What Happens If You Don’t Change Your Oil?

Hand holding a wiped car oil dipstick near an engine, showing low oil level markings.

When you have a lot going on around Moose Jaw, you might not keep up with your vehicle’s regularly scheduled maintenance. At the Capital Ford Lincoln service centre, customers often ask, “What happens if you don’t get your oil changed?”

Without regular oil changes, motor oil will break down and become less effective at lubricating your engine’s moving parts. This leads to an increase in friction and a rising temperature within the engine itself. Learn more about the importance of regular oil changes with Capital Ford Lincoln below. If you have additional questions, call us at 306-985-9841 or reach out online.

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What Does Motor Oil Do?

Before discussing what happens if you don’t change your oil, it’s important to understand how important this fluid is. Motor oil acts as a lubricant for your engine and performs the following roles in Weyburn vehicles:

The primary task of motor oil is to reduce wear and tear on moving parts due to friction.
Motor oil with dispersants is made to clean and remove sludge from the engine.
Detergents in motor oils can help clean varnish from your engine, too.
If you undertake regular oil changes, motor oil will help neutralise acids that form from fuels, improve piston ring seals, and cool your engine by moving heat away.

To be clear, you don’t want to know what happens if you don’t get your oil changed.

How Often Should I Change My Vehicle’s Oil?

Many years ago, service experts would say you need to get an oil change every 4,800 kilometers. By contrast, most Estevan area drivers can travel between 11,000 and 16,000 kilometers between oil change services.

Since every driver has different habits, this can directly impact how often you need to change your oil. Those with longer-distance commutes may need an oil change more frequently.

Problems That Arise from Not Changing Your Oil

As we’ve indicated, finding out what happens if you don’t get your oil changed is a nightmare waiting to happen. Here’s a summary of the problems that can result, many of which are time-consuming and expensive to fix:

Weakened Performance: As your oil deteriorates, it will leave behind carbon deposits, which can clog the positive crankcase ventilation and exhaust gas recirculation valves. This will lead to sluggish engine performance.
No Fuel Efficiency: When your oil wears down too thin, it can slide past seals and rings and get burned up in your combustion chamber. This will increase how much fuel you use and eventually lead to smoke coming from your exhaust.
Engine Overheating: The oil loses viscosity and fails to regulate your engine’s temperature. The result leads to overheating and finally, total engine failure.
And more!

Turn to Capital Ford Lincoln For Oil Change Services and More!

What happens if you don’t change your oil? You might need to schedule some service. At Capital Ford Lincoln, our service centre near Moose Jaw has the expertise and support you deserve.

Explore our service specials and see how much you can save on your next appointment. You can also order new parts for your vehicle when they need replacing. Get your oil changed near Weyburn with Capital Ford Lincoln today!