Checking your engine oil used to be a standard part of learning to drive. Just like learning to turn on the engine or check the shoulder mechanism, you had to learn to open the hood, pull out the dipstick, clean it, and then check the engine oil level. It’s recommended to check the oil at least every two fill-ups, or at least once a month. But most drivers these days ignore that advice or don’t even know how to check the oil.

Checking your car’s engine oil is a critical maintenance task that helps determine its condition. Engine oil is vital to keeping gasoline and diesel vehicles running well. It lubricates and cleans the engine so it runs more efficiently. Without engine oil, your car is at risk of breaking down.

Why don’t car owners maintain their engine oil?

Unfortunately, many car owners neglect regular oil checks and changes, despite the fact that motor oil is vital for cars. According to statistics, 30% of car owners surveyed admitted that they do not perform scheduled engine oil change. But why does this happen?

It used to be recommended to change your car’s oil every 4,500-5,000 km or every three months. Many older drivers grew up with this rule, so regular maintenance of their cars became routine. It also helped that many drivers were taught the basics of car maintenance, such as changing the oil themselves.

But now the requirements for oil changes have changed. New engine technology has increased the intervals between oil changes, depending on the make and model of your car. Some manufacturers recommend oil change intervals of 7,500 or even 10,000 miles, or about six to twelve months. 

It all depends on what your car’s service manual says. When this routine job is performed so infrequently, it’s much easier for drivers to forget about it, which may be one reason why many ignore the need to change their car’s oil.

Why do you need to change your engine oil?

Like many other substances, motor oil deteriorates over time. It can become contaminated with dirt, water, or chemically altered by cold or heat. When oil begins to break down, it becomes less effective. That’s why it’s important to pay attention to the condition of the oil itself when checking your motor oil level. 

If the oil on the dipstick is brown or black, it’s still good. But if it starts to turn lighter, has a milky color, or looks like it has metal flakes in it, it could mean the oil is starting to break down or there’s internal engine damage. In this case, you’ll need to have your oil changed and checked by a professional before it becomes a serious problem.

However, potential engine damage is not the only reason to keep an eye on your motor oil. Bad motor oil has many consequences for your car, such as:

• Reduced fuel efficiency

Bad motor oil causes deposits to form throughout the engine. These deposits turn into soot and carbon deposits on vital engine parts such as pistons, valves, and injectors. As deposits build up, they reduce the efficiency of these parts by reducing the efficiency with which the engine burns fuel. Over time, fuel efficiency will decrease and you will burn more fuel than necessary.

• Increased emissions

If you want to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from your petrol or diesel engine, regular oil changes will help. Fresh oil helps your engine run more efficiently, improve fuel economy and reduce emissions.

• Overheating

The motor oil in your car must have a certain viscosity level to coat the engine and keep it running smoothly and properly. However, dirt, contaminants, and water can thicken the oil over time, making it less effective. This can lead to increased metal-to-metal contact, which can cause overheating and, ultimately, engine damage.
 

• Engine Damage

Oil is the lubricant that keeps your car running smoothly. It coats engine parts and reduces metal-to-metal contact, reducing friction that causes engine wear. Over time, motor oil breaks down, becoming more acidic, eating away at metal surfaces, causing more direct contact and, ultimately, damage.
 

• Sludge buildup

Check your engine oil regularly for sludge. When engine oil becomes contaminated with dirt, water, or other materials, it thickens like a gel. As sludge builds up inside the engine, it accumulates, causing clogs and preventing oil from reaching all parts of the engine. If you left this untreated, sludge buildup can lead to costly engine maintenance.

What oil do you need?

Now that you know how important motor oil is for your car, it’s time to choose which oil you need. Many owners struggle with this question, especially when asked to choose between conventional and synthetic oil. It’s always best to consult your vehicle’s maintenance manual or a trusted professional to find the right oil for your vehicle’s needs.

