| Why is it that some people hesitate to change the oil in | | | | do-it-yourselfer, an oil change is the best investment |
| their automobile until it looks pitch black and gritty? | | | | you can make in your car. |
| Excuses range from inattention, laziness, being too tight | | | | Many car owners are passionate about their pride and |
| with a dollar, and can't afford it, to just plain "I don't | | | | joy vehicles. They often have a special attachment to |
| care." Such attitudes are foolish. It's going to cost the | | | | their car or truck and don't want to buy a new model. |
| car owner more in the long run when periodic | | | | They know how to keep their vehicles going |
| maintenance is ignored. | | | | indefinitely. |
| Not changing motor oil regularly can drastically reduce | | | | When the seasons change, it's probably time for an oil |
| the life of a car's engine. With proper maintenance, | | | | change. Car manufacturers recommend an oil and |
| achieving driving mileage of 100,000 to 200,000 miles is | | | | filter change every three months, or 3,000 miles. |
| relatively easy with the technology of today's | | | | Some mechanics say longer mileage is possible if you |
| automobile engines. | | | | use a high-grade oil, but few would recommend going |
| Ignore oil changes and your car will start giving you | | | | more than 4,000 to 5,000 miles without fresh oil. The |
| problems well before you may be ready to get rid of it. | | | | type of driving you do also matters. If you drive mostly |
| Just let the oil be consumed without checking your fluid | | | | just around town with many starts and stops, your oil |
| levels and you'll have an engine that seizes up when | | | | will get dirty and lose its effectiveness faster, and you |
| you least expect it to. Whether you are on a busy | | | | should err on the low side of the mileage limit. |
| freeway, or on a rural road or a rural road in the | | | | Steady over-the-road driving takes less of a toll on |
| middle of nowhere, if your engine runs out of lubrication | | | | your lubrication and you might be able to get away |
| it is deader than a door nail. | | | | with the higher-mileage changes. |
| Oil is the "lifeblood" of your engine. How come then, a | | | | And, yes, don't forget to change the filter. Putting new |
| recent survey by the national Car Care Council shows | | | | oil through a dirty filter, with up to a quart of dirty oil in |
| a vast majority of mechanics - 87 percent - said they | | | | the filter that will circulate as soon as you start your |
| believe American car owners put off routine | | | | engine, you really only done half the job to keep your |
| maintenance, mostly for cost reasons? | | | | engine happy. |
| With automobile dealerships offering fast in-and-out | | | | In any case, you'll keep your engine happier and more |
| oil-change specials, specialty shops running coupon | | | | efficient , and you can expect to be able to hold on to |
| specials, or your corner mechanic offering very | | | | your vehicle longer if you make a wise periodic |
| competitive pricing, or being a back-yard | | | | investment in routine maintenance. |