Fluid is extremely important to any machine, or body, that generates a lot of heat. Think of it this way, if our body suddenly lost all its water content, it would literally start to melt in minutes. Fluids regulate temperature in things. So in a car, oil works well in keeping the engine relatively cool. On the contrary, if your car is running too low on oil, your engine could very well overheat.
But how does oil work to keep a car cool? Fluids like oil allow things to move without friction. Oil provides much needed lubrication for all the metal moving parts inside the engine. Low oil means critical engine parts grinding up against one another, and that is bad news. Your engine can be severely damaged, requiring serious repair, if you don’t change your oil in time.
Over time, many negative things can naturally happen to the oil that remains in your car. Of course, you could lose some of it to evaporation. Even if some sticks around, old oil can get very dirty. When this happens, the oil loses its ability to act like a cooling and moving agent. Dirty liquids don’t flow properly, and while the oil filter will keep it initially at bay, eventually the oil will bypass it through the relief valve. In addition, the important factory additives placed in the oil, like rust-fighters and friction-reducers, disappear over time, making the oil essentially useless.
The recommended oil change interval is different for every car. Check your owner’s manual or talk to the experts at AV Bumper to Bumper to see what’s right for you. In the meantime, check out our past blog post on How To Change Your Oil.
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