Oil has become an even more important element in the make-up of aftermarket business in recent years as vehicle specific oils have grown in importance. As one of the fastest growing lubricant brands, MANNOL, a trading name of Aslanol Ltd., has issued some timely advice to garages and technicians on why using the right oil is crucial for their customers.

MANNOL says that where as historically cars used to require an oil change every 3,000 miles, now  the oil service interval maybe as much as 30,000 miles. Because of this much longer change period it is even more vital to check engine oil levels between oil changes and to ensure if topping up that the right oil is used to avoid the engine being clogged with sludge and varnish.

It is generally thought by drivers that the oil level sensor will warn them when the engine oil level is critically low, but MANNOL points out that sometimes, the sensor itself can be faulty. For that reason, it is important to check the oil level during the vehicle’s service. If the level is low, the oils dirty or the interval has nearly expired, recommending an oil change to the customer is a wise move. If the oil appears clean but the level is low, it is important to inspect the engine and oil filter for leakage or other signs of oil consumption and make the appropriate service recommendations.

Exceeding oil change intervals means oil becomes contaminated and forms sludge. Cold engine operation accelerates the formation of sludge; conversely, at high speeds, sludge can often clog the oil filter.

MANNOL says that poor oil change habits can also lead to oil oxidising in the engine, leaving contaminants and deposits to form and over time, becoming sludge. Heavily sludged oil will clog many more parts of the engine’s system so it can’t perform its actual job of lubricating parts, which can then lead to oil starvation in the motor. Oil starvation potentially causes many parts of the engine to be seriously damaged, and can even cause catastrophic engine failure where a complete engine replacement may be necessary.

To supplement oil changes, it may be necessary to add an engine flush before changing the oil. This will remove oil sludge deposits in lubricating areas with the oil change, therefore reducing sludge build-up and ensuring the lubricating system stays cleaner for longer.