Nowadays the quality of the oils is very good, so that, over the kilometers and time, they could continue to maintain all their properties. However, there are other reasons why we must change it frequently.
With the use, the kilometers and the time, the oil degrades. It begins to lose its properties slightly, although in a very different way than the old motor lubricants did, which were much worse than the current ones. The problem is that not only quality is lost, but is also contaminated.
As you all know, the engine, with its movement and the friction of all its internal components, gradually generates small metallic remains that mix with the lubricant of our vehicle. Yes, we are talking about shavings. However, these particles can be so extremely fine that they are not even visible to the eye.
Some particles remain at the bottom of the crankcase and others are trapped by the oil filter. But this does not mean that some other circulate through the lubrication ducts and through a large part of the engine, being dragged by the oil circuit itself. That is another of the reasons why the engine oil must be replaced with some frequency, in addition to the logical loss of quality of the lubricant when we greatly exceed the recommended periods.
How many kilometers can you pass the review?
All manufacturers give a deadline to review our car and change the oil. It depends on the type of lubricant and the type of engine, but it is usually every one or two years, or every 10.000, 15.000 or 20.000 kilometers, among others. There are many varieties, but they always offer us time and kilometers, whichever comes first.
Does something happen if we exceed the kilometers recommended by the manufacturer? Well, like everything in life, it depends... If the manufacturer recommends you change the oil at 20.000 kilometers and we do it at 21.000, we are exceeding the indication by 5%. It is better to do it when it is due (and even better, a little before), but if we go a bit too far there should be no problem. Another thing is that instead of doing it at the recommended 20.000 we go to 30.000 kilometers, there we can have serious problems.
Over time, the exact same thing happens. If they recommend us every two years and we extend it for another 15 days, nothing will happen. No need to worry. The problem is if we ignore the times set by the supplier or the brand of the car and we go to four years. The oil will lose its aptitudes, chips will accumulate and motor life will be drastically reduced. So much so that it would not be surprising to have a serious breakdown.
In addition to the above, it is also necessary to take into account the type of use given to the car. If most of the kilometers are on the road at a stable speed and without stressing the engine, the oil will stay in better condition for longer. So, can be stretched plus the term.
On the contrary, if we practice sports driving or if we go to the circuit, constantly demanding the maximum capabilities of the mechanics, it is not convenient to stretch it. In fact, you have to shorten it since the oil suffers a lot in those conditions. The same goes for off-road cars that spend a lot of time in the field, especially when it comes to demanding situations.
Is the oil change noticeable?
A common question is whether the oil change can be perceived in the operation of the car while driving. Is it noticeable that the car runs better with the oil recently changed? Although many people say that they appreciate a greater smoothness and finesse in the operation of the engine, honestly, I think it is more of a false perception that we have.
Eye, I mean when you simply change the oil and filter. If some additional repair has been done, such as cylinder head planning with valve change, tappet adjustment, spark plug replacement or a turbo change, to name just a few examples, it is easy to see that the car runs smoother. But in case of changing only the lubricant, I'm afraid not (unless the previous oil was in very bad condition).
Signs of deterioration of a lubricant
At first glance, from the dipstick, it is difficult to know if the lubricant is very old or not. It is true that Many people think that if the oil is black it means that it needs to be changed., since before being used it has a rather brown color. However, this is a “half” truth.
Especially in diesel cars, in cars diesel, Oil changes color very quickly to black after using the vehicle. Its qualities are still good, but it darkens. Therefore, it is not a way to check if the lubricant is due to change or not. Something similar happens in gasoline cars, although it is true that the brown color lasts longer, but it also ends up blackening.
That said, the most important thing is note in each service the date and kilometers. Likewise, the date and limit kilometers at which the next maintenance must be carried out must also be noted.
What happens if you don't change the oil in the car?
Obviously, you already know that not changing the oil causes serious damage to the engine. The oil significantly reduces its functions if it is very old. Therefore, it stops lubricating as it should, its cooling capacity is reduced and wear is aggravated. We can get to seize the engine.
There have been cases in which the oil remains as if it were a paste. If it gets to that point, the engine damage will be irreparable. In fact, a long time ago we saw the case of an engine that was running for 130.000 kilometers without changing the oil. The images speak for themselves. You can see it at the link below:
And what about the filter?
The oil filter is a vital component in the mechanical lubrication system. It must be replaced when the brand recommends it, which in recent years is usually with each oil change.
Little by little, the metal remains resulting from internal wear (chips) are located in the engine crankcase, in addition to circulating through all its ducts. The oil filter removes most metal debris and other particles, although with the passage of kilometers the effectiveness of the filter is reduced, so it is not capable of trapping all metal debris.
If we don't change the oil filter it will become saturated and will not be able to absorb any more chips. It could even be the case that it becomes totally or partially clogged, creating overpressures that could cause the oil pump itself to break. Likewise, the chips that cannot be absorbed by the lubricant filter will be constantly moving through the circuit, creating even more wear.
Summarizing
These are the main reasons why it is very important to perform maintenance of our vehicle to change the oil and the oil filter of our car. If we practice a very relaxed driving outside the city, the interval can be lengthened a little. On the other hand, if we wander around a lot, practice sporty driving or go off-road, it is important to carry out the revision before what is indicated by the manufacturer.
If for some reason we spend a few kilometers to change the oil in our car, we should not worry. Under normal conditions, nothing will happen to our car, although we should not stop doing maintenance on our car for this reason.
In addition, even if we do the maintenance and fluid changes at the mileage stipulated by the manufacturer, it is highly recommended to periodically review the engine oil level of our car.
If we slightly exceed the maintenance intervals we will not have any problem with the engine. However, if we do not check the oil level, we can seriously damage the engine since, if we do not have any, we can seize the engine.
I have not changed the oil for 21 months, but it is clean and the level is correct, I can wait another month. A!! It is semi-synthetic 10×40.
Is it likely that the car has an engine error and cannot circulate because I have exceeded 2000 km of the revision?