You may already know the importance of having your motor oil changed regularly in your vehicle, but if you are like a lot of drivers, this is one of those maintenance tasks that often gets put off. While running a few hundred miles over the recommended time when you should change the oil may not be a big deal, regularly skipping oil changes is a huge mistake as a vehicle owner. To better understand why it is so important to change your engine oil as often as recommended, it is a good idea to get to know the problems that you can cause. 

You compromise the operational capacity of your engine. 

As oil gets used repeatedly in the cycle that it runs through the engine, it picks up particles along the way. Over time, these small particles accumulate to turn the liquefied oil into a thick, sludgy material. Because this thicker oil is harder for the engine to push through, it takes a toll on the engine, which in turn, means less power than usual. If your engine is running with old oil, you will likely start to notice things like missing and lack of torque when you take off 

Your motor will not likely last as long without adequate oil changes. 

The oil in your motor serves the crucial purpose of keeping all of those moving parts, from the lifters to the rods, adequately lubricated. Lubrication is important so that all components can remain free moving, but also because it prevents metal parts from rubbing together to create friction, and friction inside your motor leads to heat, which in turn causes damage to some of the most crucial operating parts. If you don't change your oil regularly, you will definitely not get as long of a lifespan from the motor you have in your vehicle. 

You could see your engine lock up completely. 

Not changing the oil can create huge problems, but one of the primary concerns is the fact that you could actually cause your engine to lock up completely, which is a problem that usually requires motor replacement. If lack of lubrication in your engine is an issue, it can actually cause primary components to warp and bend. For example, the lifters can get so overheated from friction that they become misshapen and no longer able to move freely in and out to produce combustion of fuel. 

For more information, talk to a professional like M & R Automotive Service Center Inc.