How Often Do You Need An Oil Change?

The rule of thumb when it comes to getting your oil changed is every three months or three thousand miles. The truth is that getting an oil change that frequently is unnecessary for most cars and drivers. It really all depends on how often you drive your car, the car's make and model, the type of oil you use, and how much performance you demand of your engine.

How Often Do You Drive?
If you're driving a lot, then you will need an oil change more frequently than those that don't. Engine oil is the lubricant that protects the engine while it's running. It works to keep it cool. It works to keep it clean. It keeps working parts from grinding up against each other and moving smoothly. The more you drive, the more engine oil needs to do its job. If you drive often, especially long trips, you should try to check your oil quality often so that you can see if it's getting too dirty or getting low.

What's The Year, Make & Model?
Most new cars are built to use less oil and require fewer oil changes. The average of 3,000 miles is now closer to 4,000 or 5,000 miles. Mechanics, however, still put 3,000 miles on your sticker so that you don't drive too long without an oil change. Check your car's manual to see when you'll need to schedule maintenance. From there it will depend on the nature of how you drive and what kind of oil you use.

Synthetic or Regular Oil?
If you use regular oil, you'll need to get your oil changed more frequently. Synthetic oil lasts much longer. It's more expensive, almost double the cost of a regular oil change, but it can last more than twice the amount of time. Some cars, depending on their age, can go as long as 10,000 miles before your car requires the oil to be changed. Synthetic oil is recommended for performance engines like luxury cars and trucks but all cars can use synthetic.

Performance Requirements?
Do you ask a lot of your car? Do you take the car on road trips, racking up thousands of miles in a singe trip? Do you own a truck that needs to haul a significant weight? The more you ask of your engine, the more you are asking of its oil. That's why the old rule has been a miles or months estimation. If you're racking up miles then it's obvious that you're demanding a lot of your car. If you are hauling, you may need to change your oil more frequently.

The best way to know if you need your oil changed is by checking your oil yourself. Don't rely on the sticker to tell you when you need to come in. Periodically check the level and quality of your oil and you'll always know when to bring you car in for an oil change.