What Happens If You Don’t Change Your Oil?

Regular oil changes are an essential part of car ownership. Clean oil lubricates every moving component inside your engine to ensure maximum performance, efficiency, and cooling. So, what happens if you don’t change your oil? Because oil breaks down over time and with use, it gets less effective at lubricating. This means more friction and heat in the engine area that could lead to damage.

Learn more with the Kia of Cerritos service centerbelow to keep your car running smoothly around Los Angeles. What happens if you don’t get your oil changed? Learn more below!

What Does Motor Oil Do?

In addition to lubricating your engine’s moving parts, motor oil has a number of important roles to play, including:

• Detergents in motor oil help clean varnish from the engine as well.
• When changed regularly, motor oil can help neutralize acids that form from fuels, improve piston ring seals, and cool the engine by moving heat away.
• The main role of motor oil is to reduce wear and tear on moving parts due to friction.
• Motor oil with dispersants may help to clean combustion residue and sludge from your engine.

How Often Should I Change My Vehicle’s Oil?

While originally experts recommended changing your oil every 3,000 miles, advancements in engine and oil technology allow most vehicles to go between 7,500 to 10,000 miles before needing an oil change service. If you tend to drive long distances, race your vehicle, go offroading, or have any other unique uses for your vehicle, you will want to have your vehicle’s oil changed more often. Also be sure to read up more about when to get a Kia oil change.

What Happens if You Don’t Change Your Oil?

What can break if you don’t change your oil? There are dozens of symptoms you’ll notice before your engine seizes entirely, including:

• Reduced performance and efficiency
• Oil will become tacky and thick, rendering it useless
• Your engine will burn oil and overheat
• Your moving parts won’t be properly lubricated, and will wear quickly
• Your engine’s moving parts will be scraping against each other, leaving metal shavings in your oil
• Complete engine breakdown and failure to turn over in some cases

How Do I Change the Oil Myself?

So now that you know what happens if you don’t change your oil, you might want to change your oil yourself right away! After you check your vehicle’s owner’s manual to see what kind of oil your vehicle requires, follow these steps to change your oil at home:

1. Jack your car up with jack stands or steel ramps.
2. Locate the oil drain plug on the bottom of your oil pan underneath your engine. Place an oil basin directly underneath the plug, then unscrew the plug and allow the old oil to drain out completely – this may take up to 15 minutes. When you’re sure all the oil has drained, you can replace the plug.
3. Locate your oil filter, and remove it with an oil filter wrench. Expect a bit of extra oil to drain out when you remove the filter and make sure you keep the basin underneath to catch it. 
4. Grab your new filter, being sure to rub a bit of oil around the rubber seal – this ensures your filter is watertight and is an essential step. 
5. Set the new filter in place, then tighten it by hand. 
6. Now that your old oil is completely drained and a new filter is in place, you can remove your oil cap. Pour in the specified amount of new oil, which you can find in your owner’s manual if you’re unsure. Finally, replace the oil cap.
7. Before you call it a job well done, you should check your oil level by pulling out the dipstick. If you’re still low, you may add another ounce and check the level again. Once you get a proper oil level reading, you’re good to go!

Turn to Kia of Cerritos for Oil Change Service and More

Ready to get your oil change at Kia of Cerritos? Don’t hesitate to contact us online today to ask any questions you may have about oil change services, or simply schedule services online. We’ll also help you save with our service specials!