ServicingCar Oil Change (Vidange): Everything You Need to Know
An oil change, la vidange, is the cheapest insurance your engine will ever get. Old oil turns dirty and thin and stops protecting the moving parts. Here is what you need to know to keep your engine running for years.
What an oil change actually does
- Drains the old, contaminated oil and refills with fresh.
- Clears out the grit and sludge that build up over time.
- Restores proper lubrication so parts do not grind and wear.
Always change the filter too
- A fresh oil filter traps the new dirt the oil picks up.
- Changing the oil but keeping the old filter undoes half the job.
- It is a small part for a big difference.
How often
- Start with your manufacturer's recommended interval; it is in the handbook.
- Short trips, dust and heat, all normal in Mauritius, mean changing more often.
- Do not stretch the interval just because you cover few kilometres; oil ages with time too.
Check the oil between changes
- Pull the dipstick monthly with the engine cold and the car on level ground.
- Top up if it is low, but find out why it dropped.
- Fresh oil is amber; very dark, gritty oil means it is overdue.
Watch for warning signs
- A steadily dropping level or a burning-oil smell can signal a leak or worn parts.
- Blue smoke, a ticking noise or the oil warning light mean stop and check.
- Get a mechanic to look before a small issue becomes an engine rebuild.
The bottom line
Change the oil and filter on time, check the level in between, and your engine will give you years of trouble-free driving.