5 Most Common Oil Mistakes That Might Ruin Your Car

Maintaining your car’s engine oil is important because poor or no maintenance may damage your vehicle. Delaying oil changes, making the wrong type of oil selection, or ignoring service notifications can reduce the value of your car and its performance quality. A regular engine oil change service can help prevent many of these issues. The right oil maintenance habits could prevent many repair costs and car breakdowns. This guide outlines the key mistakes to avoid when changing your car’s engine oil and provides tips to help you maintain your car engine health.

Using the Wrong Type of Engine Oil

All engine oils are not the same, and all cars will need a specific type of oil recommended by the manufacturer for long-term use. The wrong choice of oil may lead to a shortage of lubrication, excessive engine wear, a decline in performance, and, over time, catastrophic damage. Here is why the correct choice of oil is really important:

• Right Thickness: Thicker oil or overly thinner oil results in lubrication problems, leading to high levels of friction and heating.
• Synthetic Or Conventional: Certain engines are able to perform much better with synthethic oil. This increases fuel efficiency while producing less wear.
• Guidelines by the Manufacturer: Always check the manufacturer’s guidelines to ensure the oil selected will go perfectly with the engine.

A professional oil change service guarantees that your vehicle receives the appropriate oil, which helps avoid costly damage and engine problems in the future.

Skipping or Delaying Oil Changes

As time progresses, your engine oil becomes stale and loses its capacity to lubricate, guard, and cool essential parts. Not changing the oil or postponing it increases the amount of friction, overheating, and sludge buildup, which can damage the engine. Risks of neglecting oil changes include the following:

• Decreased responsiveness in the engine and reduced performance overall
• Burning more cash because of the increased fuel usage
• Higher chances of overheating, wear and tear on the engine, and failure ultimately
• The buildup of damaging residue that can block parts of the engine

Sticking to the recommended schedule provided in your manual regarding oil changes can ensure that the car performs optimally while also saving you on costly repairs. Regular engine oil changes improve the life of the vehicle, help increase the fuel economy, and enable the vehicle to operate without issues.

Overfilling or Underfilling Engine Oil

Overfilling with oil or not putting in enough is just as bad as using the wrong oil type, due to the potential harm it can cause the engine from poor lubrication. Understanding how much oil is too much or too little is important for having an engine perform optimally. Here’s why:

• Overfill: A buildup of excess oil can lead to increased pressure over time, which results in the engine developing leaks and damage the seals.
• Underfill: Increasing friction, overheating, and excessive wear and tear can be caused by insufficient oil levels.

Performing dipstick checks is a simple way to ensure that levels are within an acceptable range. If in doubt, consulting an engine oil change specialist is a good way to solve the problem.

Not Replacing the Oil Filter

Your oil filter prevents dirt and debris from flowing into the engine. However, your oil filter can get clogged over time, which can reduce the oil flow. A neglected oil filter can lead to:

• Increased Engine Wear: Premature engine wear could lead to component damage.
• Overheating Issues: Heightened friction due to inadequate lubrication can lead to overheating.
• Sludge and deposit buildup: Dirty oil leads to thick sludge that can harm the engine.
• Reduced Engine Performance: Poor engine filtration can decrease fuel consumption and functionality.

If you ever get an engine oil change, switch the oil filter. Clean oil filters increase lubrication, extend the life of the machinery, and decrease the need for expensive repairs.

Ignoring Oil Leaks and Warning Signs

Being able to see a small oil leak means immediate action needs to be taken. Ignoring could lead to overspending and significant trouble down the line. Common signs of oil leaks include:

• A puddle or some spots of oil are placing themselves under the car
• A strong smell of burning oil in and outside the vehicle
• Oil levels are always on the low side, regardless of how often you refill them
• The engine makes strange noises while performing simple tasks

If these warning symptoms remain unchecked, the engine risks overheating and wearing down, or worse, breaking down completely. It’s important to get the engine inspected before things escalate any further. Routine engine oil service includes checking for any leakage to save money on repairs while enhancing the vehicle’s performance.

Keep Your Engine Running Smoothly

Retaining proper engine oil is necessary to keep your vehicle in working condition. The primary offenders are not changing the oil, using incorrect oil, overfilling, underfilling, neglecting the oil filter, and not repairing any leaks. You can avoid these blunders by booking regular engine oil change services and looking after your oil filter, guaranteeing that your engine functions properly and lasts as long as possible. In case of doubt, always follow the manufacturer’s instructions and consult a specialist.

FAQs

How can I tell if I’m using the wrong engine oil?

Check the owner’s manual for the type of oil that you should use. This avoids knocking sounds, slow acceleration, exhaust smoke, and low fuel economy; you should change the oil as described in the manual to help the vehicle last longer.

What happens if I skip or delay my oil change?

If a scheduled oil change is missed, sludge buildup, overheating, increased friction, and general engine tear and wear could result. All these could lead to low performance, low fuel efficiency, and even damage to the engine, which would be a waste of money.

How often should I change my engine oil?

It is recommended to change the engine oil every 5000 to 7500 kilometers. Older engines with above average performance may require more frequent oil changes. As always, check the owner’s manual.

Can my car get damaged from overfilling oil?

Overfilling oil can result in leaks, seal damage, and frothing, which increases the inefficiency of lubrication systems. This can eventually lead to overheating, wear and tear on the engine, and performance problems. A proper oil change for the engine oil helps reduce this issue.

How do I check for engine oil leaks?

Check your dipstick for unusual drops in oil level, inspect for oil spots on the ground, and burning smells or smoke coming from the exhaust. In addition, detect changes in the required engine oil change service intervals, which would suggest a malfunction in the automobile.