You know you're supposed to change the oil in your car on a regular schedule, but when the time comes, you probably dread it. You have to take your car into the shop, wait until the work is done, and then pay a bill you'd rather not have to deal with. You may be tempted to put off getting the oil change done, but that is a big mistake. The few bucks you pay for an oil change today could save you hundreds or thousands of dollars in unnecessary repairs later on. This is why regular oil changes are important.

Makes Your Car More Valuable When You Sell It

If you have a record of oil changes in accordance with the car manufacturer's guidelines, you'll show future buyers you took good care of your car. This will increase its value as well as its appeal. Not only that, if you service your car on the recommended schedule, you might be able to transfer the warranty when you sell the car. If the oil wasn't changed on schedule, you may have damage to the engine. Even if there is no damage detected, a buyer may be leery of buying a car if it's possible that oil changes were neglected. For this reason, you should stick to the manufacturer's service schedule and keep copies of the receipts in case you ever need to use the warranty or sell your car.

Keeps Your Engine Cool And Lubricated

The purpose of oil is to keep all the moving parts in the engine lubricated and cool. To do that, oil has to be free of debris, thin, and flowing freely. Motor oil degrades over time. It gets thick, dark, and collects debris. This dirty oil can clog up moving parts in your engine. Plus, it may not flow well enough to keep the moving parts cool. This causes all kinds of engine problems, and some of them could be very costly to repair. The next time your car is ready for an oil change, do a dipstick test. Wipe the end of the stick on a white paper towel or napkin and note how dark and burnt the oil appears. Then compare that to how clear the oil looks right after an oil change. This gives you an idea of what dirty oil looks like. The longer you put off the oil change, the darker, thicker, and dirtier the oil gets.

Prolongs The Life Of Your Car

Having frequent oil changes is probably the best thing you can do to prolong the life of your car. If you want your car to run well and need few repairs, then preventative maintenance and regular oil changes are the way to go. Although it may be inconvenient, it is much better than having engine parts wear out needlessly and having to spend hundreds of dollars on repairs. Fresh oil protects the moving parts in your engine by keeping them clean and functioning without friction.

Taking your car in for an oil change doesn't have to be a big hassle. Since you know it has to be done every few months or after a certain number of miles, you can plan for it in advance so you don't have to scramble at the last minute. Find a shop near a coffee shop, mall, or bus line so you can occupy yourself while the work is done. Sitting in the waiting room is also a great time to catch up on reading or playing on social media. Rather than dreading an oil change, look at it as taking steps to get the most value and best service out of your car. An oil change doesn't cost much, especially if you can find a coupon, and it's a small price to pay for such great protection for your car.

For more information, contact local professionals like M & R Automotive Service Center Inc.

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