I was actually a passenger in a car that was having an active
oil leak. The driver knew what was happening, and was warned to
pull to the side of the road and call a tow truck, but she
wanted to try to make it home. Unfortunately, she didn't. The
engine seized up, never to run again. What a foolish and costly
mistake.
The simple fact is that the engine in your car
cannot run without lubrication from oil. Heat and friction
would, as illustrated in the case above, cause the engine to
come to a full halt.
When I bought a new car many years
ago and took it in for it's first oil change the mechanic said
to me that if I kept the oil changed I'd get 200,000 miles out
of the engine. He was right. I faithfully changed the oil every
3,000 miles and at 189,000 miles had to say goodbye to my
faithful friend, not due to engine trouble, but due to a rusting
frame. He also noticed that the oil filter that was on my
vehicle from the manufacturer was larger than actually called
for. He said this wasn't a bad idea. A larger amount of oil
meant more flowing through the engine cooling and lubricating
and cleaning the engine. When I started to change the oil myself
I kept on using the larger oil filter.
Most new cars
today don't call for their oil to be changed quite as often as
every 3,000 miles. Generally it's 5,000 and some even more. I
like to have the oil in my car changed at least every 5,000
miles. That oil change is actually more than an oil change. The
technician gets to give your car a once over, checking belts and
hoses and other vital fluids. Generally we don't even think
about these things. It's much easier to change a worn belt while
your car is in the shop than be broken down on the side of the
road waiting for a tow truck.
The simple act of changing
the oil in your car may be the best thing you can do to protect
your car, and your investment in it.
About the Author:
- This article courtesy of
http://www.porsche-monster.com
