All About Oil Changes

How often do you check the oil level in your car? Do you even know how to check the oil in your vehicle? Many people know less and less about their cars even though they rely on them more and more. Instead of figuring out how something works or being able to check it on their own, it is easier to just drive somewhere and have someone else worry over it. That's why the stickers were created so that you can know when you need to have your oil changed based on what the odometer reads. What happens when a person does not follow those instructions and waits another 1,000 or 2,000 miles?

Your Frequency of Driving

Most instructions want you to change the oil in your car every 3,000 miles. However, it can also be three months. What happens when you don't drive 3,000 miles in a month? Can you go longer and still wait until you hit that number? What if you drive 3,000 miles in six weeks? Can you wait another six weeks and go in?

The truth is that oil changes should be based on numbers, but also by the conditions where you are driving. Do your miles usually occur on the freeway? Do your miles include a lot of stopping and braking, or do they include going short distances during a commute? Longer drives on the highway with little stops are easier on an engine and can allow the car to go slightly longer than 3,000 miles. As long as the dipstick in the oil tank is at a good level, you could probably wait until 4,000 miles for an oil change.

When you drive in city traffic, you usually have to wait a while, then, move a little, and then sit some more and wait. During this time, your oil is still moving through the engine, even as you idle. Every time the oil moves through the engine, it picks up dirt and other contaminants that make it black. So, when you do a lot of city driving, your oil might need to be changed sooner than 3,000 miles. You might want to consider changing it after 2,000 miles, or when it is black on the dipstick. Since you have a heavy stop and go action, you will also want to check and make sure the oil levels remain full to keep the engine pumping along well.

Different Types of Oil

The type of oil put in your engine might also determine how long it lasts between changes. Some synthetic brands are now coming out that are safe for engines to go close to 5,000 miles between changes. The oil is more expensive up front, but then the product information says the price difference is made up for because the car can go longer between changes. The oil is thicker and will be able to work well in the pistons even if it gets dirty sooner.

When you have your oil changed, inquire about the oil choices you have. Do you want a 5W30 that is meant to last for more types of weather and conditions or 10W30 oil? The oil tech should also be able to give you the pros and cons of one kind of oil over another for your vehicle.