A WOMAN realized too late that she’d made a very costly mistake after putting off a crucial maintenance job on her car for some 25,000 miles.
In a viral clip shared on TikTok, which currently boasts over 574,000 views, a car owner named Gaby revealed her major blunder when it came to routinely changing her vehicle’s oil.
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In the video, which can be found under the TikTok handle @gabycuyler, she says: “I haven’t gotten an oil change since June of last year, which is 23,000 miles ago.
“I didn’t realize that was bad because I thought I was supposed to get one every 15,000 miles.”
She also holds up a Firestone sticker that shows the date her next oil change for her Nissan was due.
Pointing at the number on the sticker, which reads ‘+5,000,’ Gaby says: “It looks to me like it said 15,000 miles.
“I Googled it yesterday because my car was flashing and saying, ‘Warning, you have really low oil.’
“And I found out you have to get an oil change every 5,000 miles… I can’t believe my car didn’t break on the spot.”
Gaby’s approach to her car’s basic maintenance baffled people in the comments.
One person wrote: “These people share the road with us.”
Another commented: “Guys, let her keep the car. We don’t want this one on the used market.”
A third joked: “Bro almost drove around the whole world on one oil change.”
Indeed, cars should generally get their oil changed every 3,000 to 7,500 miles.
According to the American Automobile Association, it depends on the car’s age, type of oil, and driving conditions – but modern lubricants often advise changing your oil at least every 7,500 miles.
Furthermore, some auto shops may recommend that 10,000 miles is fine.
Recently, mechanics at Royal Auto Shop shortened their oil change interval from 10,000 to 5,000 miles, explaining that “high oil change intervals can allow carbon to build up in the engine ring lands, making the rings stick and causing oil to burn faster.
“However, changing oil frequently can prevent this cycle, helping engines last longer.”
A mechanic for the company added: “We’re looking out for our clients.
“We need these vehicles to last.
“I don’t think it’s the manufacturer’s priority to get the car to last 300,000 miles.”
Failure to keep up with oil changes can have serious consequences. Not only will it reduce a car’s fuel efficiency, but it can also damage the engine.
There’s also the chance of sludge buildup, which can clog passages and cause the engine to overheat.
But in most cases, missing an oil change or not changing it exactly at the recommended interval isn’t the end of the world – although it can become dangerous after 23,000 miles without being changed.
Later in Gaby’s video, she’s seen emptying a bottle of Valvoline synthetic oil into her car. However, the best practice is to change the entire oil instead of simply topping it off.
Adding new oil to old oil doesn’t remove dirt or contaminants and can even cause more sludge.
How often should you change your oil?
Experts say the exact figure depends on a variety of factors, including:
- Age of vehicle. Older vehicles tend to need oil changes sooner than newer cars, as the engine oil used doesn’t last as long as newer oil. Plus, the clearances between moving parts tend to be wider than when the engine was new.
- Type of oil. Synthetic oil tends to last a lot longer between changes compared to synthetic or a synthetic blend.
- Driving conditions. People who live in dusty areas or regions with extreme weather conditions that require a lot of driving or stop-and-go traffic should change their oil sooner than normal to keep moving parts lubricated.
- Cars that bear heavy loads, like regularly towing a trailer, as it puts strain on an engine.
Typically, older cars should have their oil changed every 3,000 to 5,000 miles. More modern cars can go between 5,000 to 7,500 miles between changes, especially as modern oil contains more efficient lubricants and additives. Some cars that use synthetic oil only need changes every 15,000 miles.
It’s important to read your owner’s manual to determine the exact weight and interval your car needs.
Source: AAA
Content shared from www.the-sun.com.