What Oil Does
Engine oil lubricates moving parts, cools the engine, cleans internal surfaces, prevents corrosion, and creates seals between piston rings and cylinder walls. It's the lifeblood of your engine.
What Happens When You Skip Changes
Old oil breaks down and loses viscosity. Contaminants accumulate, turning oil into sludge. Metal-on-metal contact increases. Internal corrosion begins. The engine runs hotter, wears faster, and eventually fails. A $150 oil change prevents a $5,000-15,000 engine replacement.
How Often
Follow your manufacturer's recommendation — typically every 10,000-15,000km or 12 months, whichever comes first. Some modern vehicles with synthetic oil can go 15,000-20,000km, but many mechanics recommend 10,000km as a safe maximum in Australian conditions.
Synthetic vs Conventional
Synthetic oil ($60-100 for 5L) lasts longer, flows better in extreme temperatures, and provides superior protection compared to conventional oil ($30-50 for 5L). Most modern vehicles require full synthetic — check your owner's manual.