The lifespan of a vehicle takes into consideration several factors; an important factor being maintenance. Millions of people neglect their vehicles and when they need it most, it can suddenly die. This can happen to old cars as well as new cars, which is why it’s important to keep up with scheduled maintenance. It’s important to keep up with things like fluid changes, filters, and transmission services or a car can break down, forcing the owner to pay for costly repairs or replacement parts. It’s important to schedule an oil change based on the manufacturer suggestion, which on average is every six months or 3,000 miles; this helps to ensure your car is running well and the engine is not clogged with gunk. Consider these three reasons why you should get your oil changed.

• Longevity – If you’re looking to keep your vehicle for a long time, you’ll want to get this done often. Oil changes are not expensive, and the service includes filter replacement and fresh oil that will keep the engine lubricated and performing optimally. You can do it yourself, or for a small price, you can visit a quick lube and have a mechanic do it for you. One of the benefits to having an oil change performed by a professional is that they dispose of the old oil and often check other fluids as a courtesy. A car with regularly changed oil will run far longer than other cars that don’t get regular care.

• Sludge – You may have seen the commercials about engine sludge, but if you missed them, you might not know that dirty oil clogs and ruins engine parts. When an engine builds up acidity, it causes irreversible damage to the internal moving parts. When an engine is damaged, replacement or repair will be needed and the costs are quite higher than a simple oil change.

• Stress – If you’re planning a long road trip or you’re traveling through mountainous terrain, you’ll need all the horse power and engine prowess that you can get. If you have regularly changed oil, you’ll find that your car will run just fine, but if you’ve neglected the scheduled maintenance, you’ll find that the car will have a harder time moving up hills and the engine could overheat. You don’t want to cause your engine unneeded stress in these situations, especially if it is snowing or raining heavily.

The above are just three reasons to get your oil changed regularly. Regular oil changes are just one of many necessary preventative maintenance routines you should schedule for your vehicle. You’ll find that you get peace of mind when your car is properly cared for. Don’t let yourself forget to change the oil in your vehicle, as it is one of the easiest things you can do to increase the life of your car. If you are unsure how often you should change your oil, consult your owner’s manual. Every vehicle is different, so checking the manual is the easiest way to find this information.