Dubai: Changing your engine oil can cost between Dh70 to Dh100 on average. “The cost of using a lubricant makes up just two per cent of the total cost of maintaining a car,” V. Ramesh Rao, general manager at Gulf Oil Middle East Limited said. To extend your engine’s service life, you will need to change its oil regularly, he added.
You can get your engine oil changed for even less if you use recycled oil, but that has not proved popular with motorists in the UAE. “There is a fear that recycled oil is second hand, and therefore not as good,” Rao said.
Engine oil should be changed “every 20,000 to 25,000 km on average, depending on the quality of oil and type of engine,” Rao said. A car with an older, less efficient engine will need more oil changes.
In addition, oil change intervals depend on your driving conditions, said Adel. “Different drivers have different driving conditions: some drive mostly on highways and these [can have] higher oil change intervals; some drive through a lot of traffic in the city and they have to change the oil less frequently. Some drive off-road which represents an extra stress on the engine oil,” he said.
Infrequent oil changes can cause dust to accumulate and ruin your engine, Adel warned. “Dust will always find its way into the engine and oil holds these particles until they get filtered or it’s time for another oil change. If these dust particles increase in number, they will start wearing out the internal metal components of the engine, reducing its efficiency and life,” he said.
Filters
One way to prevent dust from spreading in your engine is to use an oil filter, said Ian Beattie, service manager at Emirates Motor Company.
“The oil filter is designed to clean the oil as it is pumped around the engine, preventing contaminated solid particles from being dispersed in the engine, which could cause damage. Oil filters should also be replaced at the time of any oil change,” he said.
Motorists that think they are saving money by not undergoing regular oil change services are mistaken, according to Beattie. “It might seem like a good idea to save money by prolonging the oil and filter change but in the long run it will prove to be more costly with large repair bills much sooner than expected,” he said.
