EdupradaDraining a car refers to replacing your engine oil, to ensure proper lubrication of its different parts and the evacuation of impurities. A lack of drain causes the engine to become clogged and overconsumption of fuel: it is important to know when to do it.
This periodicity essentially depends on the frequency of use of your car. If your vehicle is rarely driven, this article is for you!
How often should you drain a vehicle that doesn’t drive much?
The draining of a vehicle consists of replacing the engine oil used by new oil. In fact, engine oil degrades as you drive: it loses viscosity and no longer guarantees good lubrication of the mechanical parts of your engine. Used oil collected by a mechanic is what we call drain oil, so not to be confused with engine oil which is new oil.
This intervention is generally accompanied by changing the various filters present on your engine: the oil filter, the . These last two filters can however only be changed every two oil changes on average .air filter and the fuel filter
In general, it is recommended to perform the engine oil change at a regular frequency: every 7,000 kilometers for a diesel engine, and every 10,000 to 15,000 kilometers for a gasoline engine.
If you don’t drive much, it is however preferable not to wait until you have reached this mileage before carrying out your oil change. Even if your vehicle is driven little, and regardless of the number of kilometers traveled, it is recommended to drain your vehicle once a year. You can also refer to your maintenance booklet to consult your manufacturer’s recommendations.
Why this frequency of oil change for a vehicle that is rarely driven?
In fact, even if your vehicle is driven little, theengine oil deteriorates more or less quickly depending on the type of oil you have chosen or its brand.
No matter how often you use your vehicle, it is still important to check your engine oil level regularly : once a month will be more than enough.
By carrying out your change of engine oil once a year, it can be added to the overhaul of your car: it is also recommended to carry out this in-depth diagnostic once per year.
It will allow you to kill two birds with one stone, since among all its stages (electronic diagnosis, leveling of the coolant, windshield washer fluid and brake fluid…) is the check of the engine oil level, its draining, its change as well as that of the oil filter.
What are the risks if you do not respect the correct oil change frequency for a vehicle that is rarely driven?
Refraining from carrying out an oil change that you consider unnecessary because a vehicle is rarely driven nevertheless exposes you to the same risks as for any other model more or less used by other motorists:
- A used engine oil is less effective and no longer allows evacuation a>.clogged as well as the different types of impurities (metal particles, dirt, remains of combustion, etc.) present in the engine. The engine will therefore be more
- Used engine oil no longer protects the internal organs of the engine as well from corrosion.
- All these consequences lead to overconsumption of fuel.
Not carrying out an oil change, no matter how often you use your vehicle, therefore exposes you to possible serious consequences for certain parts of your engine, or even causing a complete breakage of the latter.
The draining of your engine remains an important intervention for the maintenance of your vehicle, regardless of your frequency of maintenance. use. If your vehicle is rarely driven, it is still preferable to carry it out at least once a year, for example during a complete overhaul. Otherwise, you expose yourself to premature wear of all the parts of your engine. Do not hesitate to make an appointment with your mechanic to do this!