COMMON MISTAKES TO AVOID WHEN CHANGING CAR ENGINE OIL

Changing the engine oil for a car is considered one of the important maintenance tasks to keep the car running smoothly and maintain the best possible condition of the car's engine. After this article, customers will be fully equipped to change the engine oil and not make the same mistakes. Before we get into the main content, let's find out why an engine oil change is necessary. Why do you need to change the engine oil for a car? During use, engine oil will deteriorate in both quantity and quality. The engine oil was burned a little in the combustion chamber, passing through the gap in the valve to escape,... so there is no longer enough quantity. The quality of the oil is also degraded by thermal denaturation, impurities during combustion, and the accumulation of deposits such as carbon and metal mites. Changing the oil periodically at the manufacturer's recommended time and with the right type will maintain optimal operating conditions for the engine and extend its life. And there are many other reasons why a car needs to change the oil frequently, most of which are related to increasing the life of the vehicle, as well as improving the performance and durability of the vehicle. Mistakes to avoid when changing engine oil 1. Not well prepared for the oil changeChanging the oil is a job that needs to be done carefully. Customers need to have the necessary equipment ready, including oil, oil filters, wrenches to remove oil drain bolts and oil filters, waste oil trays, hoppers or gloves. 2. Do not heat the engine before draining the oil When cold, the oil has low viscosity and is not as easy to flow as warm oil when the engine is started hot enough or reaches a normal temperature. Not heating up the engine before draining the oil is a mistake that many people make. Furthermore, this takes longer to change the oil and can lead to some of the old oil remaining in the engine and contaminating the new oil. Heating helps oil circulate through the engine, lubricating the parts, and removing any metal mites. 3. Dropping the oil drain bolt into the waste oil trayThis is a fairly common mistake during the oil change process. In most cases, it may be the temperature of the bolt or the oil on the bolt that makes it difficult to secure the bolt, but the small position and size of the bolt may also be part of the cause. Dropping the oil drain bolt into the waste oil tray can lead to oil contamination, especially if the tray already has some amount of used oil inside. Impurities can also lead to oil leaks, causing engine damage. The best way to secure the bolt is to hold the bolt firmly when pushing the waste oil tray in, and when removing to the last thread of the bolt, quickly remove the bolt so that the oil can drain out. 4. Do not change the oil filterThe oil filter does a particularly important job in retaining impurities and preventing them from entering the engine. However, over time these impurities can accumulate, restricting oil flow circulation and causing inadequate lubrication, leading to engine damage and costly repairs. 5. Filling too much or too little engine oilToo little or too much engine oil can affect the performance and life of the engine. Adding too much will increase the pressure in the lubrication system, which in turn can Damage to the oil seal and gasket, resulting in leaks and potential failure to engine components. Furthermore, when the crankshaft rotates through the excess oil, this creates air bubbles that cause the oil to lose its lubricating properties. Conversely, pouring too little can cause parts to rub against each other, increasing the likelihood of wear, friction, overheating, and potential engine failure or damage. To avoid overfilling or too little after changing the oil, customers can check the oil level with the dipstick to make sure the oil is within the area of the 2 lines on the dipstick. 6. Using oil with improper viscosity or poor quality This is one of the most common mistakes car owners make when changing the oil. Engine oil plays an important role in lubricating engine parts, reducing friction, cooling the engine, and removing impurities. Each car's engine is designed with specific precision and tolerances and specific engine viscosity requirements. Selecting the wrong viscosity that does not meet the manufacturer's specifications can lead to inadequate lubrication and lead to poor engine performance and a gradual decrease in production capacity over time. But how do you know which type of oil to choose? You can start by referring to the "Vehicle Owner's Manual" with detailed information about the recommended oil, viscosity and performance standards of each specific model and model. In addition, for Suzuki owners in Vietnam, it is also useful to consider specific recommendations based on local climatic conditions.