I’ve spent more than ten years working as an automotive technician, and few maintenance tasks are as routinely underestimated as olie verversen. Because it’s quick and familiar, many drivers treat an oil change as a box to tick rather than a process that actively protects the engine every time the car is running. From what I’ve seen inside engines over the years, fresh oil does far more than most people realize.
Early in my career, I worked on an older car that came in with a ticking noise the owner said had appeared “suddenly.” When we drained the oil, it came out thick and dark, far past its useful life. The engine hadn’t failed overnight. It had been running with reduced lubrication for months. After an oil change, the noise softened, but some wear was already there. That job taught me something I still repeat: oil doesn’t just lubricate, it cleans, cools, and cushions. When it breaks down, the engine feels it long before the driver does.
One thing experience teaches you is how quietly oil degrades. I’ve had customers insist they changed their oil “not that long ago,” only for service records to show much longer intervals than they remembered. Modern engines are forgiving, but they’re not immune. A customer last spring complained that his engine felt rough at idle. No warning lights, no obvious faults. Fresh oil and a new filter brought the idle back to normal. Nothing else changed. The engine simply got back what it had been missing.
Short trips are especially hard on oil, something many drivers don’t consider. Cars used mainly for commuting or errands often never get fully warm. Moisture and contaminants build up faster, and oil loses its protective qualities sooner. I’ve seen engines with low mileage but heavy internal sludge because the oil was left in too long under those conditions. Mileage alone doesn’t tell the full story; how the car is driven matters just as much.
Another common misconception is that oil changes are all the same. I’ve corrected many cases where the wrong oil grade was used because someone assumed “oil is oil.” Modern engines are designed around specific viscosities. Using oil that’s too thick or too thin affects cold starts, fuel efficiency, and long-term wear. I once worked on a car that struggled to start smoothly in winter. The issue wasn’t the battery or starter—it was oil that was too heavy for the engine design. Changing it solved the problem immediately.
Oil filters are often overlooked as well. I’ve cut open old filters out of curiosity and found them saturated with debris. A clogged filter restricts flow, which defeats the purpose of fresh oil. I’ve seen engines where good oil was circulating poorly because the filter hadn’t been replaced consistently. It’s a small component with a big job, and skipping it is a false economy.
I also advise against stretching oil intervals just because a car “seems fine.” Engines don’t complain loudly when oil quality drops. They wear silently. By the time symptoms appear, some damage is already done. On the other hand, I don’t believe in changing oil unnecessarily early either. Good maintenance is about balance—matching intervals to driving habits, engine design, and oil quality.
One moment that sticks with me involved a driver who was meticulous about everything except oil changes. He maintained tires, brakes, and suspension carefully, yet delayed oil service repeatedly. When internal engine wear finally became noticeable, he was genuinely surprised. That experience reinforced my belief that oil changes are foundational. You can’t compensate for neglected lubrication with attention elsewhere.
After years of draining oil pans and looking at what comes out, my view is steady. An oil change isn’t just routine maintenance; it’s ongoing protection. It’s one of the few services that quietly supports every moving part in the engine, every time you turn the key. Done regularly and thoughtfully, it keeps engines smoother, quieter, and far more resilient over time.