How long without oil change

Our Falls Church location once had a car come in that had been driven over 12, miles since its last oil change—far more than the recommended mileage interval. The engine had run almost completely dry, and the pistons had seized inside the motor. The entire engine needed to be replaced because it was beyond repair. As all the moving parts rub metal-on-metal in the high heat, they warp and wear down.

Eventually, the engine will blow a gasket or seize. Once an engine seizes, it cannot be repaired—it must be replaced. Every system is slightly different, but, essentially, the oil life monitoring system tracks your mileage and driving habits to calculate how much longer your oil will last.

Your car might have less punch and torque. And the harder your engine has to work, the more gas it will guzzle. That means you could be stopping at the pump more often to fork over your hard-earned money. Go long enough without an oil change, and it could eventually cost you your car. Once motor oil becomes sludge, it no longer draws heat from the engine. The engine might overheat and either blow a gasket or seize up.

The milky white exhaust of a blown head gasket will force you directly to the side of the road. Fixing a blown head gasket can be a costly repair, one that may not make sense for your car depending on its age and value.

You may find yourself at the dealership, contending with the headache of sales and finance people. The engine will seize. There is no fix for this. A seized engine usually has to be replaced, and it's not hard to imagine how much that costs. Again, such a repair cost could put you precariously close to having to buy a new car. You may need an oil change sooner than expected, depending on the climate and your driving patterns.

Open Today! Sales: 9am-6pm. Service: 7am-5pm. Parts: 7am-5pm. Look for this link on your favorites: Save. Schedule Service. Contact Us. I know it is always advised to ask every question, but you are already wrong for asking this as no engine should be put through the stress of running without oil lubrication considering the vital roles it plays in every engine.

Oil plays several roles in the life of any engine. When we talk about oil, our mind goes straight to lubrication. It functions in many other capacities that do not include lubrication.

These functions include but are not limited to;. These detergents prevent corrosion of the metal surfaces. Engine oils also contain dispersants that bond to carbon deposits and other impurities and debris, keeping them away from the motor.

This keeps the engine safe and protects it from unnecessary wear and tear.