The oil pouring in front is clean, fresh oil. The oil draining in back is dirty, used oil. How long would you want to drive your car with the oil in back before changing to the oil in front? Don't forget to change your oil on  schedule this coming Richmond winter.

Since late September, this blog has included numerous posts about preparing for the upcoming winter that will benefit Richmond car owners. We discussed ensuring that the coolant in your vehicle also works effectively as an antifreeze. We don’t want our coolant to freeze on a cold winter night.

We’ve also discussed maintaining optimal vision while driving in a Richmond winter. Keeping windows clear is vital. Ensuring that your headlights work so you can see where you’re going at night and that your other lights work so others can see you can catch your signals of turns, braking and backing up while driving in winter.

We spoke about your defrosters, which also help to clear the windshield in the winter, the heater to keep you warm on cold days and nights, and the idea that good tires are critical for winter traction. We pointed out that you don’t want to wait to the last minute to prepare your vehicle for winter.

Hopefully, you’ve handled most of the considerations when it comes to winterizing your vehicle for winter. If not, you should make an appointment with a qualified auto repair shop today. But there is one winterizing tip that is pertinent all winter long. Changing the oil on schedule.

The longer the oil is in your engine, and the more you drive, the more the oil brakes down and loses its edge in terms of providing critical lubricant for your vehicle’s engine. The engine oil also gets thicker. It takes more work for the engine to warm up and move the oil through the oil passages in the engine so the oil can do its magic.

Engine oil is critical all year round and changing it on schedule is equally important. In winter, there are special considerations that should compel you to keep track of when the next oil change is due.

With the colder temperatures, the oil is thicker. You want to change the oil on schedule so that it the combination of cold oil and old oil doesn’t leave your engine with no oil. 

In some cases, you may want to run a winter grade of oil. Before doing so, check with your Owners Manual and a trusted auto repair specialist.

Without changing the oil on schedule, you may drive your car all through the coming Richmond winter without a problem, or at least without an apparent problem. What you may not have noticed is that your lubrication deficiency has reduced the lifespan of your vehicle’s engine. You almost certainly had more wear and tear on the engine.