How Oil Change Affects Your Car's Performance
By:
Repair One Automotive Repair & Services - The Woodlands
| Published 08/11/2023
Motor oil is a powerful and versatile fluid that reduces friction in your engine, cools and cleans it, absorbs shock, and much more. Because of motor oil’s importance, every manufacturer suggests you have regular oil changes at a predefined interval as a part of your preventative maintenance.
Regular oil changes are a requirement to maintain the integrity of your warranty. While most people understand the importance of an oil change to the longevity of your vehicle, it’s directly related to car performance.
Let’s explore how an oil change can impact car performance. And if you have questions or need an oil change in The Woodlands, TX, don’t hesitate to contact Repair One.
Old Motor Oil Is Less Effective
While you may not notice it, your vehicle runs better after an oil change. Fresh, nutrient-rich motor oil allows your engine to operate at peak levels and is better at protecting your engine from metal-to-metal damage and dirt buildup.
Here’s why: as motor oil moves throughout your engine, it includes specialized detergents that capture dirt and debris.
When the motor oil passes through the oil filter, debris, dirt, and pollutants should be captured. Even so, motor oil will eventually be dirty, pick up moisture, and degrade, which reduces its effectiveness.
Sludge Reduces Engine Life
As previously mentioned, old, dirty, sludgy motor oil is much less effective at performing the necessary roles. This thick sludge can block pathways of oil flow, reducing its ability to reach where it should.
These components will not receive vital lubrication. Instead, the motor oil sludge insulates smoldering hot parts of your engine, which can be detrimental.
Motor oil should draw heat away from your engine, but sludgy oil does the exact opposite—it locks heat in. It causes parts to stay hotter longer and have a reduced life.
Old Motor Oil Can Reduce Fuel Efficiency
While automotive studies have yet to quantify the effect, any expert will agree that old motor oil can decrease fuel economy. Whenever your motor oil thickens and becomes sludgy, it loses its vital lubricity. Without proper lubrication, your engine will work harder than necessary to produce the same effects.
Debris Removal Is Important
Debris and trash can enter your engine in several ways. And no matter how it enters, it can be very harmful. Your motor oil helps by grabbing foreign objects and sending them to the filter, where they are trapped. This is why your oil filter should be changed at every oil change.
Too much debris can blow into passageways without proper oil changes, causing components to grind on each other until they break or fuse. Ultimately, failure to have oil changes can allow debris, metal shavings, and other pollutants to run rampant in your engine, causing expensive engine repair or failure.
What’s the Best Oil to Use in an Oil Change?
Most vehicles will benefit from synthetic oil (unless the vehicle is designed to run on conventional oil).
Synthetic oil has been designed at the molecular level to maintain viscosity longer than conventional oil. It is manufactured from base oil, specialized additives, and a carrier oil that enforces an even distribution of the additives.
The highly scientific refinement and manufacturing of synthetic motor oil lend several advantages:
- It has better performance in extreme heat and cold temperatures
- The engineering process reduces deposits.
- The uniform molecular sizes help reduce friction.
- Synthetic oil is cleaner with fewer impurities.
- The additives of synthetic oil can amplify protection and improve cleaning.
Contact Repair One for the Best Oil Change Service in The Woodlands, TX
At Repair One, we proudly offer the best professional oil change services in The Woodlands, TX and nearby areas. We only use the best synthetic or conventional oil, the best tools, and the most highly-trained professionals. Our mechanics even offer specialized oil change services for older model cars.
No matter the make or model of your vehicle, we will ensure your oil change is performed according to the manufacturer’s specifications to maximize car performance and longevity. Contact us at (936) 271-1110 or stop by to see us at 6495 College Park Drive, The Woodlands, TX 77384.
