Dummy’s Guide Episode 1: My car can’t cook! Why does it need oil?

Ever heard the saying “works like a well-oiled machine”? I hope this doesn’t come as a shocker to you, but oil has properties beyond making that fried chicken taste nice and lighting that lamp.

Your car’s engine is made largely of metal – mostly aluminium or steel. And to get your car running, these metal bits move! And when they move, they rub off against each other, which can get pretty testy if they’re as dry as Amy Schumer on the mic.

Slip to your slide

To explain it another way, think of a slip-n-slide. 

If you jump on a dry slip-n-slide and expect to make it to the end, you’ve got a whole other thing coming.

But with soap or oil, you’re like a duck in water. You’ll shoot out the other end with a smile on your face.

The reason you wouldn’t be able to slide without soap or oil is because of the friction between you and the surface. 

The same principle applies to components within your car’s engine. They need lubrication to slide seamlessly across each other without the engine tearing itself apart. Enter engine oil.

So why change oil?

Now that we’ve spoken about why your car needs oil, you must be wondering why you need to change it regularly – a government conspiracy? A capitalist agenda for the rich to stay rich? Aliens?

Well, no. While you sit inside that air-conditioned, dust-free beast with plush cushioning (maybe fine leather and sheep skin for your behind), your engine’s working up a sweat in the equivalent of a coal furnace room – it is hot, it is dirty. 

When working in said conditions, the engine oil tends to lose the desirable properties that keep the engine running smoothly. Dust and internal debris contaminate the oil as well. This is no good! 

Hence, to take care of your car and have it purring like a well-oiled machine, get your service done and be regular about it before you damage your car. 

Check out garages on our platform and schedule one right away!