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Why Should You Change Engine Oil on Schedule?

Essential Knowledge for Sustainable Car Maintenance

To keep your vehicle always ready for use, safe, and to extend the engine’s lifespan, one of the most important steps is changing the engine oil at the right mileage or time interval. This is especially crucial for those who drive regularly, operate commercial vehicles, or manage business fleets. Taking care of the engine through timely oil changes is at the heart of preventive maintenance.

This article provides a detailed explanation of the role of engine oil, the reasons why it should be changed on schedule, and the consequences of neglecting this essential maintenance. It also introduces effective maintenance management practices using GPS and MDVR systems in the transportation business.

What is Engine Oil and What Does It Do?

1. Lubricates the internal components of the engine

Inside the engine, there are numerous metal components moving at high speed. The friction between these parts generates heat and wear. Without engine oil to provide lubrication, the engine would be damaged very quickly.

2. Reduces heat buildup from engine operation

Engine oil helps absorb the heat generated by combustion and friction, then transfers it away from friction points to reduce temperature buildup.

3. Cleans and carries away contaminants from the system

Metal debris, carbon soot, and combustion residues are absorbed by the engine oil and carried to the oil filter, which helps prevent the buildup of deposits that could clog the oil passages.

4. Prevents rust and corrosion

Engine oil contains chemical additives that help prevent air and moisture from reacting with the metal components inside the engine.

Why Does Engine Oil Deteriorate?

After a certain period of use, engine oil gradually loses its chemical and physical properties. เสื่อมคุณสมบัติทางเคมีและฟิสิกส์ ได้แก่ :

Reduced viscosity
Degraded lubricating properties
Reduced ability to absorb contaminants
Buildup of soot and sludge

Continuing to use deteriorated engine oil can cause the engine to work harder than normal, leading to severe damage.

How Often Should You Change Engine Oil?

Engine oil should be changed according to the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations. โดยทั่วไปมีแนวทางดังนี้ :

Types of Engine Oil	Recommended Oil Change Intervals
Conventional Oil	Every 5,000 – 7,000 km
Semi-Synthetic Oil	Every 7,000 – 8,000 km
Full Synthetic Oil	Every 10,000 – 15,000 km

In addition, you should also consider additional factors such as:

Driving in heavy traffic conditions (similar to severe service use)
Operation in extremely hot weather conditions
Operation in dusty environments
Operation for heavy loads or long-distance driving

If you do not reach the recommended mileage, the oil should still be changed based on time intervals, such as every six months, because engine oil can deteriorate even when the vehicle is not in use.

Consequences of Not Changing Engine Oil on Schedule

Neglecting to change engine oil can have serious effects on the engine, such as:

❌ เครื่องยนต์สึกหรอเร็ว

Without proper lubrication, engine components rub directly against each other, causing rapid wear.

❌ เครื่องยนต์ร้อนเกินไป

Reduced cooling ability leads to heat buildup, which may cause engine knocking or even complete engine failure.

❌ การทำงานไม่เต็มประสิทธิภาพ

An engine with higher resistance consumes more fuel and delivers reduced power output.

❌ ค่าใช้จ่ายซ่อมสูง

Even minor neglect can lead to the need for replacing the engine or other critical systems, which can be extremely costly.

Guidelines for Managing Oil Change Intervals in the Transportation Business

For businesses with a large number of vehicles, such as transportation, logistics, or shuttle services, manually managing oil change intervals can easily lead to errors. Therefore, it is recommended to use GPS and MDVR systems to support maintenance management.

Advantages of Using GPS/MDVR System from MonoGPS:

Real-time mileage tracking for each vehicle
Automatic oil-change alert configuration
Comprehensive maintenance history reports
Reduce the risk of engine breakdowns or unexpected vehicle stoppages
Enhance overall fleet management efficiency