How Often Is An Oil Change Necessary?
Estimates vary as to when you need to have an oil change service on your car. The intervals rely on various factors. It seems like every person you ask has a different answer. Who is right? Knowing which factors affect the cleanliness of your oil can help you make an informed choice.
Where to Start?
Your owner’s manual is a good place to start. It will probably recommend an oil change every 5,000 to 7,500 miles. Because the manufacturer actually built the car, the manual can be viewed as a reliable source when it comes to maintenance advice. As a note though, most manufacturers’ recommendations are based on ideal driving conditions–driving short distances, never over the speed limit, level roads, that kind of thing – something the average driver would be hard-pressed to accomplish. If you are the average driver, then you’re better off using the “severe conditions” maintenance schedule, about every 3,000 miles.
What Affects Oil Change Intervals?
Hard driving is a major factor in determining the mileage interval. If you drive in a lot of extreme conditions (both hot and cold), stop-and-go, towing a trailer, or on dusty roads, you should change your oil more frequently. Of course, if you don’t drive many miles at all, you’ll be able to get away with longer periods in between each service.
If your car has higher mileage (over 80,000 miles), an oil change should be done at increasingly more frequent intervals. This is due to “blow-by” -- compressed fuel and air that has leaked into the engine’s crankcase. Over time, soot and grime build up on the rings, making them permeable and resulting in contaminated oil that should be changed more frequently.
Though having an oil change every 7,500 miles is something we would all prefer, 3,000 to 5,000 miles are more representative of actual driving conditions. If you think about the cost of just one vehicle according to the manufacturer’s schedule and multiply that by the number of your vehicles, you can determine how much you spend a year. If you are like most people, you would rather spend your extra money on entertainment, vacations, college for your kids, or saving for a rainy day. Many auto shops offer oil change coupons to help their customers take good care of their cars.
ATTENTION ALL LADIES: Don’t forget TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2012, 6:30 – 8:00 P.M. Reserve your seat for AUTO MAINTENANCE 101, and then dinner prepared by Chef Carlos Poche. Email your name and phone number to cindy@garysautoinc.com. You will be notified when your reservation has been confirmed.
Need quality and affordable oil changes? Call our ASE Certified Technicians at Gary’s Quality Automotive for more information about our oil change coupon and to schedule an appointment. Our auto shop proudly serves vehicle owners in Grand Island, NE, Wood River, NE, and Doniphan, NE.
Estimates vary as to when you need to have an oil change service on your car. The intervals rely on various factors. It seems like every person you ask has a different answer. Who is right? Knowing which factors affect the cleanliness of your oil can help you make an informed choice.
Where to Start?
Your owner’s manual is a good place to start. It will probably recommend an oil change every 5,000 to 7,500 miles. Because the manufacturer actually built the car, the manual can be viewed as a reliable source when it comes to maintenance advice. As a note though, most manufacturers’ recommendations are based on ideal driving conditions–driving short distances, never over the speed limit, level roads, that kind of thing – something the average driver would be hard-pressed to accomplish. If you are the average driver, then you’re better off using the “severe conditions” maintenance schedule, about every 3,000 miles.
What Affects Oil Change Intervals?
Hard driving is a major factor in determining the mileage interval. If you drive in a lot of extreme conditions (both hot and cold), stop-and-go, towing a trailer, or on dusty roads, you should change your oil more frequently. Of course, if you don’t drive many miles at all, you’ll be able to get away with longer periods in between each service.
If your car has higher mileage (over 80,000 miles), an oil change should be done at increasingly more frequent intervals. This is due to “blow-by” -- compressed fuel and air that has leaked into the engine’s crankcase. Over time, soot and grime build up on the rings, making them permeable and resulting in contaminated oil that should be changed more frequently.
Though having an oil change every 7,500 miles is something we would all prefer, 3,000 to 5,000 miles are more representative of actual driving conditions. If you think about the cost of just one vehicle according to the manufacturer’s schedule and multiply that by the number of your vehicles, you can determine how much you spend a year. If you are like most people, you would rather spend your extra money on entertainment, vacations, college for your kids, or saving for a rainy day. Many auto shops offer oil change coupons to help their customers take good care of their cars.
ATTENTION ALL LADIES: Don’t forget TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2012, 6:30 – 8:00 P.M. Reserve your seat for AUTO MAINTENANCE 101, and then dinner prepared by Chef Carlos Poche. Email your name and phone number to cindy@garysautoinc.com. You will be notified when your reservation has been confirmed.
Need quality and affordable oil changes? Call our ASE Certified Technicians at Gary’s Quality Automotive for more information about our oil change coupon and to schedule an appointment. Our auto shop proudly serves vehicle owners in Grand Island, NE, Wood River, NE, and Doniphan, NE.
