It’s easy to forget your car needs an oil change, and even easier to put it off. After all, what’s the worst that can happen? You’re already 10,000 miles over the oil change mark, so what’s a few more miles? Don’t let yourself be lulled into complacency just because nothing has happened yet. Your oil is your engine’s lifeblood, and if it’s not regularly switched out, it could permanently damage your engine. Working with an oil change service in Corpus Christi, TX takes the hassle out of oil changes for you—all you need to do is remember to take your vehicle in at regular intervals.

Here’s why changing your oil on time, every time is so important.

Why you need to change your oil

Unless you have an electric vehicle, your engine relies on internal combustion to power your car or truck down the road. This creates a significant amount of friction and heat. As a result, internal combustion engines require oil. The oil lubricates all the moving parts and helps keep the heat at a manageable level. This prevents the engine from overheating or seizing up.

Of course, you can’t just pour a bottle of oil into the engine and call it a day (forever). Over time, the heat from the engine and contaminants in the oil cause it to break down. It’s no longer able to lubricate and remove heat as efficiently as it once did. This means your engine is more prone to seizing and overheating.

When to change your oil

Not all vehicles are created equal, so make sure to check your owners’ manual for an exact recommendation. Generally, however, you should plan to change your oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles. It’s also a good idea to change your oil if you notice that it looks especially dirty. Dirty oil means it’s full of dirt, grime and debris from the engine. This creates more friction and can seriously harm the engine—which is very expensive to fix. It’s much cheaper to simply change the oil on a regular basis.

Where to change your oil

If you’re handy with vehicles, you can always change your oil yourself. All you need to do is jack up your car, drain the oil pan and replace the filter and drain plug. Then you fill the oil reservoir with fresh oil, and verify its fullness with the dipstick.

If, however, you’re unable to change the oil yourself, simply take your car in for an oil change in Corpus Christi, TX. Shops like Coastal Diesel Injection are happy to change your oil and check all your other vehicle fluids while they’re at it. Whether it’s part of a regular maintenance appointment or an oil change only, a shop can make this task a lot faster and easier. Whatever you choose to do, though, make sure you do it on a regular basis. Otherwise, you might find yourself with a dead engine.

For oil changes and more, Coastal Diesel Injection has you covered. Call or stop by today.