‘It’s Going to Cost Thousands’, Mechanic Warns About Crucial Maintenance Many Forget — $30 Task Could Earn You Extra Miles

A TENURED mechanic has advised drivers not to skip an important fluid change – it could extend the life of an engine.

However, refilling it can cause the engine to fail – costing thousands of dollars in repairs.

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Scotty Kilmer, also known as the “people’s mechanic” on YouTube, has gained 6.2 million subscribers (@ScottyKilmer) for posting free DIY maintenance tips from the perspective of being a professional mechanic for over 40 years.

On a videoKilmer discussed arguably the most important maintenance job every car needs on a regular basis: oil changes.

“If you want your car to last as long as mine,” he said, zooming in on its odometer reading 232,476 miles.

“So stay tuned, because today I’m covering the critical maintenance you must do on your car to keep it running forever.”

He said in passing that he is trying to take his Toyota with over 200,000 miles to 1 million miles, and the best way to do that is to keep the engine oil and filter clean.

Motor oil is the “blood” of the engine, he said, as it keeps the moving parts lubricated while the car is running.

It is also essential to keep the engine temperature regulated.

Additionally, oil is important for cleaning the engine, removing dirt, debris and metal from the engine block before passing through the filter.

Oil change intervals depend on the type of engine used and the manufacturer, with the typical oil change interval being 5,000 miles, or every six months.

Cars that use synthetic oil tend to have a longer interval – some going as long as 10,000 miles between changes – and cars like Kilmer’s that use conventional oil need to be changed more frequently.

“I use conventional oil in my car, so I change it every 3,000 miles, or twice a year,” he said.

Synthetic oil is more expensive”, highlighted Kilmer.

“Engines are expensive, but oil is very cheap,” he continued.

“If you let the oil get dirty and clog these engines with things like variable valve timing, it’s going to cost thousands of dollars to fix them,” he said.

If you are going to change the oil at home, you must use the weight required by the manufacturer.

How often should you change your oil?

Experts say the exact number depends on several factors, including:

1. Vehicle age. Older vehicles tend to need oil changes sooner than newer cars because used engine oil doesn’t last as long as newer oil. Additionally, clearances between moving parts tend to be greater than when the engine was new.
2. Type of oil. Synthetic oil tends to last much longer between changes compared to synthetic or a synthetic blend.
3. Driving conditions. People who live in dusty areas or regions with extreme weather conditions that require a lot of driving or heavy traffic should change their oil earlier than usual to keep moving parts lubricated.
4. Cars that carry heavy loads, such as regularly towing a trailer, as this puts stress on the engine.

Typically, older cars should have their oil changed every 3,000 to 5,000 miles. More modern cars can go between 5,000 and 7,500 miles between changes, especially because modern oil contains more efficient lubricants and additives. Some cars that use synthetic oil only need to be changed every 15,000 miles.

It’s important to read your owner’s manual to determine the exact weight and range your car needs.

Source: AAA

“When it comes to the weight of oil to use, just use the oil suggested by your engine,” he said.

He used his camera to zoom in on the engine oil filler cap on top of the engine.

The filler cap will always tell you what oil weight is suggested for your car.

“In this case, it’s 10W-30,” he said.

“Every owner’s manual will tell you what kind of oil to use.”