You can count on Heath’s Auto Service for all of your SUV, car, or truck’s oil changes. Changing the oil every 3,000 miles (or 5,000 miles for synthetic oil) keeps a clean oil filter in the engine. The oil flows through the oil filter after it has circulated through the engine. This allows the filter to trap the dirt that the oil picked up on its journey. The dirt clogs the filter, and a clogged oil filter can damage the engine.
The Engine Performs Poorly
Let’s talk more about this. If you fail to get the oil changed in your automobile when it’s time, the oil will start to pick up the dirt in the oil filter as passes through it. Rather than clean the dirt away from the moving engine parts, the oil will deposit extra dirt on the parts as it flows over them. This will gunk up the engine and create performance issues with the moving parts, i.e., the engine will perform poorly.
The Gas Mileage Is Reduced
Unfortunately, the dirty oil filter will also reduce your vehicle’s fuel mileage indirectly. When the engine is dirty, it runs inefficiently. Part of running inefficiently means the engine burns more fuel. As such, you will not get the normal gas mileage out of your vehicle, and who wants to fill up more often these days?
The Oil Pressure Is Too Low
Aside from dirtying up the engine, the dirty oil filter will also slow down the oil circulation. This is because the filter will clog the dirtier it gets. Consequently, the oil pressure in the engine will be lower than normal. This can start to damage the engine, which is why system sensors alert the engine control unit of the problem. In response to the problem, the unit will turn on the dashboard’s oil light.
You Hear Metallic Noises
Eventually, the oil filter will become completely clogged by dirt. When this happens, the oil will be unable to pass through it. As such, you won’t have any oil circulation in the engine. Because the oil isn’t flowing through the engine to lubricate metal parts, you will start to hear metallic and grinding noises in the engine. These noises are the sound of the engine being damaged very quickly due to no oil.
Now you understand why Heath’s Auto Service in Flagstaff or Scottsdale, AZ, stresses the importance of oil changes. Call the shop closest to you to schedule your next oil change.
