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Every spare part on a car is something that the car needs to move efficiently and help you drive on the road smoothly. Every part has a maintenance period. If the driver wants the car to last a long time, they should take care of and maintain it regularly, whether it’s rotating tires, brake work, or changing the engine oil.
If you don’t change it quickly, the engine will use old, inefficient engine oil to work, and this may damage your engine. Changing the engine oil according to the regular maintenance schedule is important. If you find that the oil has changed color, you should take your car to change the engine oil immediately.
For those who love their cars, engine care and engine oil are important basic factors in maintaining and extending the lifespan of the car. A simple and basic way to take care of your car oil, especially changing the engine oil. Changing the engine oil also depends on the distance you traveled.
Although it seems easy, many people still neglect this point. Today, we have compiled information about changing the oil that car lovers should not miss, along with recommendations on where to change the oil and the engine oil brand, to help you decide.
🛢️ What Is Engine Oil?
Engine oil is a lubricant that is placed between the surfaces of internal engine parts. It acts as a film coating metal parts. It can help reduce friction and wear of metal objects while the engine is moving, especially when starting the car.
In addition, engine oil has many other benefits. It helps cool engine parts, prevents rust, corrosion, soot, and the accumulation of dirt and metal powder that can cause clogging inside the engine parts, and prevents oxidation reactions. This helps maintain the quality of the oil. If the engine oil is too thick or not viscous, the engine oil will not be able to flow and lubricate the engine effectively.
Therefore, choosing the right engine oil is very important and also helps the car work efficiently. It is like a pump that helps the engine’s heart work at its best.
🧪 How Many Types Of Engine Oil Are There?
There are 3 types of engine oil available on the market and at service centers. Each type has the following differences:
➡️ 1. Ordinary Engine Oil
Regular engine oil or petroleum engine oil is produced from lubricating oil that is refined from petroleum. You can use it for about 3,500-5,000 km. It lasts approximately six months, and its engine oil change is the most affordable among all engine oils..
➡️ 2. Semi-synthetic Engine Oil
Semi- Synthetic engine oil is a lubricant that uses natural oil as a base and adds synthetic additives to give it higher properties. It can be used for about 7,000 kilometers and has a lifespan of about 6-9 months. Its normal price is in the middle between normal engine oil and fully synthetic engine oil.
➡️ 3. Synthetic Engine Oil
Synthetic engine oil is a 100% synthetic lubricant with few impurities. It can be used for about 10,000-15,000 kilometers and has a lifespan of about 1 year, but it is the most expensive of all types of engine oil.
Why Do You Need To Change Your Engine Oil?
Engine oil is essential for engine operation because the engine needs oil to help lubricate various parts of the engine so that your car can move smoothly on the road. Let’s see the main reasons why your engine needs engine oil and should change the oil regularly.
- ⏩ First, motor oil lubricates all the moving parts inside your engine to keep everything running smoothly;
- ⏩ Engine oil can help reduce the heat of a running engine to prevent overheating by reducing friction, increasing heat transfer and absorbing smoke from combustion;
- ⏩ Proper engine oil level will help the engine oil circulate properly, allowing the engine to receive enough engine oil to operate.
When your oil level is too low or your oil is dirty, it can prevent your engine from operating properly and can lead to serious engine problems such as reduced engine life and engine overheating. So, if your oil level is old or too low, take your car in for an engine oil change. And regular oil changes can keep your engine in good shape and protect all your engine parts.
Don’t wait for a warning light
When Should You Change Your Engine Oil?
You should change the engine oil according to the manual because it is a convenient and easy method. Also, the manual usually specifies various values, especially for new cars where changing the oil is easier and more convenient than old cars. If it is a car that is used regularly, you can follow these simple principles:
🛣️ Change Engine Oil According to Distance
For old cars that sometimes cannot find the manual, including those who bought a second-hand car and do not know when the car needs an oil change, look for the oil label hanging next to the steering wheel of the car. It will tell you the distance that should be changed. You can compare the car’s mileage with the numbers on the label. If the distance is due to be changed, it is time to change the oil.
Normally, most people change engine oil every 8,000 – 10,000 kilometers, depending on the quality of the engine oil we use. If the engine oil is of a good grade, it can run up to 15,000 kilometers, and it also depends on the use of the car. If you use the car frequently, you should change it after 5,000 kilometers. So, how often should you change your car’s engine oil?
- You should change conventional engine oil (petroleum) at 7,000-7,500 km;
- Change semi- synthetic engine oil at every 10,000-15,000 km;
- For synthetic engine oil, you should change it every 15,000-20,000 km.
📅 Change Engine Oil According to Schedule
For cars that you don’t drive often, it will take a long time for the mileage to reach ten thousand kilometers. However, it does not mean that you have to wait until the specified distance is reached before changing. However, you should change it every 6 months. For cars that you use less, it does not matter if the mileage is low. Look at the time instead. So, how many months should you change your car’s engine oil?
- You should change the conventional engine oil (petroleum) every 6 months;
- Change semi-synthetic engine oil every 6-9 months;
- You should change synthetic engine oil every year.
