A CAR expert has warned drivers about a common myth some mechanics will tell them about driving short distances.
Typical maintenance for any vehicle involves oil changes.
However, how often these oil changes should happen to keep a car running efficiently has been debated over the years.
Some mechanics encourage drivers to change the oil at specific time intervals, while others may rule out frequent changes if a car is only driven short distances.
In fact, both are wrong, according to an expert who spoke to the Los Angeles Times.
A driver asked a question noting that they only drive short trips to the grocery store and on longer trips with friends every now and then.
They claimed they drove around 2,000 miles a year, but their dealer still wanted them to come in for oil changes every three months.
The owner’s manual for their vehicle, a 1991 Honda Accord, listed oil changes every 7,500 miles as an appropriate schedule, leading them to question what is actually correct.
Ultimately, time interval oil changes are wrong, according to the car expert.
“There is no reason for the dealer or any mechanic to insist on changing the oil at specific time intervals without regard to how the car is driven,” they told the publication.
Another vehicle professional, Lauren Fix, also known as Car Coach, said that following an owner’s manual and not a set time is also the best method, according to Reader’s Digest.
“Change the oil according to the owner’s manual service schedule; it’s always based on mileage, not time,” Fix noted.
Both experts also explained that it is a myth that driving a vehicle short distances saves you from needing an oil change.
“But you should probably change the oil every three months if you only use the car for short trips on city streets, especially when it’s cold,” added the motoring guru.
“This driving, in which the engine never reaches its proper operating temperature, can cause water to condense inside the crankcase and the oil to be diluted by the gasoline.”
The expert continued that short trips taken often increase the amount of condensation in the crankcase.
If this water combines with sulphur, it creates sulphurous acid, which “breaks down the lubricating qualities of the oil”.
Another problem with short trips and no oil changes is that gasoline can contaminate the “cold start” oil in the car’s engine.
“Fuel contamination is a separate issue. In older engine carburetors and even some fuel-injected engines, a richer mixture of fuel is sent to the engine on a cold start,” explained l ‘expert at the Los Angeles Times.
“Also on cold starts, some gasoline seeps through the cylinder walls into the crankcase.”
They continued, “A small amount of gasoline contamination is not harmful, but larger amounts dilute the oil and reduce viscosity, again compromising the oil’s lubricating qualities.”
The third problem that can lead to the short-distance oil change myth involves engine deposits.
With infrequent and short trips, the combustion chamber does not heat up enough.
It can then cause carbon to build up on the engine’s valves and piston heads, creating hot spots in the combustion chamber that burn unevenly.
Texaco Oil experts recommend that changing the oil every six months to a year is only suitable for those people who drive their cars only on long and infrequent trips rather than short ones.
Finally, a car warranty would be a reason for frequent oil changes, the expert told the Los Angeles Times.
They explained that to benefit from service under warranty would be the only reason to base oil changes on time intervals.
“The final consideration is your car’s warranty. If the manufacturer specifically asks you to change the oil based on the elapsed time, it would probably be worth doing until the warranty expires,” they said.
“If the engine needed a warranty repair, a dealer could refuse to accept a claim if the oil changes did not follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.”
Either way, neglecting oil changes simply because a driver only makes short trips could cause damage to the vehicle.
For more related content, check out The US Sun’s coverage of the easy way to attach a rearview mirror to your car at home.
The US Sun also has the story on a mechanic’s advice to fix improperly spraying windshield wiper fluid.
