4 Reasons to Stay on Schedule with Oil Changes in Louisville, KY

Posted on September 1, 2015 by Douglas Addington

Your automobile’s reliability is dependent upon how well you keep to a routine maintenance schedule. The best way to keep your car running smoothly is to keep up with scheduled oil changes. Preventative maintenance is critical, and considering how inexpensive most routine maintenance is, there is little excuse why you can’t properly take care of your car.

Oil changes are the most impactful routine service when you consider how essential quality oil is to the proper operation of your vehicle’s engine components. Oil changes in Louisville, KY are recommended every 3,000 to 5,000 miles you put on your car and can take as little as half an hour. Here’s a closer look at some of the reasons why regular oil changes are so critical.

• Changing the filter: A replacement filter is a part of any routine oil change, and yours will be installed by an expert technician. A new filter helps with the proper distribution of oil throughout your car’s engine. Not only does it allow clean oil to pass through, but most importantly, the filter also keeps buildup and sludge out of the engine. Old filters exposed to degraded oil become clogged and useless, and this damages internal parts, leading to eventual engine failure. Oil filters are inexpensive and part of the cost of an oil change in Louisville, KY.
• Fresh oil is most effective: Since oil breaks down over time, it’s important to keep the oil in your car’s engine in quality condition. The temperature and stress put on your engine requires the lubricant to be high quality in order to be effective, but if oil is not changed during the designated time, its quality degrades until the oil no longer acts as a lubricant. Actually, the opposite occurs, as clogs and gunk bring your engine to a grinding halt. This form of engine failure is incredibly expensive to repair, and easily avoided through regular oil changes.
• Contaminated oil slowly damages your engine: When old oil is circulated throughout the engine, it picks up contamination from dirt, metal dust and even water. Take a look sometime at how oil looks fresh out of the bottle versus how it looks when getting drained from your engine after 3,000 miles—the difference is striking. Failing to remove the old oil will allow this sludge to accumulate inside of the engine, causing eventual damage. Old and degraded oil can cause cracks and leaks within the engine and necessitate expensive repairs.
• Building the habit is worth it: Oil changes are easy to forget. Fortunately, your mechanic will place a sticker on the corner of your windshield reminding you of the last time you had your oil changed, and when you are scheduled to have the next one. Going a little over the recommended mileage will not destroy your car, but at the same time, the longer you wait raises the risk of serious engine damage. Stay on top of your oil changes to prolong the life of your vehicle.

Stop by St. Matthews Imports for all of your routine car maintenance needs, including oil changes in Louisville, KY. Oil changes are inexpensive and take hardly any time given the value they provide. Call to set up an appointment or just come on by and see us today!