Is it true that you get worse gas mileage if you don't change your oil frequently in you car?

Question

Please help. Argument between me and my husband.

Answer 1

Yes you get worse gas mileage. As the oil is circulated throughout your engine it becomes more viscous (thick). The thicker the oil the more friction or resistance it provides. To overcome this friction your engine needs to work harder and in order to do so more power is needed. To get this extra power you need more gas. Therefore you get worse gas mileage if you don't change your oil frequently. I track my gas mileage and notice about a 3-4 MPG decrease from the time I change it to the time I hit 3000 miles.

Answer 2

depends on the age of the vehicle..if old it may be better not to change it too frequently becuase what you do is take out all the sluge that had taken up all the tolerances which formed due to wear and tear..so in effect the car will run rough, use more oil and ultimately gas at the same time to achieve the same power output..

If the engine is relatively new renewing oil according to the manufacturers instructions/intervals will help with the removal of deposits within the engine and help " To An Extent" with the fuel consumption only because the metal particles in the cylinders and oil is removed and there will be less friction which will lead to less heat loss which leads to better fuel consumption...

In all essence you will save more on gas by keeping to the speed limits, not using the air-con ( as few times as possible LOL ) and keeping up with the recommended service intervals.
Changing the oil often is so minute you won't even notice the difference......try it. Note the fuel consumption before and after the oil change and the both of you will wonder why you argued about it in the first place...give the car a complete service and then note the fuel consumption...

To take it to another levell even the type of car tire/tyre and IT'S pressure will influence the fuel consumption...let alone the TYPE of oil and the intervals you change it at.

Hope the domestic's will be resolved! LOL
All the Best

Answer 3

Well, indirectly you will get worse mpg if you don't change the oil regularly. You see oil breaks down while becoming contaminated with waste from burning fuel in the engine. If the oil becomes to "weak" (lacking better term) the rings on the pistons will overheat and malformed causing a drop in compression which effects gas mileage. Eventually, the engine will possibly seize. Now, as to how often, the old rule of thumb was every 3,000 miles or 90 days, yet, with newer engines, synthetic oils, and computer controllers, the mileage and time frame could very well be different. Consult your owners manual and car manufacture for specific recommendations.

Answer 4

It is true. Your oil reduces friction between moving parts, while suspending debris to carry it to the filter. That debris causes friction if not removed regularly via oil changes.

Also, you may have heard from castrol commercials what is called a "significant breakdown in viscocity" because as the oil ages (due to being hot so many times every time you run the engine) the oil thins out and becomes less slippery, so friction again increases.

As friction increases, so does heat which causes more friction. The friction is just drag, like driving with your emergency brake on. This will get you worse gas mileage.

And, by not changing oil, you are also not changing your filter, so it is getting plugged up, and less oil is going into your engine to reduce heat and friction and carry away debris, so the problem just compounds.

This is why after about a year of no oil changes tends to overheat the motor to the point of blowing the head gasket.

Answer 5

Yes. The more miles you put on your oil, the less it protects the engine's vital parts. When those parts wear, that can cause your engine to run less efficiently. That causes your gas mileage to diminish. Not changing your oil every 3000 miles can also do serious damage to the engine over time.

You can go more than 3000 miles between oil changes if you use synthetic oil. But you should still get it changed every 3000 miles.

Answer 6

As engine oil viscosity breaks down due to use, the engine's internal components work at higher temperatures and are more subject to friction and wear and tear and ultimately failue. Thus, at some point your car will produce zero mileage. The best performance improvement comes from tire pressure and frequent rotation of the tires. Also, changing your air filter will enhance your fuel injection system and improve mileage.

Answer 7

It is true, though you might not notice if you aren't calculating down below 10ths of a mile.

This is the reason automakers are recommending the use of 5W30 motor oil instead of 10w30 or 10w40 these days. When calculated out over millions of vehicles a year the lighter oil saves lots of gas even though you won't see the difference in your individual fuel economy. Just think if you saved 1/100th of a mile per gallon on 1,000,000 cars.

Answer 8

"Using the correct motor oil should also be a consideration. Always use the oil your manufacturer specifies. In addition, look for motor oil that says energy conserving. These oils have additives to help reduce friction within the engine. The lower the friction, the better the engine operates. This also means follow recommended oil change intervals. As oil is used in the engine, it breaks down causing reduced friction protection for your engine."

Answer 9

When I bought my last car, the salesman was very fatherly. He gave me lots of tips on how to make my car get better gas mileage. Yes, you should change your oil every 3000-5000 miles depending on the recomendation in the owners manual. Also, use cruise control whenever possible and make sure your tires are properly inflated.

Answer 10

Oil is the blood in ur motor vehicle n might desire to b replaced each 3000 miles, particularly by way of fact that's from 1988. R u wearing lots of ineffective weight on ur truck? R u accelerating extra advantageous than time-honored after a purple easy? Any truck/motor vehicle/SUV w/ a appropriate music-up will run extra helpful n develop ur gas mileage.