| I was actually a passenger in a car that was having an activeoil leak. The driver knew what was happening, and was warned topull to the side of the road and call a tow truck, but shewanted to try to make it home. Unfortunately, she didn't. Theengine seized up, never to run again. What a foolish and costlymistake. The simple fact is that the engine in your car cannot runwithout lubrication from oil. Heat and friction would, asillustrated in the case above, cause the engine to come to afull halt. When I bought a new car many years ago and took it in for it'sfirst oil change the mechanic said to me that if I kept the oilchanged I'd get 200,000 miles out of the engine. He was right. Ifaithfully changed the oil every 3,000 miles and at 189,000miles had to say goodbye to my faithful friend, not due toengine trouble, but due to a rusting frame. He also noticed thatthe oil filter that was on my vehicle from the manufacturer waslarger than actually called for. He said this wasn't a bad idea.A larger amount of oil meant more flowing through the enginecooling and lubricating and cleaning the engine. When I startedto 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 quiteas often as every 3,000 miles. Generally it's 5,000 and someeven more. I like to have the oil in my car changed at leastevery 5,000 miles. That oil change is actually more than an oilchange. The technician gets to give your car a once over,checking belts and hoses and other vital fluids. Generally wedon't even think about these things. It's much easier to changea worn belt while your car is in the shop than be broken down onthe side of the road waiting for a tow truck. The simple act of changing the oil in your car may be the bestthing you can do to protect your car, and your investment in it |
| Engine Oil | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| ||||
