“It Still Runs Fine…” (Famous Last Words)
Somewhere in Britain, there’s a driver confidently saying, “Oil change? Nah, I’ll do it next month.” Then there’s a knocking noise. A faint one at first. Then louder. Suddenly, that cheerful little hatchback sounds like a washing machine full of spanners. “It can’t be that bad,” you tell yourself - right before the dashboard lights up like Blackpool Illuminations. A mechanic once told me he could tell when someone hadn’t changed their oil in years. “It comes out like treacle,” he said, grimacing. “And smells like burnt toast and regret.”
Why Engines Need Oil (And Not Just Any Old Stuff)
Oil is your engine’s lifeblood ; the slick, golden goop that keeps all those metal parts from grinding themselves to dust. It lubricates, cools, and cleans the system. Without it, friction builds up, heat spikes, and your engine starts wearing down faster than a cheap pair of trainers. Over time, oil breaks down, collecting dirt, soot, and microscopic metal bits. When you skip an oil change, you’re basically asking your engine to bathe in its own filth. Think of it as frying chips in the same oil for six months , eventually, something’s going to taste (and smell) very wrong.
The Hidden Costs of Procrastination
Skipping an oil change saves you, what, £60? Maybe £80 if you’re fancy? Here’s the catch: when your engine seizes up from neglect, that “saving” turns into a **£3,000+ repair bill** ; or a trip to the scrapyard. Miss enough changes, and you risk clogging vital oil passages, wrecking seals, and baking your turbocharger into oblivion. Even if the car still runs, dirty oil reduces fuel economy and emissions performance. “It’s like trying to run a marathon in a wool jumper,” said one mechanic. “You’ll still move, but you’ll suffer doing it.”
The Psychology of Delay
So why do so many drivers skip it? Simple: oil changes aren’t dramatic. You don’t *see* the damage happening. There’s no smoke, no explosion ; just slow, creeping decay. We’re wired to ignore what’s invisible, especially if it doesn’t squeak or rattle. “If the car starts, it’s fine,” is the unofficial motto of the British motorist. We’ll happily queue 45 minutes for a Costa drive-thru, but not 15 minutes for fresh oil. Human nature’s a funny thing ; and an expensive one.
How Skipping Oil Changes Hits Your Wallet
Beyond the big repairs, there are sneakier costs. - Reduced fuel efficiency: Dirty oil increases friction, making your engine work harder (and burn more fuel). - Shorter car lifespan: Engines that get regular oil changes can last twice as long. - Warranty void: Missed services can invalidate manufacturer warranties , something dealers love to point out. - Lower resale value: When buyers see a patchy service history, they walk away faster than a cat at bath time. It’s the classic false economy: save pennies now, lose pounds later.
What Skipping Feels Like (for Your Engine)
Imagine running a marathon and never drinking water. That’s your engine without clean oil. As it heats up, the old oil can’t handle the stress. It thickens, burns, and leaves sludge behind - coating vital components like cholesterol in arteries. Eventually, the engine can’t breathe, can’t move, can’t cool itself. It’s a slow, mechanical suffocation. And the worst part? You’ll probably ignore the symptoms until it’s too late. “It just started making a weird noise,” said one customer in a garage I visited. “Then it stopped making *any* noise.” Translation: the engine gave up entirely.
How Often You Should Actually Change It
- Every 5,000 to 10,000 miles: Most cars fall somewhere in this range - check your owner’s manual.
- At least once a year: Even if you barely drive, oil degrades with time.
- More often for short trips: Frequent stop-start driving causes oil contamination faster.
- Don’t cheap out on oil: Modern engines need specific grades (often synthetic). The wrong oil can do more harm than good.
Set a reminder on your phone, scribble it in your diary, tattoo it on your arm - whatever works. Just don’t forget it.
Why People Still Don’t Learn
Because cars are too good at forgiving us. They’ll put up with neglect for years before finally throwing in the towel. And when they do, it feels sudden ; unfair, even. But engines don’t die suddenly; they die quietly, with every missed oil change and every “I’ll do it next month.” The sad part? Most of the damage could have been avoided for the cost of dinner and a few litres of lubricant. “If people treated their bodies like they treat their cars,” one mechanic told me, “A&E could be packed with people who forgot to drink water for a year.”
The Last Look:
Oil changes aren’t glamorous. They’re the dental check-ups of car care - annoying, easy to skip, but vital to long-term health. Skip one, and you might get away with it. Skip two or three, and you’re flirting with disaster. So next time that little service light blinks on, don’t roll your eyes. Because ignoring it might not just cost you an oil change - it might cost you your entire engine. And no one wants to explain to their bank account that they were defeated by something as simple as old oil.