Oil Change- Why do I need it?
Shop the article
Why should you change the oil if you haven't gone that far?
Because even the best oil gets worse over time
Let’s take a look at why an Oil Change- Why do I need it?
No matter how good it is, all motor oil loses its effectiveness over time and needs to be changed to protect the engine at its best. Let’s look at what happens to oil over time and why it needs to be changed every so often.
Motor Oil over time Loses the base
Base oils are the building blocks of the finished oil that goes in your engine. They become less useful over time because of the following:
Oxidation
When molecules of oxygen and molecules of motor oil come together, they naturally break down.
Oxygen breaks down base oils and makes motor oil less effective, just like it turns a cut apple brown or rusts metal.
Oxidation can make oil thicker, which makes it less efficient at using energy. It also leads to the buildup of harmful sludge and deposits.
What does high heat & Moisture do to motor oil?
High Heat
Today’s engines run hotter than ever before, reaching up to 235°F (113oC) and even higher when towing or hauling.
For every 18°F (10°C) rise in temperature, the rate at which oil oxidizes doubles.
Moisture
Even when it’s parked in the garage, the temperature around your car can change.
Because of these changes in temperature, condensation forms inside your engine, which lets water in.
When you leave your car parked for a long time or take short trips that don’t give the engine enough time to warm up, water stays in the oil instead of evaporating and going out the tailpipe. Water can cause sludge, which is another reason why you need to change your oil.
Viscosity is directly linked to wear protection
Viscosity loss
The most important thing about a lubricant is how thick it is.
Viscosity is directly linked to wear protection, and your engine is made to work best with a certain viscosity of motor oil (e.g. 5W-30).
When the oil is squeezed between moving parts, like the piston ring and the cylinder wall, the high pressure can break up or “shear” the molecules, causing the oil to become less thick.
All of a sudden, the 5W-30 oil your engine was made to use is now more like a 5W-20 oil, and wear protection may be lost. When this happens, you need to get your oil changed.
Fuel dilution
Fuel can get past the piston rings and get into the motor oil, which makes the oil less thick.
When you take a lot of short trips that don’t let the oil reach normal operating temperature, the fuel won’t evaporate and leave the car through the PCV system.
Too much water in the fuel makes sludge and varnish, which means you have to change the oil more often.
Additives: designed to deplete
Additives are put into base oils to stop things from going wrong and to make the good properties work better.
For example, adding antioxidants can slow the rate at which something oxidizes. Detergency additives help stop deposits and sludge from forming and clean up deposits that have already formed. Some lubricants are made with anti-wear additives that form a “sacrificial barrier” on metal parts to stop them from wearing down.
Since additives are meant to be used up, this is one of the main reasons why motor oil stops working and needs to be changed.
Even though AMSOIL synthetic motor oil makes it easy to fit oil changes into your schedule, it is still important to put in new oil at the right time.
Check out why AMSOIL Products are the best for your Vehicle
Why AMSOIL? Superior protection against wear, improved fuel economy and better performance under extreme temperatures. AMSOIL is the only oil that is able to last up to 25,000 miles. Save yourself time and money and protect your car or truck by using AMSOIL products. Your vehicle will last longer and you will lower your maintenance expenses. Protect your Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Chevrolet, Ford, Chrysler or any other vehicle with AMSOIL synthetic oil!
We advise you to consult your owners manual for proper fluid recommendations and to consult the appropriate repair manual for proper maintenance procedures and specs. Follow all appropriate safety practices. We are not responsible for misuse of products.
Two Ways To Save
Order $100 retail or more in AMSOIL products and receive UPS ground shipping anywhere in the continental U.S.
CREATE A FREE ACCOUNT HERE
OR
Add a Preferred Customer membership to your cart and pay wholesale prices for all AMSOIL products – You save approximately 25 percent or more and receive free shipping on qualifying orders.
Save Online
Simply add the PC membership to your shopping cart and watch the prices DROP INSTANTLY.
