Changing your oil can have your car riding as if you just bought it off the lot. It’s important to make sure that you stay on top of your oil changes to ensure that the waste from the old oil doesn’t get into your engine and cause any unnecessary damage. When a cold engine is started, there’s a short period where there is no oil barrier between moving parts which results in tiny amounts of wear. Short journeys where the engine does not heat up completely cause the oil to age much more quickly. When the engine oil additives are depleted, sludge deposits can form in oil passages. Sludge deposits in internal oil passages reduce lubrication and can cause severe engine damage.

Engine oil lubricates and cools the moving components of your engine. Vehicle manufacturers specify exactly which oil should be used in each engine, typically found in two locations: the oil cap on the engine and in the owner’s manual. The specification defines the type and viscosity of the oil, as well as the additives required for protecting and lubricating the moving parts of the car, truck, or suv’s engine.