It doesn't matter what kind of vehicle you drive, from the most expensive to the old and beat up, you need to make sure you get an oil change.
However, it may be surprising to learn just how many people don't worry about providing this service for their vehicle.
As a result, they end up damaging or, worse, completely ruining their engine.
The good news is that it doesn't have to be this way.
Discover a few things you should know about replacing the lubricant in your vehicle.
Purpose of Lubricant When driving a car, the engine is what makes everything tick.
And if it's not being properly taken care of, it won't work well for long.
In order to make your engine do its job, it needs lubricant.
Lubricant is what helps keep everything moving along in the right manner.
There are various parts that all have a specific function.
During everyday wear and tear on a car, dirt and debris can build up.
A good, clean lubricant helps move excess particles or debris, allowing the car to run properly.
Yet, when the lubricant gets old and dirty, the engine ends up having to work harder in order to provide the same level of performance.
Benefits Being consistent about getting an oil change means you will help your vehicle save on gas and run a lot longer.
This is because dirty lubricant is doing nothing for your engine.
The whole point of the lubricant is to help clean out the gunk.
If the lubricant is filled with gunk, it can't do a good job of clearing away newly introduced contaminants or particles of the engine that routinely break away.
With an oil change, you'll have fresh, clean lubricant to help clean out your engine.
The parts will run easier and smoother, plus, you won't burn as much gas since your engine is not working overtime.
Burning less gas means you save money.
Furthermore, keeping up your vehicle by switching out the lubricant can help prevent potential problems that may result in costly repairs, allowing you to have the peace of mind you want.
How Often Should You Do It? There's much controversy on how often you should get an oil change.
People will often follow the "every three months or every three thousand miles" rule.
However, more and more car owners are moving away from that and are instead following what's recommended in the owner's manual.
That's because every car is different and has different requirements.
Sometimes, you could hit 3,000 miles and your lubricant is still in pretty good shape.
Or maybe you haven't had to drive your car as much, so just because three months go by doesn't mean you have to get an oil change.
If you don't read your owner's manual, at the very least, get new lubricant every 5,000 miles.
There are also other considerations, such as if you live in an extreme climate, race cars for a living or live in a rural area with nothing but dirt roads, to name a few.