Have you noticed your car doesn’t run like it used to? If so, we reckon there are a lot of ideas inside your head. Ideas you think would change the situation to your advantage. One of them might sound like this: will my car drive better after an oil change?
If you’ve found yourself in that last sentence, you’re at the right place. Here at GasAnswer, we like to provide our readers with useful answers (well, obviously). That’s, among other things, why we’ll talk about this today. Stay tuned to learn about whether (or not) will your car drive better after an oil change!
Yes, your car will drive better after an oil change. Keeping your engine parts lubricated is the best thing you can do. In order to prolong the lifespan of your vehicle, that is. Also, you’ll see a change in performance and efficiency.
Now, if you want your car to run smoothly, you better read the whole thing. No, really, a preview just ain’t enough!
Table of Contents
Does low oil affect acceleration? (and other popular questions)
Before we sink deeper into the soft mud of today’s main theme, let’s discuss something else. Now, we won’t go too far away from the topic. We’re sticking to the relationship between your trusty vehicle and oil. Let’s begin by asking: does low oil really affect acceleration?
It’s possible for low oil to affect (slow down) your acceleration. If your engine oil’s low enough and has lost most of its additives, it can slow you down. If you’ve noticed something’s wrong, it might be time for an oil change. We just hope you haven’t caused some permanent harm to your engine already.
Let’s see if there’s anything else you should watch out for.
How do you know when it’s time for an oil change?
Here we’ll show you some of the signs that point out it’s time for a good ol’ oil change:
- You smell oil inside your vehicle. Once you smell oil inside your car, there’s a chance you’re dealing with an oil leak. Additionally, if your car smells of gas or exhaust fumes, your car might be overheating. Whatever the case, schedule maintenance right away.
- You drove your car for 3000 miles without an oil change. Experts suggest one should change the oil after every 3K miles.
- There’s some engine noise and knocking. Needless to mention, the oil protects the engine. It acts as a protective layer between your engine’s components. Rumbling or knocking sounds might point out that something’s wrong. The lack of lubrication is what’s causing the issue. Additionally, bad gasoline could be causing this, too. Here’s how to test for it.
- Your Check Engine or Oil Change light is flickering. This one’s probably the most obvious sign that it’s time to change your engine’s oil. Well, the vehicle will tell you itself. We guess there’s no reason to explain why the Oil Change light’s a sign here. However, even the other light we’ve mentioned can serve the same purpose. It might be a sign that your engine’s gone so bad because of the aforementioned lack of lubrication.
What are the benefits of an oil change?
Needless to say, your vehicle will reap plenty of benefits after you change its oil. Wondering what those benefits might be? Check out this list:
- You’ll enjoy a more efficient engine. By changing your oil and filters, you’ll prevent a slow-working, downright inefficient engine. In other words: you won’t waste a lot of gas.
- You’ll prolong the life of your engine. It’s only natural that a cleaner engine will enjoy a greater lifespan.
- It’s an eco-friendly decision. The gas discharged from your car will possess less hazardous hydrocarbons. Needless to say, they’re pretty bad for the environment.
- You’ll cool your engine’s components. The parts of your engine under the hood generate plenty of heat. Guaranteeing less friction with frequent oil changes will make it cooler.
Okay, so that’s that when it comes to basic info concerning the topic of an oil change. Let’s expand our talk by tackling the main issue. In other words: let’s see if your car will drive better after an oil change!
Does car drive better after oil change?
Okay, so we reckon you could’ve guessed our answer here. However, it’s best if we further elaborate on the subject. So, does a single car drive better after an oil change?
That’s right! Your car will drive better after an oil change, and here’s why. As we’ve already noted, your car will enjoy some benefits from an oil change. For instance, it’ll get better mileage because of more potent engine lubrication. Regular oil change also boosts compressions and decreases friction. That means your overall driving experience will be better. Oh, and did we mention this will also discard engine deposits that slow it down?
An analogy of sorts
Here we’ll give you something that you’d call a bizarre analogy. The thing is: imagine your car is like a human body. Also, imagine the oil inside your vehicle is like fibers and greens inside humans. By eating proper food, we allow our bodies to function better. In other words: we enable our internal systems to work like a charm. Not having the right diet can lead to various diseases.
Basically, it’s the same thing with cars. Changing their oil regularly will make their internal life easier. There ain’t a better thing to do to your vehicle. If you plan on protecting it, that is.
Okay, so now you know that your car will actually drive better after an oil change. Let’s see if there are some extra questions we’d like to pose!
Will my car feel better after a service?
There’s no need to mention that your car will definitely feel better after a service. An oil change is only a portion of that. Driving your vehicle around with low fluid levels will do some harm to your engine. Also, here’s how you’ll check your car for low fluids.
By avoiding servicing your vehicle, you’ll cause a decrease in its performance. You’ll hear some strange noises from your engine and experience various other issues.
What kind of services exist out there?
You know how they say: the more expensive the service, the more will it include. Services may or may not include:
- Oil change.
- Oil filter change.
- Visual inspection.
- Checking the fluid levels.
- Checking breaks.
Of course, it does without saying that service must include at least one of these tasks. In order to be called a service, that is. Anyway, the most expensive type of service will include all five of them.
What kind of service should I opt for?
Well, it’s not that easy to say. The type of service will depend on the intervals between your past services. Also, you’ll have to count the mileage put on the car since it was last time serviced. In general, you should service your car once a year. Or once you’ve driven it for about 10-12K miles.
A full service is required only when you’re a bit lazy. In other words: once you figured out it’s been a while since your past service. By conducting regular basic service every now and then, you won’t need the full treatment.
How can I make my car last 200k miles?
We’ve prepared a little bonus round to reward your patience. There are a lot of folks that type this one into their Google search bars. We’ll answer it in a second. So, how can you make your car last for 200K miles and beyond?
- Use quality gasoline. Even though buying cheaper gas will save you money, avoid doing such a thing. It’ll take its toll on your car over a period of time. As you might’ve heard, low-grade gas can reduce the power of your acceleration. Speaking of gasoline grades, check this article.
- Never run your car on empty. Otherwise, the sediment will be pushed into your vehicle’s engine. That, of course, can’t be good.
- Don’t opt for the cheapest car parts. Just like with (not) using cheaper gas, avoid buying the cheapest parts. The money you’ll save won’t mean anything in the long run.
- Find a mechanic you can trust. This one is very important. You’ll need to call an experienced professional each time something goes awry.
- Clean your vehicle on a regular basis. We know, we know. It’s not like anyone “loves” to clean anything. However, by keeping your vehicle’s exterior clean, you’ll do a lot. In other words: you’ll prevent the appearance of rust.
- Pay close attention. Yup, keep your eyes wide open and your ears pricked! A car that’s in trouble will “notify” you if something’s wrong. And don’t forget the nose, too. The smell of gasoline inside your car ain’t a good thing.
The bottom line
Okay, folks, so we’ve reached the bottom margin. Now you know whether (or not) an oil change will make your car drive better. The answer’s fairly simple: yes, it most definitely will.
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