How Often Should I Change Oil?

Engine oil is essential for every car as it lubricates its moving parts. The oil helps prevent wear and tear and heat built up that could damage several vehicle parts. So, it’s essential to change it after some time. But knowing when to change the oil can confuse many motorists as it varies based on your driving condition and habits. In this guide, we will simplify questions about changing your car oil.

How Often Should You Change Your Oil?

It’s recommendable to replace your vehicle’s oil before it reaches the end of its service life. The service life of oil varies based on the type of oil. Also, the make and model of your vehicle influence how often you should change oil.

Previously, oil change intervals used to be every 3,000 miles. But today, significant improvement in engine material, design, and even oil chemistry stretches the interval to 7,500 miles or sometimes even more than 10,000 miles.

When Your Vehicle Is in Warranty

If your vehicle’s warranty is still valid, there are certain things you should consider regarding how often you change the oil. Firstly, ensure you stick with the type of oil, mileage, and period recommended in the user’s manual to avoid voiding the powertrain warranty.

You can easily know when to change the oil if you drive a modern vehicle with a built-in oil level monitor. These vehicles use a complex algorithm to track and match your driving activity with your vehicle’s oil needs.

When Your Vehicle Is Out of Warranty

But if your vehicle is old or out of warranty, knowing when to change the oil depends on several conditions. For example, if you make short trips or long trips. Also, the time of the year may influence how often you change the oil. You may need to replace the oil more often during hot and cold seasons.

Your driving habits, such as low or high speed, towing, and terrain (muddy, dusty, sandy, salty, etc.), can also influence how often you need to change your vehicle’s oil.

Are Frequent Oil Changes Better?

Frequent oil changes are a good practice to ensure your engine gets the right lubrication. As long as you stick with the right type and class of oil for every oil change, no matter how frequent the replacement is, it won’t hurt your engine. However, it can be cost-intensive. Frequently replacing it can also be an avenue to inspect and replace other wear in your vehicle like brake pads, coolant, shocks, tires, etc.

Changing your oil more frequently than necessary won’t help your car, but it doesn’t harm it either. You’re only wasting money, time, and resources. Also, remember that throwing away oil that’s still usable puts a strain on the environment.

Longer-Life Oils

If you don’t want to go through the hassle of frequent oil changes, it’s best to opt for longer-life oil. Synthetic oil is also known as premium extended life, with a service life between 10,000 and 12,000 miles. These types of oil have such long service life because they have unique chemistry and additives that resist high temperatures and keep particulates suspended.

Why Is Changing Oil Important?

Oil degrades gradually throughout its service life. And when it approaches the duration of its service year, it won’t provide the right amount of lubrication which can lead to the failure of different vehicle parts. Here are reasons why it’s vital to change your vehicle’s oil:

• Improve your engine performance

• Help vehicles reach peak gas mileage

• Prevents corrosion, wear, and tear

• Keeps engine clean and cool

• Extend engine longevity

Types of Motor Oil for Your Vehicle

The type of oil you use in your vehicle matters. There are four basic classes of oil types: conventional, synthetic, synthetic blend, and high-mileage oil. It is best to always stick to the kind your automaker recommends. Switching from a conventional to a high mileage against automaker recommendation won’t improve your vehicle’s performance; rather, it can damage several components in your engine.

Should I Use Synthetic Oil?

Synthetic oil improves the performance of your vehicle’s engine, amongst other benefits. But synthetic oil is not suitable for all types of engines. So, before using synthetic oil, ensure your vehicle marker recommends it. You can refer to your vehicle user manual for more information about the type of oil you can use.

How Heat Affects Motor Oil in Your Car?

Heat affects the viscosity of motor oil. During the hot season and high engine temperature, motor oil thins, reducing its lubricating properties. As such, the SAE developed the oil rating system to grade oil viscosity.

Oil Change Cost Factors

An oil change is vital, but the cost associated with it varies. Factors that can affect the cost of an oil change includes your location, the type of oil you use, the age of your vehicle, and even if you choose an auto shop or DIY.

What’s Involved in an Oil Change?

When you visit an auto shop for an oil change, the mechanic drains the old oil and changes the oil filter if necessary. The mechanic then tops the oil with the right type of oil in line with your vehicle’s make and model recommendation. Depending on the auto shop you go to, you may also get a courtesy inspection of fluids in your car, brakes, tires, and other parts of the vehicle.

Remember that no matter how often you change your oil, you may still need to change the filter. Some oil filters can handle long oil change intervals, while some cannot. To be safer, it is advisable to check your car’s manufacturer’s instructions to see the recommended duration for replacing the oil filter.

Keep Maintenance Records

After every oil change keeping a maintenance record goes a long way. This record helps ensure you always remember when your vehicle is due for routine maintenance. The benefit is that it prevents expensive engine repairs from not changing the oil on time or using the wrong type of oil.

FAQ

How often should I change the oil?

Cars are different, but replacing your engine oil every 5,000 to 10,000 miles or six months is a good practice, whichever comes first.

How often should you change your oil in months?

Changing the oil at least once a month is recommended if you frequently engage in severe driving conditions such as heavy towing, extreme temperature, long distances, and stop-and-go traffic.

How much is an oil change?

The oil change cost varies based on several factors, so the final price will depend on your car.

How long does an oil change take?

Generally, an oil change takes anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour.

What happens if you go too long without an oil change?

Going too long without an oil change can damage your engine leading to expensive repairs.

Can I change the oil every two years?

No, it’s best not to wait so long before an oil change.

How do I know when my oil needs changing?

A maintenance schedule is an excellent way to know when you need an oil change. But you can also use the oil level and condition, mileage and time, noise and performance, etc.