The oil change is a basic maintenance service but also one of the most important things you can do to keep your Lincoln MKZ in great shape and performing exactly as you expect. Why is this Lincoln MKZ maintenance task so important? Let's get into it.
Regular Oil Changes: Required Lincoln MKZ Maintenance
The MKZ is a great vehicle; sadly, it's been discontinued since 2021, and that's all the more reason to keep yours in great shape. Regularly getting the oil swapped out is the simplest but also the best way to ensure the longevity of any engine. Your engine is a hot environment with a lot of moving metal parts in it, and the most important thing that oil does is to lubricate those parts so they can't rub up against each other. This keeps them from wearing down too quickly.
Oil also helps to cool the engine. You might not think of that right away because your car also has a cooling system, but that cooling system would really struggle if oil was not also removing excess heat as it passes through the engine. Modern oil also contains detergents that protect your engine from rust and chemical corrosion and stops carbon deposits from building up.
Why Oil Degrades
Oil does a lot of amazing things, as mentioned above, but over time, it starts to degrade. For one thing, it gets filled up with grime and little metal shavings from the engine. The oil filter takes these out very efficiently at the beginning, but as the filter starts to get full, the oil does too. Eventually, the oil will have too much grit in it to be very effective. Second, the heat of the engine causes the oil to slow slowly break down, and after it's been exposed to that heat for long enough, oil just can't do its job like it should.
The constant exposure to grime and road chemicals are also an issue. If you're running with old, dirty oil, you're going to notice a reduction in performance and fuel efficiency. On the MKZ, you should be getting fresh oil about every 5000 to 6000 miles, or approximately twice a year.If your ​Lincoln needs new oil, contact us at West Point Lincoln in Houston, TX today. You can drop off your vehicle with us any time that works for you using our drop box, and our Lincoln-certified techs will keep your beloved MKZ running reliably.
