The motor oil in your vehicle has one of the hardest jobs – it’s on the clock all the time and needs to perform its job perfectly to keep your vehicle running.
First, this means keeping every moving part in your vehicle’s engine well-oiled and lubricated. Without the added lubrication provided by engine oil, the many parts in your engine would be constantly rubbing against each other. This would create so much friction and heat that parts would start braking down almost immediately as you drive your vehicle.
But that’s not the only job for engine oil… it also helps to keep your engine cool. Running a vehicle is heated business, and your engine rapidly heats every time you drive. Engine oil is heated up and cooled down as your vehicle runs and it helps to regulate the temperature in the engine.
Engine oil is also the cleaning crew for your engine. As it flows through the system, it cleans our small particles of soot and debris. These elements are so small, often microscopic, that you may not even know they are there until it’s too late and they’ve already caused damage and malfunctions.
Your vehicle’s motor oil is a hard working component… but why does it have to be replaced so frequently?
If you’ve ever worked a demanding job, you know about a common workplace challenge: Burn-out. But for your engine oil, this doesn’t mean fatigue and lack-luster performance… it means your vehicle is at risk.
The more the oil is used, the more mileage it flows through the engine, and the more contaminants it collects, the worse the oil is at doing its job. Spent oil loses its ability to lubricate. It becomes thick, like sludge, and no longer can keep the parts moving freely without friction.
Remember – we recommend changing your oil every 3 months or 3,000 miles in most cases. The mileage listed in your user manual is the minimum recommendation. Once the oil reaches its maximum viscosity, it needs to be replaced to remove contaminants and keep everything running smoothly.
To learn more or schedule your next oil change, call our team of ASE-Certified technicians at 361.444.1355 or request an appointment online.