Have you ever wondered why we change the oil in our cars regularly?

A lot of people who do this regular maintenance on their automobile do not know or understand what it is or why they are doing it.

Changing the oil in a car is a type of routine maintenance—and is one of the most important routine maintenance for your car. The process is more than just replacing the old oil with fresh new oil, but it also replaces and recycles the engine oil filter to ensure that the vehicle is running safely.

Because motor oil and the engine oil filter are necessary and important to run and protect your vehicle, getting a regular oil change is the best way to keep your vehicle in a healthy condition.

Over time, the moving parts of vehicles rust or erode from friction and create heat. The motor oil lubricates the engine of the car and absorbs heat to prevent overheating so that the internal parts of the car can work together efficiently.

Engine oils break down and wear out eventually. When this happens, it loses its ability to absorb heat and lubricate your engine effectively. Vehicle owners should change their engine oil before this happens to avoid major engine troubles.

The regularity of your oil change depends on a few factors such as the type of oil and filter used, the way you drive, where you live, and your engine type. Most mechanics recommend getting an oil change every 3,000 miles, whereas automobile manufacturers suggest a longer interval, such every 5,000 miles. However, people who tend to drive at much higher speeds, have older engines, and live in very hot, cold, or dusty areas, should consider changing their oil more often. Manufacturers also suggest getting an oil change every 10,000 miles for those who use special synthetic oil. Car owners should consult the owner’s manual in the glove compartment of their car so that they will know exactly when an oil change is needed.

The oil filter, which is the tool used to clean the motor oil as it runs through the engine, is also changed during the oil change. Like the motor oil, if it is not changed, it will also lose its effectiveness, and will not have the ability to clean the motor oil. If the oil filter can no longer clean the motor oil, the oil will eventually become ineffective at protecting your engine.