Is It Bad To Wait For An Oil Change?

Your engine oil is beginning to break down and wear out over time. This allows the oil to become increasingly less efficient in lubricating and absorbing heat. If your oil continues to run unchanged through your engine, you will begin to face a laundry list of problems.

In fact, if you wait too long for an oil change, your smooth, clean oil will turn into dirty sludge. If this happens, the engine will have to work harder to fight through the buildup of the muck. It loses its lubrication and reduces the absorption of heat. This means that your car is going to be vulnerable to major issues.

Not changing the oil of your car will lead to:

Voiding Your Car Warranty – Especially if you purchased your car brand new. It is vital to make sure your oil is changed based on the manufacturer’s recommendation. Failing so will totally void your car’s warranty and leave your car without help when anything major occurs.

Warped Engine Components – Because heat is no longer being extracted and there is practically no lubrication. The engine components will begin to fight, force, and grind against each other. That will lead to warping the parts in your engine which will cause the engine to seize. Sadly, there is no fix to this and usually results in a full engine replacement. 

Blown Head Gasket – A blown head gasket will stop you in your tracks. Fixing a blown head gasket can be a costly repair, depending on the age and value of your vehicle. Many times, you may need to replace the engine if this happens. 

Engine Running Inefficiently – In addition to lubrication, your engine oil also keeps your engine clean. Additives that carry dirt and debris are stuck in a filter that is also replaced during an oil change. This could lead to a decrease in driving efficiency and engine power.

Complete Engine Failure – If you’re going long enough without a change in oil, it could cost you a car. When the engine oil has become sludge, it no longer extracts heat from the engine. This can lead to a full shutdown of the engine that would involve a whole new engine-or a new ride-to be repaired.

If you prolong your oil change long enough, your entire engine will finally lock up and need to be replaced. Of course, this fix could cost thousands of dollars. Many times, when the engine shuts down, a lot of people sell their cars to the scrap yard and purchase a new vehicle.

These are, of course, very frightening.  From overheating to canceling your car’s warranty, your oil change is vital to the overall protection and longevity of your vehicle. Lucky for you, oil change continues to be one of the cheapest and fastest maintenance services available.

Traditionally, the rule of thumb has been to service your car every 3,000 miles or every three months (whatever comes first). Now, most of the cars are smart enough to tell you when an oil change is needed, and many people just get their vehicle in when the sensor is triggered. But what if you miss the notification? Or don’t you find it right away? Or, can’t you trust your vehicle to be as smart as a certified technician? Although automated alerts are a helpful reminder, technicians advise you to obey the manufacturer’s recommendations. However, if you have extenuating circumstances, it is still best to maintain the ‘3,000 miles/three-month rule’ for maximum vehicle performance.