What Happens If I Skip an Oil Change?

Proper maintenance keeps your car running smoothly, and few services are more important than the oil change. You may be able to delay one for a little bit, but the mechanics here at Woodhouse Ford of Omaha will be quick to tell you why putting off this kind of maintenance is a bad idea. Here’s what Omaha drivers need to know.

What Oil Does

Motor oil helps lubricate your engine and keeps it protected from impurities that could damage it. Over time, the oil becomes less of a liquid and more of a sludge, which makes it more difficult for it to do this important job. That’s when it needs to be changed.

If you’re using synthetic oil, you can usually go longer between oil changes than a driver who uses conventional motor oil. However, you still can’t delay an oil change for too long because it causes all kinds of issues.

Problems Caused by Delayed Oil Changes

When you don’t change your oil, you can begin to experience a whole host of automotive issues. These problems aren’t just annoying. They can also end up costing you money.

If you’re using old oil, your engine has to work harder to do its job. Your car can become less fuel-efficient as a result, and that’s certainly not something you want to deal with when gas prices are high. Skipping that inexpensive oil change can end up being a surprising hit to your wallet.

Things can get worse though. Old oil doesn’t protect your engine as well, which means that you’re risking engine damage if you don’t keep up on oil changes. This is expensive to fix and could end up reducing the lifespan of your vehicle.

So if you need an oil change, schedule an appointment at our Ford service center in Omaha. Our mechanics will get you the fresh oil you need, and you’ll be back out on the road in no time.