The Dangers of Driving with Low Oil Level

Your vehicle relies on different fluids for various tasks. For instance, power steering fluid helps you turn your wheel, brake fluid helps you step, windshield washer fluid helps you see, and transmission fluid helps morph the energy generated by your engine into propelling power. Among all of the fluids your vehicle uses, engine oil is second to none.

Simply put, it's imperative to ensure your engine always has sufficient motor oil. Failure to do so can turn a minor inconvenience into an exceptionally expensive proposition. 
In some instances, it may result in you having to purchase an entirely new vehicle. Fortunately, you can avoid this altogether by having regular oil changes. Let's take a closer look at motor oil and some of the most prevalent dangers of driving around with low oil.

Understanding the Many Roles of Motor Oil

 Motor oil is full of key nutrients, additives, and detergents that help it perform a vast array of roles:

1. The first and most common function of motor oil is to minimize friction and reduce wear and tear. Every time you drive your vehicle, the moving parts in your engine generate massive amounts of friction and heat, which can wear down key components and parts. Motor oil helps coat surfaces to reduce friction and wear and tear amongst moving parts. 
2. Motor oil is tasked with keeping important engine parts and components clean. It achieves this with the addition of two additives: 
   • Motor oil has detergents that prevent contaminants from sticking to components.
   • It also has a dispersant that works to safely suspend contaminants in the fluid. 
3. By reducing the amount of friction, motor oil also helps reduce the amount of heat generated. Heat transferability is an important trait of the viscosity of your oil. 
4. Motor oil functions like a dynamic seal throughout your engine. When it seals piston rings, motor oil helps prevent the escape of gases to optimize engine compression. 
5. As a dampener, motor oil cushions the blow from mechanical shock, which helps extend the operating life of a component. 
6. Oil works to create a barrier between the corrosive material and components or chemically neutralizes corrosive products to prevent corrosion. 
7. Since motor oil is an incompressible fluid, it works to transfer energy. 

While motor oil is loaded with key additives to help it perform its roles, those nutrients are also under immense duress, friction, and heat. As such, the admirable qualities of oil will be used up, which is why oil changes are so important. However, it's also great practice to check your motor oil levels from time to time. 

What Could Happen If I Drive with Low Oil? 

In addition to having your oil changed regularly, it's just as important to ensure the engine has sufficient oil. If it doesn't, driving around on low oil can do irreparable harm to the engine. 

Excessive & Unnecessary Wear and Tear

Anytime you drive your vehicle with low oil, you run the risk of damaging the countless moving parts. This can open the door to unnecessary wear and tear while causing your engine to age prematurely. Simply put, if you drive around with low motor oil, you're in the fast lane for an engine replacement.

The Engine Operates at Higher Temperatures

As friction increases, your engine will generate more heat. And without the right amount of motor oil, your vehicle will be unable to properly dissipate this heat. It can cause your vehicle to overheat. Even worse, you could blow up your engine, which means major engine repair or engine replacement.

Reduced Fuel Efficiency

When the engine operates with more friction, it will need more fuel to properly function. This means you will need more fuel to travel from your home to work or anywhere else. And your wallet will feel it at the pump. 

Increased Rust and Corrosion

Another hazard of driving around with low oil is increased rust and corrosion. Without sufficient engine oil, your engine parts will be more likely to build up rust. And rust is one of your engine's worst enemies. 

Contact Dondelinger Chevrolet

When it comes to your motor oil, an ounce of maintenance is worth pounds of cure. In other words, it makes dollars and sense to protect your wallet and vehicle by having regular preventative maintenance. 
At Dondelinger Chevrolet, we are the top service center in the Bemidji, Minnesota area. We offer a full range of vehicle maintenance services and repairs for virtually all makes and models. Whether you need an oil change, vehicle inspection, brake repair, or anything else, the team at Dondelinger Chevroletcan help. 

Contact Dondelinger Chevrolet today for all of your automotive repair and maintenance needs.