Conventional Oil Maintenance Schedule
Every vehicle comes with a maintenance schedule found in the owner's booklet outlining what engine oil is recommended and how often it needs to be changed based on mileage. Late-model vehicles with the oil monitoring system complete this for the driver and signals a dashboard warning when little oil life remains and change service is due. However, older-model vehicles without oil monitoring will need to know the oil change interval and monitor mileage as the interval approaches.
Dangers of Driving Past the Oil Change Interval
Drivers choosing to put off an oil change service and driving beyond the maintenance interval are choosing to accept what can happen to an engine operating with sludgy, broken-down oil. As the oil within the engine begins losing integrity as a lubricant due to extreme heat exposure, the risk of excessive wear & tear on the engine's internal components increases exponentially.Â
As engine oil breaks down further, it puts the engine at significant risk of overheating. The ultimate consequence of driving beyond the oil change interval is an overheated engine and immobilized vehicle. If you're lucky, you might escape this situation with repairs, but this sad story can end with severe damages requiring engine replacement.Â
