What Car? Q&A - How important are regular oil changes?

Q: I am told that the best thing a home mechanic can do to their car is change the oil regularly. Is this true and if so, why?
Mark Sennett

A: The oil in your engine serves to lubricate moving parts, and perform up to 40% of engine cooling. It also prevents corrosion and serves to clean the engine, suspending undesirable deposits until they reach the oil filter to be strained.

In these conditions, the oil eventually wears out, losing its desirable properties, and doing its job with less efficiency as the miles stack up.

If you are not prudent in servicing your vehicle and rely solely upon the yearly MoT to identify problems, at least have the oil changed at the same time, because this is a good preventative method to ensure engine longevity.

Always follow the manufacturer's recommendations when choosing the type of oil for your car and avoid paying too much. As a guide, a good quality 10w 40-viscosity oil should not cost you more than approximately £4-5 per litre.

Take care to dispose of used oil responsibly at an oil recycling centre, which is normally located at your civic amenity site.