What Happens When You Don’t Change Your Car’s Oil
Regular maintenance is imperative for your car, particularly oil changes. Here’s why
Modern cars typically run without a hitch. Most will go well over 100,000 miles, with regularly scheduled maintenance over the course of the car’s life. The most routine of all automotive maintenance, is, of course, changing the oil. Most dealers will recommend changing oil every 5,000-or-so miles, although running synthetic oil can add a few thousand to that number. The solid majority of car owners are responsible and take care of this easy practice, with an occasional delay. What is not acceptable, however, is waiting to change oil after tens of thousands of miles. Or 50,000 miles, as is the ridiculous case in the video below.
Oil, as it turns out, eventually thickens and turns to sludge — which isn’t exactly great at lubricating your engine (duh). The process of oil turning to sludge will likely happen around 15,000 harsh miles, and a healthy dose of neglecting your car-owning responsibilities. Not only will the oil itself thicken, but this will prevent the oil filter from… well, filtering. If the pores of the filter become clogged, then any number of harmful deposits can enter your engine, creating all sorts of pandemonium.
So the lesson of the day is a simple one: get your oil changed on a normal basis! The effects of doing the opposite are sure to cause grave danger to your beloved car. Don’t be that person.
Check out just how dirty this filter becomes after going more than 50,000 miles without a change, then let us know what you think.