What happens if you miss an oil change?

Answer 1

Get one done now!! You could do a engine oil flush if you oil is very dirty. It shold only cost you $69.00 including your oil change,
it will help to flush out the oil sludge.

Answer 2

If its a new car the when the pistons rub against the engine little metal shavings from the pistons rubbing get into your engine and cause it to break down. If its a old car nothing cause the pistons already made there grove and you can go quite a while without changing the oil at that point though you have to worry about not having any oil in it. If you keep oil in your car after the first year you dont have to change it as frequent but you should not let it get below the suggested level

Answer 3

Just change it at your first opportunity. In the meantime, check your level and top it off if needed. But to answer your question in detail, overtime the oil decomposes and gums up the small opennings in your engine. To fix this I would add a pint to a quart (but only if your oil is a quart low) of Marvel Mystery Oil -- do this a couple days before your oil change and be sure to drive at least 100 miles. Then add MMO with the new oil when changing (1 pint MMO for every 5 Quarts of oil). And long-term, if you missed oil changes for so long you ran out of oil, your engine would seize and need to be replaced.

Answer 4

Some warranties, especially extended ones, require you to change the oil according to the recommended intervals in the owner's manual. Many manufacturers have "stretched" this interval to 5000 or even 7000 miles! This is probably the biggest thing you have to worry about: voiding a warranty. Just going overdue on one oil change is no big deal unless you run it out of oil!

Keeping the oil filled is VITAL to your car: see my article http://econofix.com/carkillers.html

Personally I don't go by "miles" in changing the oil in my vehicles. When I check the oil I wipe it off the dipstick with my fingers and rub my fingers together. If the oil feels "slick" (I can't feel the ridges of my fingerprints) AND if the oil is a light caramel color, slightly transparent (can you see the embossed writing on the dipstick through it?) then I don't change it.

If it feels "watery" (I CAN feel the ridges of my fingerprints when I rub my thumb and forefinger together) AND/OR the oil is getting dark brown, it's time for a change! You can "get a feel" for this method by looking and feeling it just after the oil has been changed.

Answer 5

Just change the oil as soon as you can. The 3,000 mile oil changes are mostly for older cars and to get people going to jiffy lube more often.

Answer 6

depending on how long it's been since your last oil change. you should change your oil every 3000 miles. over time oil breaks down and cause black sludge that can eventually ruin the life of your car.

Answer 7

Your windsheild cracks, your headlights go out, your tail lights break, your doors don't close anymore, the wipers go on high speed, ONLY. the tires blow and fall off. Then things start happening to the engine....JK
Don't worry about it, just change it as soon as you can.

Answer 8

nothing at all unless it leaks oil or something, most cars can easily go 7000 miles between changes

Answer 9

If you keep putting it off it will become a big problem. So change it ASAP. Do it every 5-7,000 miles if the car is not worth much, and every 3,500 if its a newer auto.

Answer 10

Your engine blows up.

(not really -- just change it ASAP, everything will be OK unless you are driving a taxi or pulling a giant horse trailer cross-country)