current oil level of your vehicle is below the acceptable level, immediately add the specified oil to your vehicle. Oil lubricates every moving part of your engine, keeps your vehicle from overheating, and ensures that things run smoothly. It’s a lot more dangerous for your car to drive without the right amount of oil than to drive with a mixture of new and old engine oil.

What happens if you put new oil on top of old oil?

When you mix new and old oils, the new oil is “watered down” with a lack of interfacial tension and strains to do its job. Be sure to change your oil as soon as possible.

When the oil dipstick is low:

The amount of oil that may be acceptable to make up for due to burn will depend on your make and model, type of engine, wear and tear as well as age. The dipstick is your first indication of overconsumption of oil. If your vehicle is one-quarter low every 1,000 miles, you ‘re most likely to have a leak that could quickly become very serious.

What if the level of oil is high:

There are a few things that could cause a dipstick to read high, but all of them should be checked quickly by a professional, as this could indicate serious issues. These potential issues may include:

• Water from combustion.
• Condensed Fuel.
• Coolant leaking into engine (Milky Look)
• Accidental Overfilling.

When the oil dipstick is dark:

Clean oil has a light honey color. Dark, cloudy or brittle textured oil is a sign that the lubrication components of the oil have been exposed to heat for too long and need to be changed. Adding oil instead of an oil change at this point could cause problems with the engine. This used oil needs to be removed to allow new oil to lubricate the parts of your engine.

What happens if you go too long without oil change?

The oil that has been exposed to heat for too long loses its lubrication capability. Oil is responsible for lubricating every moving part of your engine, keeping your vehicle from overheating and ensuring that things run smoothly. If you wait too long between oil changes, you might face expensive auto repairs or worse. Lack of quality oil may cause your engine to overheat and seize or blow a gasket.

When does MY vehicle need its oil changed?

The owner manual of your vehicle is the best place to start when it comes to the best maintenance schedule for your vehicle. Industry Standard recommends a standard oil every 3,000 miles, but your owner’s manual may state that 5,000 or even 7,500 miles is acceptable if your make and model recommends synthetic instead.

The type of oil you choose, conventional vs. fully synthetic, can help to prolong the life of your oil changes. If you’re not sure about your owner’s manual specifications, our mechanics can let you know the details of your vehicle.