The Oil Change

You are on your way home late at night and you notice the check engine light is on. What could be the problem? It dawns on you that it has been quite a while since you last checked or changed the oil. Here’s why you should stop immediately and check it out instead of waiting till morning.

The oil in your car lubricates the engine parts, reducing friction and heat. It coats all the metal parts in the engine which reduces engine corrosion or oxidization. The oil must also hold all the by-products of combustion in suspension. Continuing to drive if there is no oil, or even lower levels of oil, will cause the engine to seize up and stall. This can do permanent damage to your engine which may require you to replace it entirely.

One of the most common procedures that goes hand in hand with automotive ownerships is the oil change. While you may have very little desire to change the oil yourself it is unwise to ignore the check engine warning light for too long. Here is some basic information to help you understand what an oil change is and why it is important.

Oil is made from “crude”. Crude is an organic compound found beneath the earth’s crust. Companies that own oil fields, like Triple Diamond Energy Corp, hire drilling rigs to bring up the oil. It is then sent to a refinery that converts it into different kinds of oil. Not all motor oil is equal. Various properties described by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) are used in grading. Viscosity refers to the resistance of motion or thickness of oil. Flash point is the lowest temperature the oil will begin to burn at. Pour point is the warmest temperature the oil stops flowing at. There are also Synthetic oils which are essentially manufactured molecule by molecule. These oils have a greater consistency, since they are free from irregularities and contaminants. Synthetic oils were first used by the Air Force during World War 2 for the new high performance radial engines used on fighter planes and bombers, which would not run on regular oil.

Oil breaks down over time and its ability to protect the engine is lessened. Most regular oils will last between 5000 – 7000 miles; however manufacturers often recommend changing your oil every 3000 miles. Synthetic oils do not breakdown as quickly, the additives in them still will and should be changed every 15 000 – 20 000 miles.
It doesn`t take much to prevent this kind of automotive breakdown. Always keep an emergency tool kit in the trunk of your car. Be sure to include a flashlight, funnel, some rags, and a few quarts of oil. Familiarize yourself with the layout of your engine should you find yourself. If your car has an oil pressure or engine temperature gauge on the dashboard you can look up the safe operating ranges in your service manual. Knowing this can prevent catastrophe in the event the check engine light fails to activate. Typically any readings in the “red zone” are cause for concern. Should a problem arise this can get you home, or to your preferred auto mechanic before any serious damage is caused.


About the Author: Robert Jent is President & CEO of Triple Diamond Energy Corp. Triple Diamond Energy is an independent producer of oil and natural gas. Located in the Dallas area, the company specializes in acquiring the highest quality prime oil and gas properties.