If you fail to heed the reminder sticker on your window and you miss a scheduled Nissan oil change, your engine might soon run into some rather costly trouble. As aging motor oil loses its function, your engine can overheat and blow a gasket or seize up. With this in mind, let’s look at how often to have your oil changed at your local Nissan dealership, plus a few warning signs that your oil is getting too old.
How Long Has It Been Since Your Nissan’s Last Oil Change?
Don’t Leave It Longer Than Six Months
In the recent past, it was generally recommended to change your motor oil every three months. But the advanced synthetic oil used in today’s Nissan vehicles only needs to be changed every six months for most drivers. Always check your owner’s manual to see the recommended interval for your particular model.
However, if you drive in conditions that put more strain on your engine and oil, you might need to have it changed more often. Harsher driving conditions include regular short trips of under five miles, which don’t give the engine and oil time to warm up properly. Stop-and-go traffic, towing heavy loads, and excessively hot or cold environments also cause motor oil to wear down faster.
What Happens If You Miss a Nissan Oil Change
As well as lubricating your engine, motor oil helps to maintain the temperature. It also cleans the engine, sweeping contaminants and debris to the fuel filter, which needs to be replaced during an oil change.
When left unchanged, motor oil fills up with this debris, slowly thickening. As it becomes a kind of sludge, the oil loses its ability to clean and lubricate. With the resulting buildup of friction and pressure, the engine starts to become too hot. This reduces engine power and will eventually blow a gasket or cause the pistons to seize up.
When To Visit Your Nissan Dealer for New Oil Without Delay
If you ever notice the motor oil light blink to life on your dashboard, then the oil pressure is low. This might be caused by aging oil or a leak, either of which will require the attention of a technician.
When an oil change is long overdue, your engine will start to overheat: the engine temperature gauge on your dashboard will rise. You might also hear ticking sounds, lose acceleration power, and find steam seeping from under your hood as the coolant starts to boil. Any of these warning signs should prompt an immediate visit to your local dealership to refresh your oil.
Have your oil changed by qualified technicians today at Tony Nissan. We’re a trusted local dealership and part of the family-operated Tony Group, which has been serving the drivers of Hawaii for over 35 years.
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