The reason why car owners still need to change the engine oil even though they don’t use the car very often is because the engine oil itself can deteriorate over time. In addition, if the engine is not started for a long time, moisture may develop inside the engine, which can lead to rust or soot if you use the car forcefully.
However, changing the engine oil does not necessarily have to wait until the specified distance or time is reached. If the engine oil is found to be decreasing or has an unusual black color, you should change the engine oil immediately. In addition, you must inspect the car again in detail because the engine oil volume decreasing or the color changing is a sign that the car is starting to show abnormalities.
5 Benefits Of Engine Oil That Car Users Should Know!
Engine oil or lubricant is an important fluid that affects the operation of the engine. Because good quality car engine oil can be a measure of the driving performance of your car, such as the car’s acceleration is normal, there is no loud engine noise, the fuel consumption is normal, etc.
All of this shows that your engine is still working efficiently. And many people may not have known before that engine oil is one of the main factors that directly affects the operation of the engine.
Engine oil is like a medium that helps every part of the engine work together efficiently. Importantly, while engine oil circulates to lubricate various parts of the engine, it also has many other positive effects on the engine’s performance. How much benefit does it have? We would like to take everyone to see it together.
✅ 1. Helps Lubricate Various Parts Of The Engine
When you inject the engine oil into the engine, it acts like a thin film, coating the metal parts of the engine to reduce friction between the metal parts while the engine is running. This helps extend the lifespan and reduce wear and tear of the engine parts. The thickness of the film that coats the metal parts also depends on the viscosity level of the engine oil you have selected.
✅ 2. Prevent Rust And Corrosion Of Engine Parts
The components of engine oil contain a quality substance called rust Inhibitor. It has the ability to adhere to metal surfaces to prevent water or moisture from penetrating the metal surface. Water vapor and moisture are produced from engine combustion and are the main cause of rust inside the engine.
Similarly, the combustion of fuel creates sulfuric acid which corrodes engine parts and causes them to wear out. Therefore, engine oil contains a quality substance that resists corrosion, which results in the engine oil being alkaline to neutralize the sulfuric acid that occurs, preventing corrosion of metal parts.
✅ 3. Helps Cool The Engine
While the engine is running, the friction between internal metal parts such as cylinders, cylinder heads, pistons, and crankshafts is the main cause of high heat inside the engine. In addition to helping coat and reduce friction between metal parts, while the engine oil flows to lubricate various parts inside the engine, when it flows back out, it brings heat from the metal parts back into the oil pan. This prevents the temperature of various engine parts from being too high, so that the engine temperature can be controlled appropriately and it can work at its full efficiency.
✅ 4. Helps Maintain Engine Compression
The compression of the engine is caused by the work of the piston, piston rings and piston cylinder. Engine oil acts like a film that coats the piston cylinder walls and is inserted into various parts to prevent gases from flowing through the gaps and to prevent compression from leaking out of the combustion chamber. It also helps to maintain the engine’s compression.
✅ 5. Keep The Engine Clean
Combustion in the engine results in soot and metal powder, which will definitely stick to various parts of the engine system. Therefore, engine oil contains additives that clean dirt and soot to prevent the accumulation of metal powder, which may cause clogging. Engine oil will help clean the stuck dirt.
As the engine oil flows through the various parts of the engine, it will take this dirt out with it. Both soot and metal dirt will be filtered out by the engine oil filter.
Summary: All of these are the many benefits of engine oil. In addition to lubricating various parts within the engine, it also helps the internal systems of the engine work together efficiently. Therefore, if you want the engine to work at its best, you should choose good quality engine oil.
Riverfront Auto Dallas offers a wide range of high quality lubricant products, including gear oil, brake oil, and wholesale engine oil for all types of diesel and gasoline engines in the Riverfront city of Texas.
Engine Oil: What Happens If You Don't Change It?
For not changing the engine oil as scheduled or driving beyond the specified distance, it will definitely have a negative effect on the engine. The main ones are as follows:
🛢️ Engine Oil, Viscosity
If you feel that the car is not accelerating smoothly, when you step on the accelerator, it does not respond quickly and does not release very well, it means that the engine oil is starting to thicken because it has been used for a long time.
⚙️ Engine Oil Is Deteriorated
Every time the engine is running, the internal metal parts wear out. Engine oil helps lubricate them so that the metal parts do not rub against each other directly, which slows down the engine’s wear. However, if the engine oil deteriorates, the lubrication efficiency will decrease, causing the internal parts to wear out as well.
🔊 Consuming Oil, Making Noise, And Causing Pollution
This is a result of the engine working harder because the efficiency of the engine oil decreases over time, and the engine also makes louder noises. In addition, the vehicle also produces more pollution because the engine has to work harder when accelerating more.
💸 Repair Costs Are More Expensive Than Engine Oil
Leaving it past the due date for too long will reduce the cleaning efficiency of the deposits. Internal parts will accumulate sticky rubber deposits that stick inside the machine. If these deposits are found on the camshafts, it could cost more than $300 to repair, which is ten times more expensive than changing the engine oil each time.