The production of motor oil involves several interesting stages and features. For example, it begins with the extraction of crude oil, which undergoes multi-stage purification and distillation to remove impurities. The base of motor oil is mineral oil, isolated from a specific fraction. 

At the production stage, special additives are also added to improve the oil’s performance, such as antioxidants to slow down the aging and wear processes, detergents to prevent deposits, and anti-corrosion additives to protect against rust.

Oil Differences

The difference between mineral and synthetic oils is in the processing: synthetic oil undergoes additional destruction, which makes its molecules more homogeneous. This increases resistance to high temperatures and wear, which is especially important for modern engines with high demands on lubricants.

Before entering the market, motor oil undergoes strict tests, including viscosity, oxidation resistance and corrosion protection. Thanks to these tests, the oil ensures efficient engine operation even in extreme conditions, such as frost or heat.

Manufacturers are also focusing on sustainability, offering biodegradable blends and recycled oils to minimize their environmental impact. These innovations make motor oil a critical component not only to the longevity of your engine, but also to the sustainability of the auto industry as a whole.

In summary of choosing engine oil: You should note that choosing the right engine oil plays a key role in ensuring long and trouble-free engine operation. Following the recommendations of the car manufacturer and the advice of experts, you will be able to choose the oil that best meets the requirements of your engine and operating conditions. 

Regularly checking the level and timely replacement of oil will help to avoid serious engine problems and reduce repair costs, ensuring your car reliability and durability for many years.

How often should you change the oil in your car engine?

Motor oil is a complex composition due to the presence of complex additives. The latter provide several effects at once:

• Formation of a permanent layer of lubricant on rubbing surfaces to reduce friction forces;
• Maintaining the cleanliness of the internal surfaces of the engine, which requires effective dissolution and washing away of all possible deposits;
• Removal of heat generated during engine operation;
• Protection against corrosion of metal parts of the power unit.

At the same time, the engine oil must ensure the preservation of characteristics in a wide temperature range, not form foam during circulation, and not deteriorate during use. Over time, the composition of the technical fluid changes, which leads to a deterioration in the actual characteristics of the engine oil. The result is a sharp acceleration of engine wear, so each manufacturer in the operating instructions necessarily prescribes the need for regular replacement of engine oil and filter.

How often should you change the oil in your car engine?

Different models of machines have their own replacement period. In general, it is determined by the first occurrence of one of the following events:

• 1 calendar year has passed since the last replacement;
• The mileage was 10-20 thousand kilometers.

In reality, the frequency of replacement may be somewhat reduced. The reason for this is the already high real mileage of the car, which leads to engine wear, as well as difficult operating conditions. The latter include:

• City ​​driving with constant traffic jams, frequent engine start-stop cycles (immediately after the engine starts, dry friction is recorded for a minimum period of time due to insufficient lubrication);

• Operation of a vehicle in a sharply continental climate with significant temperature fluctuations during the day, frosty winter or, conversely, hot summer, when the actual characteristics of the technical fluid gradually change due to wear;

• Frequent travel in dusty or humid conditions (for example, solid particles passing through the air filter can act as an abrasive and accelerate contamination);

• Frequent trips with a trailer, on roads with frequent long descents and ascents, which increases the load on the engine.

It is also necessary to reduce the period between replacements in the case of an aggressive driving style, when the engine operates under difficult conditions, and when using mineral fluid.

When to change engine oil unscheduled?

There are several cases when it is necessary to change the engine oil and filter. Among them:

• Adding engine oil that is incompatible with the existing one;
• Engine repair, which involves its disassembly;
• The entry of foreign liquids or substances into the liquid.

Regular engine oil change is more than just a routine procedure; it is an investment in the long-term health of your vehicle. Not only does it extend the life of your engine, but it also ensures optimum performance, allowing you to enjoy a smooth, efficient ride.

Take care of your car by following the oil change schedule. This will extend its life cycle, ensure safety and reliability on the road, and guarantee you peace of mind behind the wheel.