Dreadful Consequences: What Happens If You Don’t Change Your Oil? (8 Warning Signs)

When it comes to oil changes, all vehicles have manufacturer-recommended mileage restrictions. Now you may wonder, what if you neglect this recommendation? What happens if you don’t change your oil at the specified period?

As oil serves several purposes, including keeping your motor cleaned, lubricated, and at a safe temperature, neglecting to change it might result in severe engine damage, which is not only costly to repair but also dangerous to you and those around. 

With that in mind, today, Driverevolve will discuss the inevitable consequences of not changing the oil, signs for an oil change, and so on. 

What Happens If You Don’t Change Your Oil? 

Components’ Degradation 

Pistons and valves are only a few of the numerous movable components of a vehicle. Because of the lubricating effects of the motor oil, these components are better protected from wear and tear.

If you wait longer than advised between oil changes, your motor oil will no longer provide enough lubrication against the deterioration and wear caused by friction.

Overheated Engine

A cooling mechanism on its own isn’t enough to keep the motor at a safe temperature. Motor oil is especially critical since it may get to crevices that your coolant can’t.

Over time and repeated usage, engine oil thickens and degrades, possibly due to extreme heat. Because of this thermal deterioration, the lubricant can no longer soak up heat, which would otherwise pose the risk of motor overheating, seal exploding, and component degrading and distorting.

Dirt Accumulation 

Motor oil does more than just keep things running smoothly; it also helps clean the vehicle’s internal components. It tidies the surroundings by dissolving dust and dirt, and washing the grimes off the machine.

The accumulation of this filth might eventually clog the oil pipes. The motor’s lifespan may be drastically shortened as a result. The engine will have to put more effort due to the deposition of debris, which will decrease its efficiency.

If a car’s oil hasn’t been serviced in a while, it will start to thicken or harden and finally turn into gunk.

When this occurs, the oil can’t get where it needs to go, and the motor’s mechanical elements, such as the cranks, valves, shafts, and valve train elements, all suffer from oil deprivation. This may cause the engine to become so damaged that you must replace it.

Higher Gas Mileage

Your engine will need to perform twice as hard when the oil hardens and turns to gunk due to aging. Therefore, more gasoline is required to provide the same level of power. About 1 to 2 % variation in gas mileage may follow from this change.

And if you combust old motor oil in your vehicle, it might emit harmful exhaust that destroys the ecosystem.

Voided Car Warranty

If you maintain your automobile as the automaker advises, you won’t have to worry about voiding the warranties. Your warranties will be null and invalid if you do not adhere to maintenance conditions. There is a risk of expensive repairs if your motor is damaged, and the automaker will not cover them.

It is significantly more cost-effective to conduct regular oil changes and have the oil filters serviced than to repair a motor that has been broken. Using high-quality motor oil and replacing it at factory-recommended schedules can help your vehicle perform at its best for the longest possible time.

Motor oil is the most vital fluid for your automobile, second only to gasoline.

8 Signs You Need An Oil Change 

Dark Or Dirty Oil

When freshly changed, motor oil’s color is honeyed golden. However, as oil gets old and unclean from accumulated residual particles within the engine, it develops a considerably deeper, nearly black shade.

Always be sure to examine the oil level and quality routinely. If you want to check your oil quality, just pull out the testing stick and inspect the oil. You might also use a hand towel to clean the tip of the tester for a more reliable reading. Darker brown or black oil indicates it’s time to change it.

Ticking Or Tapping Sounds

Old, used motor oil is never good for your car. This is why car owners should change the oil after 5,000 miles. The oil in your vehicle will become filthy and viscous if you drive with outdated oil. As a result, your engine’s oil will experience difficulties reaching and lubricating the moving parts. 

Since the moving parts of your engine aren’t receiving enough lubricant to prevent corrosion, unpleasant metal-on-metal sounds may start emanating from it. Avoid expensive engine repairs by changing the oil once you hear such noises as soon as possible.

Burnt Oil Smell

You realize an issue with your oil if a burning odor permeates the car’s cabin; it’s among 7 stenches indicating severe car problems. 

As mentioned above, oil is the lube that generally cools down the engine’s parts and maintains the optimal temperature. Consequently, if your motor’s oil levels are too low, the engine’s system will overheat, and a burned oil smell may occur. This stench will even be more noticeable if your car suffers from an oil leak.

Exhaust Smoke

You probably aren’t surprised to see steam from your car’s exhaust in the wintertime. However, if blue or gray fumes begin to issue from your tailpipe, you most likely have an oil-related problem.

The lack of oil in your engine, which causes the stench of burned oil, and the fumes it emits are both direct results of an oil leak. In such a case, change the oil and address the leakage.

Car Stalling

You may experience a minor or severe malfunction if your car stalls while riding it. For example, if you have a dirty fuel filtration system, worn-out spark plugs, or oil in spark plug well, the issue is not much of a deal. A minor repair would suffice in lieu of a replacement.

An inoperable fuel pump or a jammed catalytic converter are examples of more severe issues.

Poor Fuel Economy

If you notice a drop in fuel economy, it may be time to change the oil. Old motor oil progressively solidifies and becomes practically sludge-like if it is not replaced.

Simply put, your motor will have to function harder and consume more gasoline if you employ viscous, old oil.

There are many potential causes of poor fuel economy, but if your oil is black and noticeably denser than fresh oil, changing it might help.

Overheating

If your engine oil is low or hasn’t been replaced for a long time, it won’t be able to lubricate as well as it should. It will ultimately lead to the vehicle overheating. Changing your oil and putting in new oil will typically fix the issue.

Warning Lights

These days, automobiles are equipped with processors and devices that may identify issues before they become severe. Your center console may feature warning lights; read your car handbook to learn what they indicate.

 If you haven’t changed your oil in a while and your “Service Engine Soon” warning has flashed up, it’s probably time to do so. Various indicators will let you know when you have issues like a dead battery, a burned-out tail light, a faulty gearbox, etc.

Oil monitoring systems (either built-in or accessed at predetermined intervals) on certain contemporary cars may also alert you when it’s necessary to change the oil. 

If your car’s check engine warning lights up, you may have a professional examine it using an OBD2 scanner or investigate the problem yourself.

How Long Can A Car Go Without An Oil Change?

Automakers formerly recommended oil changes after three months or 4800 kilometers. It’s no longer the case, though.

Modern cars may run 6000, 8500, or even 12,000 kilometers or more before needing an oil replacement, thanks to engine engineering and synthetic oil innovation developments. We recommend replacing the oil at the intervals specified in your car booklet.

Many modern cars’ engine oil lifespan control feature will alert you when it’s time to replace the oil. Although the specifics may vary from one model to the next, most oil-life control systems work by keeping tabs on the vehicle’s mileage and the driver’s behaviors to estimate how long the oil lasts for.

However, regardless of how many kilometers you’ve traveled, it’s a good idea to have an oil replacement at least once per year. 

In extreme cases, experts still advise you to change your oil after 6 months even if you’ve traveled less than 1000 kilometers since your previous service.

Wrapping Up 

Oil changes are a no-brainer, but putting one off is a bit risky. What happens if you don’t change your oil? In the worst-case scenarios, severe engine damage might occur.

Thus, whenever you notice bad/low-leveled oil symptoms or when the service schedule comes, get an oil change to prevent unwanted complications. Spending about $100 for a 60-minute oil replacement will help you save thousands paying for motor fixes that require days to finish! 

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