What Happens If You Don’t Change Your Oil?

Life can get crazy in Miami. You may see your service light come on, warning you to get your oil changed. Luckily, our technicians at South Dade Kia of Miami can get the job done. However, our customers occasionally ask, what happens if you don’t get your oil changed? With time your motor oil will break down and become ineffective at lubricating the engine’s parts. This leads to increased friction and temperature. If your engine gets too hot, the parts can become seriously damaged and potentially warp the components of your engine. It’s crucial to perform the routine maintenance of oil changes, and our team at South Dade Kia of Miami has detailed the reasons why.

The Purpose of Motor Oil

The main job of motor oil is to reduce wear and tear on your Kendall vehicle’s moving parts. It also cleans the sludge and removes varnish from the engine. When you regularly have your oil changed, it can neutralize acids that form due to fuel, improve the seals on piston rings, and cool the engine. Motor oil is crucial to the health of your vehicle’s engine, keeping it performing at its best.

How Often Should I Change My Vehicle’s Oil?

The average mileage for an oil change used to be every 3,000 miles. Now, drivers can last between 7,500 and 10,000 miles until their next oil change is needed due to the upgraded technology. However, your driving habits may require you to get your oil changed more frequently. Check out the details on how to change your oil below.

How to Change Your Oil: A Step by Step Guide

Confirm in your owner’s manual what type of oil your vehicle requires. After getting the proper oil, follow the steps below:

1. Jack your car up with jack stands or steel ramps.
2. Locate the oil drain plug on the bottom of the oil pan underneath your engine. Place an oil basin directly underneath the plug, and unscrew the plug allowing the old oil to drain out completely. It could take up to 15 minutes. Replace the oil plug when you’re sure that the oil is completely drained.
3. Remove the oil filter with a filter wrench. There may be a bit of extra oil drainage when you remove the filter so make sure you keep the basin underneath to catch it.
4. Get your new filter, and rub a bit of oil around the rubber seal – this ensures your filter is watertight and is an essential step.
5. Set the new filter in place, and tighten it by hand.
6. Now that your old oil is completely drained and a new filter is in place, remove the oil cap. Pour in the specified amount of new oil, you can find the amount required in your owner’s manual. Finally, replace the oil cap.
7. Check the oil level by pulling out the dipstick. If you’re still low, you may add another ounce and check the level again. Once you get a proper oil level reading, you’re good to go!

Come to South Dade Kia of Miami for Your Service Needs

What happens if you don’t get your oil changed? This could damage your engine, so it’s important to stay on top of your services. Changing your oil at your Pinecrest home can be a hefty task, so you can always schedule an appointment with our team in Miami. If you still have questions you can contact our team at any point. Before you come in for your service check out our service specials to see how you can save money. Come visit us today!