What Happens If You Don’t Change Your Oil?

Routine oil changes are essential for reliable and long-lasting engine performance. We understand that Indianapolis drivers like you have busy schedules, but you should never prolong or skip oil changes. What happens if you don’t change your oil? Find out in this guide from our service experts below.

What Does Motor Oil Do?

Motor oil is a lubricant for your engine. More precisely, oil has the following important roles in Frankfort cars:

• The main role of motor oil is to reduce wear and tear on moving parts due to friction.
• Motor oil with dispersants is designed to clean sludge from the engine.
• Detergents in motor oil help clean varnish from the engine as well.
• When changed regularly, motor oil can help neutralize acids that form from fuels, improve piston ring seals, and cool the engine by moving heat away

Trust us, you don’t want to find out what happens if you don’t get your oil changed.

How Often Should I Change My Vehicle’s Oil?

It used to be said that you should have an oil change every 3,000 miles, but these days, most drivers can go 7,500 to 10,000 miles between oil change services. However, every driver has different habits, and every vehicle is different. If you drive long distances every day, for instance, you may need an oil change more frequently.

What Happens If You Don’t Get Your Oil Changed?

Take our word for it! You don’t want to find out first-hand what happens if you don’t change your oil. Here’s a breakdown of the problems that can arise — most of which are time-consuming and expensive to rectify: 

• Weakened Performance: As it deteriorates, oil leaves behind carbon deposits, which can clog the positive crankcase ventilation and exhaust gas recirculation valves. This leads to sluggish engine performance. 
• Loss of Fuel Efficiency: This occurs when the oil wears down so thin that it slides past seals and rings and gets burned up in the combustion chamber. This increases fuel usage and causes smoke to seep out from the exhaust. 
• Engine Overheating: The oil loses viscosity and fails to regulate the temperature of the engine. This can lead to overheating and, eventually, total engine failure. 

Schedule an Oil Change in Lafayette

What happens if you don’t get your oil changed? In addition to an increased risk of engine overheating, you may also experience decreased fuel efficiency and sluggish performance on Delphi roads. The average oil change takes less than an hour at Lafayette GMC, so schedule an appointment with us today. In the meantime, explore more service tips from our experts.