Did you know that your “oil” never wears out?
And by oil, we mean base oil—the blank slate for your motor oil. Motor oil manufacturers employ thousands of scientists who mix “recipes” of oil using different additive packages. Some of these additives include detergents—which clean mechanical parts of your engine and prevent the buildup of sludge; viscosity additives—which help make sure your oil flows properly at various temperatures; and dispersant additives—which prevent sludge or acids form bonding to metal surfaces.
While base oil never wears out, these additive packages are designed to protect for only a specific period before they are used up. So even though base oil never wears out, it doesn’t mean you can drive an unlimited number of miles before your next oil change without harming your engine.