Many fluids are required to run your car smoothly, and oil is one of them. It’s no secret that oil plays a vital role in maintaining your car better. But, what exactly does it do, and why do cars need oil – we’ve explained it all in this post.
Changing your car’s oil should be part of your car maintenance schedule. If you want your car to be running smooth and without any trouble, an oil change is something you should never skip or forget. Let’s delve deeper into the topic:
When your car’s engine run, multiple components move at a very high speed. When these parts move and rub against each other, their friction creates heat. This is where engine oil helps you. The oil will lubricate the parts, make them smooth and absorb heat. In simple words, oil is your car’s lifeline.
The engine oil, over time, can break down and lose its lubricating properties. That means it can no longer effectively smoothen the parts or absorb the heat. This eventually leads to the engine malfunction or failure.
Multiple factors need to be considered before making an oil change in your car. This includes the age of the engine, how you drive, and where you love. We recommend changing the oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles, and you can change it anywhere between 7,500 to 10,000 miles if you’re using synthetic oil.
For a very short period, your vehicle can run without oil. But, after a while, the engine will heat up and experience a failure.
As we mentioned earlier, oil plays a crucial role in lubrication and smooth running of the engine. Without oil, your vehicle can run anywhere between 15 to 30 minutes before it comes to a halt with the components damaged.
Visit an automotive repair shop near you if your car runs out of oil. The mechanic can assess the engine damage and repair it accordingly. To avoid all these hassles, make sure to add oil change to your vehicle maintenance checklist.
The following signs can point towards a low oil level in your vehicle:
Check oil light
If the engine is low on oil, the check oil light in your dashboard will be on, and this means you need to top off the vehicle with more oil.
Overheating of engine
If you regularly face engine overheating issues, it could be because of your vehicle’s low engine oil level.
Burning oil smell
Sometimes the oil can leak burn inside the engine bay. Check the engine and fix the issue if you notice a burning oil smell.
Decrease in fuel economy
Low engine oil levels can negatively impact the mileage. If you notice a decrease in fuel efficiency, it would be best to check the oil level.
Check dipstick
The best and easiest way to check the oil level is by using the dipstick. If the oil is below the optimal level, fill it immediately.
