Why should you change your oil?

We all know that oil changes are due every 5000 kms, but sometimes life gets in the way and it gets pushed down on your to do list.

Oil is the lifeblood of your car's engine and it does its best job when it's fresh and clean. The problem with not getting your oil changed is that you won't know how big of a problem you're causing until it's too late.

Here's a timeline to explain what happens to your engine when you don't get your care oil changed:

1. There is a build up of dirt and debris - as the oil moves through your engine, it picks up dirt and debris and flushes it away from the engine's moving parts and into the oil filter. If the oil isn't changed, the dirt and debris will eventually clog the oil filter and bypass it through a relief valve, cycling the dirty oil back through the engine.

2. Engine parts start to wear down - dirty oil is thick and abrasive so every time it cycles through the engine and picks up more dirt and debris along the way, it starts to wear down engine parts even while keeping them adequately lubricated.

3. Oil additives lose their effectiveness - motor oil is made with additives such as detergents dispersants, rust-fighters, and friction reducers. When the oil isn't changed, these additives wear out and cause a severe drop in the oil's lubricating ability, which is already compromised by the accumulated dirt and debris.

4. High heat warps engine parts - as the oil gets thicker and dirtier, it loses its ability to draw heat away from the engine. The engine will eventually start to run too hot and warp critical components. Warped and worn parts can still function even while enduring further damage. Unless damaged parts lead to an issue that can be heard or felt, like a broken gasket, drivers will remain unaware until it's too late.

5. Oil turns to sludge - when oil is cycled through the engine enough times, the volume of dirt and debris eventually outweighs the actual oil, resulting in a thick, dark sludgy substance with little to no lubricating qualities. In severe cases, the sludge can become so densely packed that engine parts have to fight through it in order to move.

6. Complete engine failure - with nothing left to keep the engine's moving parts from coming into contact, the friction of metal-on-metal will damage the components so severely that the whole engine will seize up and cease to work. It's crucial to note that this is not a fixable problem- seized engines are beyond repair. They must be replaced, which can cost thousands of dollars.

DON'T LET AN INEXPENSIVE SERVICE TURN INTO A THOUSAND DOLLAR PROBLEM