Missing an oil change sounds like a minor issue, and for some vehicle owners, it can be. However, many bad things can happen when you skip the oil change and may end up costing you more money down the road. Performing essential maintenance for your car can extend the life of your car and help you avoid sudden breakdowns.

How Often Do You Really Need to Change Your Oil?

Although many mechanics recommend doing it after a certain number of miles, we recommend checking your manual to double-check. If you’re not a car aficionado, you can at least be knowledgeable about how often you need to change your oil and the reason as to why.

1. Keeps the engine lubricated: The oil acts as a lubricant in the engine, ensuring all the smaller parts like pistons and valves are working properly together.
2. Prevents overheating: If the oil isn’t there to act as a lubricant, the engine parts can become too hot. This can result in a breakdown or require a larger repair than you may be prepared to pay for.
3. Improves gas mileage: Keeping the engine oiled up and cooled down means your car is working more efficiently, and you will enjoy a smoother ride. Lack of oil can cause increased fuel consumption, eating up the gas over fewer miles.
4. Keeps the engine clean: The oil and the additives inside it operate as a cleaning crew, attacking the crevices of your engine and keeping everything clean. This prevents particles from entering and corrupting your engine.
5. Extends the life of your vehicle: An engine that isn’t well lubricated gets dirty. The parts inside need to work harder to move the car, and it’s less fuel-efficient. All this adds up over time and takes away from the life of your vehicle.

How to Stay On Top of Oil Changes

Now that you know all the drawbacks of skipping your scheduled oil changes, here are a few things you should know about staying on top of this maintenance task.

1. Don’t miss your oil change: It seems obvious, but we’re saying it again. If you have a scheduled appointment, do your best to make it or reschedule for as soon as possible. Putting off errands happens often, but this is one you shouldn’t skip.
2. Check levels yourself: If you’re not sure how to do so, there are online tutorials to view. This will tell you if you are ready for an oil change or low on oil in general.
3. Consider synthetic oil: The additives are the same as what goes in petroleum oil, so your engine is still getting cleaned and staying cool. But synthetic oil may last longer or not break down as fast, so it could be worth it if you’re looking to spread out your oil changes.

Consider when you cook a meal on your stovetop, using oil in a cast iron pan. The oil initially is clear. After you start cooking, it becomes clogged with fat and other runoffs. You wouldn’t continue using dirty cooking oil for future meals, and you don’t want to use it in your engine!

Protect Your Vehicle with Endurance

Avoiding proper maintenance can result in sudden breakdowns and shorten the lifespan of your vehicle. Oil changes can be overlooked in the grand scheme of things but are essential to stay up-to-date on.

That’s not to say sudden breakdowns can’t occur. If they do, protect yourself with an Endurance vehicle protection plan. Now more than ever, preparing for the future is essential. With our contracts, customers receive a FREE year of Endurance Elite Benefits additional perks like 24/7 roadside assistance, key fob replacement, tire repairs/replacements, and more.

If you don’t have auto protection from Endurance, now is the time to prepare for the unexpected. We have limited time relief plans available, and you can request a no-obligation quote or call 866.918.1438 to hear about minimal down payments. There’s a lot to think about when it comes to car maintenance, and we’re here to help.