Where Is A Good Place To Change The Engine Oil?
Changing engine oil is an important thing that helps preserve and extend the life of various engine parts. Choosing the right oil for your engine is another thing that you shouldn’t overlook. Before we take our car to get an oil change, let’s take a look at the differences between oil changes at a service center and an outside garage. So, what are the advantages and disadvantages?
🛠️ Change Engine Oil At The Service Center
Changing the engine oil at various car service centers will help you be confident that you will receive good service according to standards, check and examine various parts by technicians who are experts in that brand of car.
In addition, some service centers also offer discounts or promotions to promote sales, such as free labor, spare parts and other service fees for those who just bought a new car. Also, you are confident in the quality of spare parts, various components and after-service warranties. Therefore, it is suitable for new drivers or owners of new cars.
However, changing the engine oil at the service center is quite expensive. In addition, there is a long wait in line for service. Some places require you to call to make a reservation or make an appointment in advance.
🔧 Strength
- Receive good service according to standards, checked by expert technicians;
- Are there any discounts or promotions for sales?
- Be confident in the quality of spare parts. There is a guarantee after service.
⚠️ Weakness
- The service fee is quite high;
- You have to wait in line to receive service. Some places require you to call to make a reservation or make an appointment in advance.
🛠️ Change the Engine Oil at the Garage
But for oil changes at general service centers or outside garages, the cost will be much cheaper. Some garages with experts provide good service with standards no different from famous car service centers.
In addition, some garages may have promotions, discounts, exchanges, giveaways, and more than other car brands. Plus, you get convenience and speed, no need to wait in long lines.
However, each garage provides services according to different standards. Therefore, it is possible that the garage that provides the service may not have a complete inspection or service. Some equipment or parts may not have a warranty or are imitation models, not genuine parts from the factory. Therefore, it is suitable for car owners who have some basic knowledge about cars.
🔧 Strength
- Costs are lower;
- There may be more promotions than car companies;
- Convenient, fast, no long wait.
⚠️ Weakness
- Service may not be comprehensive;
- Spare parts may not be up to standard.
in conclusion
Checking the engine oil is an important matter of car care. But other parts of your car need care as well. There are other cares that will make your car last longer. If you find that your engine oil has turned black and you want to change your engine oil, come and let us take care of you at Riverfront Auto Dallas in Riverfront, Dallas TX.
We have modern tools and a team of skilled technicians who will help take care of and check the initial safety, along with checking all important parts and spare parts that will make users feel at ease and confident every time they bring their car in for service.
We will provide services at the right time from fast service, reasonable price, and take into account the highest safety of the users.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about engine oil change
What does engine oil do for your car?
Engine oil lubricates engine parts, reduces friction, cools internal temperatures, prevents corrosion, and keeps the engine clean by flushing out contaminants.
How often should I change my engine oil?
You should change:
| Oil Type | Change Interval (Distance) | Change Interval (Time) |
|---|---|---|
| Conventional Oil | Every 7,000–7,500 km | Every 6 months |
| Semi-Synthetic Oil | Every 10,000–15,000 km | Every 6–9 months |
| Synthetic Oil | Every 15,000–20,000 km | Once a year |
📌 Follow your car’s manual for the most accurate schedule.
What happens if I don’t change my engine oil?
Old or dirty oil can reduce engine efficiency, cause overheating, increase wear, and even lead to engine failure. Regular oil changes protect your engine from long-term damage.
How can I tell if my engine oil needs changing?
Look for these signs:
- Oil looks dark or dirty;
- Engine makes loud noises;
- Car feels sluggish when accelerating;
- Oil change indicator or check engine light is on;
- Oil level is lower than normal.
Which type of engine oil should I use?
There are three main types:
- Conventional oil – budget-friendly, ideal for older engines.
- Semi-synthetic oil – blends performance and value.
- Synthetic oil – offers the best protection and lasts the longest.
Choose based on your driving habits and manufacturer recommendation.
Can I change engine oil based on time, not mileage?
Yes. Even if you don’t drive often, engine oil can degrade over time due to moisture and oxidation. Change your oil every 6 to 12 months based on the type used.
What are the benefits of synthetic engine oil?
Synthetic oil offers:
- Longer-lasting protection;
- Better performance in extreme temperatures;
- Superior engine cleanliness;
- Reduced engine wear and tear.
Is it bad to skip an engine oil change?
Yes. Skipping oil changes can lead to:
- Sludge buildup;
- Reduced engine performance;
- Overheating;
- Expensive engine repairs or total failure
How do I check my engine oil level?
- Park the car on level ground;
- Turn off the engine and let it cool;
- Remove the dipstick, wipe clean, reinsert, and check the level
Oil should be between the min and max marks and appear amber or light brown.
Where can I get my engine oil changed in Dallas?
You can get a professional oil change at Riverfront Auto Dallas, offering top-grade lubricants and expert services for all gasoline and diesel engines in Texas.
