Good Heavens! Change Your Oil.

Modern vehicles are more complex now than ever before. They run more efficiently and are often able to get over 150,000 miles before needing any major maintenance. This is due to increased standards in engineering and more consistent tolerances. The oil in your engine keeps everything lubricated and clean. The oil is used to clean out the worn off metal that is created by normal engine wear.  The chemicals in your oil brake down over time and the constant heating up and cooling down will turn the oil into a thick sludge that can no longer flow through the small cooling and lubricating channels throughout your engine. An engine that was meant to last for 150,000 miles will break down without an oil change in as little as 15,000 miles. If you don't change your oil, your engine will eventually overheat and seize.

When you empty your oil and change the filter you're removing debris and bad deposits from the inside of the engine. A standard rule of thumb was that you change your conventional motor oil every 3,000 miles and synthetic every 5,000. Newer cars say you can go longer between oil changes. I say you should consider those standards as the maximum amount you should go before changing your oil. I recommend synthetic oil because it provides better lubrication and dissipates heat more effectively, which also slows engine wear. If the auto manufacturer says you can go longer between oil changes if you use synthetic, they must assume synthetic will slow engine wear.

Finally, check your oil levels regularly. A common problem is to change your oil and not think about it again for 6 months. During that time, a slow leak could mean you spend that last 3 months driving your car 1-2 quarts low. This causes excess heat and exponentially increased engine wear. It doesn't take more than 2 minutes once a month to verify your oil level and avoid a very costly problem. Please take this information to heart and apply it. Don't belong to the group of drivers that are killing their cars prematurely.