What are the misconceptions about changing engine oil?
2 Answers
Misconceptions about changing engine oil include the belief that the more expensive the oil, the better it is, and using an air gun to clean parts. Precautions are as follows: More expensive oil is not necessarily better: During maintenance, people often prefer to use the most expensive and best oil for their cars. However, the most expensive oil may not always be the most suitable for the vehicle. It is essential to choose oil with the right viscosity for your car. Using unsuitable oil can cause the engine's gaps to widen, leading to severe oil burning. Never use an air gun to clean the air filter and cabin air filter: Since these filters are made of paper or non-woven fabric, using a high-pressure air gun can severely damage the fiber layer of the filter paper, enlarging the gaps in the filter. Particles that could have been blocked may pass through due to the increased gaps. Many people, thinking the air filter or cabin air filter is not very dirty during maintenance, choose not to replace it and ask mechanics to clean it with an air gun. However, this cleaning can render the filter ineffective. Therefore, it is better to opt for replacement during maintenance.
After driving for so many years, I've noticed that some people think they can delay oil changes for a long time, like changing the oil only after driving 20,000 kilometers. But in reality, it depends on how you usually drive. If you frequently take short trips or get stuck in city traffic, with the engine starting and stopping often, the oil deteriorates quickly, accumulating too many impurities and causing more severe engine wear. Another misconception is using cheap oil just to get by. I once bought the cheapest type to save money, and soon after, the engine noise increased, and the oil pressure became unstable. It turned out the viscosity was mismatched, and I had to change to the correct oil. Some people also change only the oil but not the oil filter, which means the new oil gets contaminated by the old filter, wasting money. Finally, many people change their oil at home but don’t dispose of the old oil properly, dumping it directly into drains and polluting the environment—this should be avoided. Taking it to a proper recycling point is the right way. Regularly checking the dipstick and maintenance records can save you a lot of trouble.
