Car Maintenance is a simple fact of car ownership – but how much of a difference does it really make for the health of your car? It turns out, that skipping an oil change service can have an impact on your car’s engine, as well as other essential systems in your car. Plus, you’re likely to notice performance issues and your bank account may take a hit. If you’re due for an oil change, don’t hesitate to make an appointment with the mechanics at your local AAMCO Boardman auto shop.
What Happens During an Oil Change Service?
Each time you bring your car to an auto shop for an oil change, your mechanic will do a couple of key things. First, they’ll drain the old engine oil and check the oil filter. If the oil filter is overly dirty or clogged, it’ll be replaced to help ensure engine oil can flow easily through the engine. Once all the old engine oil is drained, it’ll be replaced with new, fresh oil.
At AAMCO, your mechanic will also carry out our vehicle courtesy check to ensure all essential systems are running smoothly.
Regular Oil Changes Help Keep Your Engine Healthy
Oil change services are as essential as they are simple. Fresh engine oil keeps moving parts in the engine lubricated and helps your engine operate properly. As it cycles through the engine, it picks up dirt and other contaminants, gradually thickening the engine oil and making it more difficult to flow through the engine. Keeping up with oil changes prevents engine oil from becoming too contaminated and helps keep your engine running smoothly.
Skipping an Oil Change Service Can Cause a Number of Car Problems
Fresh engine oil plays a big role in the health and function of your car’s engine. Postponing or skipping an oil change service can lead to problems with your car’s engine, performance, and even other parts and systems in your car. Avoid these problems by maintaining a regular oil change schedule according to the recommendations in your owner’s manual and your mechanic’s guidance.
Old Engine Oil Can Cause Sludge to Build Up in Your Car’s Engine
As engine oil picks up dirt and contaminants, it becomes thicker. Eventually, without regular oil changes, sludge can start to build up in the engine. This sludge can coat parts in the engine and clog the flow of oil through the engine, leading to increased wear on the engine – and even overheating.
Low or Contaminated Engine Oil Can Cause an Overheating Engine
It’s possible for your engine oil level to become low if oil change services are too delayed. Whether your car is burning engine oil or you have an oil leak, it’s important to have the underlying cause diagnosed and addressed as soon as possible. Oil change services allow your mechanic to inspect the engine and keep the engine oil fresh. Without adequate engine oil, you’re at risk of dealing with an overheating engine.
A Buildup of Dirt in the Engine Can Cause a Decrease in Power
Not only can over-contaminated engine oil cause overheating, it can also lead to a decrease in power and performance while driving. Thicker engine oil requires more work to circulate, making it more difficult for your engine to generate power. While you may notice this most during initial acceleration and driving uphill, it will only get worse the longer you wait between oil changes.
Your Engine May Burn More Fuel
Alongside the decrease in power from thickened, over-contaminated oil, you may notice you’re burning through a tank of gas faster than usual. That’s because the extra effort required to circulate thicker engine oil also requires burning more fuel than usual. As you become due or overdue for an oil change, you may notice this dip in gas mileage.
Regular Maintenance Allows Your Mechanic to Inspect for Other Car Problems
Last but not least, regular oil change services allow your mechanic the chance to inspect your car’s engine and other essential systems for other necessary repairs. Staying proactive about car repairs helps save you money in the long run and extends the life of your car, since problems with one system can easily lead to problems with other important car parts and systems.
Trust AAMCO Boardman’s Mechanics with Your Next Auto Repair
For any auto repair or car maintenance service, visit your local AAMCO Boardman auto repair shop. Our mechanics include a vehicle courtesy check with each car service so you can drive away confident that all of your car’s essential systems are running smoothly. Give us a call today or easily schedule an appointment with us online.