10 Common Oil Change Mistakes to Steer Clear of
If you do an oil change or have a shop to do it, your car might not get the TLC it needs. Anyone who has ever changed their car’s oil may have committed one of the below-listed mistakes at some point. So, now is the time to learn from and avoid those mistakes. Refer to the list below of the top ten mistakes to avoid during an oil change.
Not prepping for the oil change
When you go for a professional oil change service, everything necessary for completing the oil change is within arm’s reach from the bottom of the vehicle’s engine. Walking around to fetch things can waste a lot of time. So when you change your oil, it is better to be equipped with every tool needed during the oil change. Thus, before beginning, have everything readily available.
Not warming the engine
The oil does not flow well if cold. Hence, draining oil from the cold engine can take a while. Some of the oil would not drain out of the cold engine, which would have come off if the engine had been warmed. Thus, start the vehicle and let it run for five to ten minutes to reach its operating temperature.
Not keeping track of the mileage
You must change your oil after meeting one of the two conditions:
- After a specified number of miles
- After a decided number of months
Not tabbing the miles since the last oil change can cause trouble. You might be changing the oil too soon or too late (usually the latter), and both these situations can damage your engine. Please note that even if you get your oil changed at the garage, the professionals there might also forget to mark the mileage at which you got the oil change. Hence, it is imperative to pay attention to yourself to know when your last oil change was.