I’m a Mechanic: The One Oil Change Mistake That Ruins Engines
Written by
Cynthia Measom
Edited by
Rebekah Evans
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For most vehicle owners, oil changes are treated as a routine maintenance task, whether they’re done at home or at an oil change shop. But according to an auto expert, one oil change mistake can cause lasting engine damage. Over time, this single error can shorten an engine’s lifespan and lead to considerable expense — find out more below.
Also here are five repairs you should never pay a dealership to do.
The One Oil Change Mistake That Ruins Engines
According to JustAnswer Auto Expert Chris Pyle, the one oil change mistake that ruins engines is allowing conditions that prevent oil from protecting the engine’s components. He explained that engine damage starts when oil cannot properly reach moving parts or when contaminants enter the engine during an oil change. This can happen if components are damaged during the oil change process, oil levels are set incorrectly or dirt enters the engine.
Why This Mistake Causes Long-Term Engine Damage
Pyle explained that inside a car engine, the parts are spinning fast with metal-to-metal contact. He said these parts need slick and clean oil to create a layer on the metal like a cushion.
He added that dirt entering the engine during an oil change can get into the ports and engine components, causing wear similar to sandpaper rubbing against metal.
Additionally, Pyle said that if oil ports become restricted, oil cannot reach all of the engine’s moving parts, which increases wear over time.
He also pointed out that incorrect oil levels can make the damage worse. When too much oil is added, the crankshaft will beat the oil and fill it with air pockets from foam, he explained. In that situation, he continued, the oil pump moves both oil and air and moving parts do not receive enough oil. When oil levels are too low, he said, the pump struggles to supply oil, oil temperatures rise and the oil will degrade.
“All of these things can cause drastic damage to the engine that it cannot recover from,” Pyle explained. “The engine is damaged and will begin to fail prematurely.”
Potential Repair Costs
Pyle said if you damage your engine or cause it to fail, you will have to pay for the cost of a replacement engine and the labor required to replace it.
“The labor can be $1,500 to $4,000,” he said. “The replacement engine can be used, aftermarket remanufactured or an OEM remanufactured engine. That can range from $1,000 (this would be a small used engine) all the way up to $16,000.”
Pyle added that regular oil changes that are correctly done are far cheaper than replacing an engine.
“An oil change can vary in cost depending on the type of engine and who is doing it,” he said. “It can be as low as $30 and as expensive as $150.”
How To Avoid Oil Change Mistakes
Pyle said that it’s not a given that the person changing your oil is doing it right. Even though it’s a routine maintenance task, he said that, sometimes, the technicians doing it have little to no training.
“If someone is changing your oil and filter, double-check their work,” he said. “If you are changing your own oil, use the right tools and the correct oil, follow the steps in the manufacturer’s repair guides and keep things clean. Again, double-check your own work.”
Pyle also said that even though engines and oils are more advanced, he wouldn’t recommend waiting until a vehicle’s computer tells you to change the oil. Instead, he would do it before then.
“An example would be at 20% oil life left, change the oil then,”” he added. “You would be going 80% of the distance of a max distance oil change.”
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