Many motorists are confused about how often an oil change should be done. Here are some things to think about.
In the olden days,
the rule of thumb for oil change frequency was every 3,000 miles. The 3,000 mile was drilled into the head of every vehicle owner, mechanic and driver on the road. Over the years, this has changed. Now this car maintenance task frequency varies depending on the brand, model, driving habits and year of the car. The requirements for each vehicle will be notated in that particular automobile’s owners’ manual. Here are some things to think about regarding this crucial preventative maintenance task:
- What is the recommendation for oil changes? It will depend on the vehicle but may be 5,000, 7,000 or even 10,000 miles for that particular model, brand and year. To be sure, even mechanics check the manufacturer’s recommendations because the rules have changed so drastically.
- Why have the recommendations changed so dramatically? There are several reasons. For one thing, automotive engineers redesigned the systems to work more efficiently which allows them to burn and dirty less of the lubricant. For another, mechanics learned that it wasn’t actually necessary to change the lubricants out so often, after all.
- What can happen to a car with dirty or low lubricants? Most motorists know that having pure and ample oil is crucial to a properly functioning engine. There are many metal parts that create friction when they rub together. If there isn’t enough lube between them, they can damage each other, jam up and basically kill the machinery. Dirty oil can also clog up the works as debris and sediment cause everything to come to a grinding halt. Not performing this car care task will mean that your vehicle won’t live up to its potential.
- What are the benefits of fewer oil changes? It’s beneficial to the car owner because he or she won’t have to pay for as many servicing appointments. It’s beneficial to the environment because the earth doesn’t have so much of this dwindling natural resource used up.
- So, this is a 'green' thing to do? Yes. It's environmentally friendly because it uses less fossil fuel in the changing and less gasoline getting to and from appointments.
- What about synthetic products? There are synthetic lubricants on the market today which many mechanics recommend. They are said to evaporate less, promote engine longevity and leave less of a carbon footprint. Whether they’re right for your auto should be discussed with your mechanic.
- What kind of driving conditions would require more frequent changes? If the weather is extremely hot, cold, or humid, if the car is driven in mountainous regions, if trailers have been towed, if lots of stop-and-go traffic has been experienced or if lots of short repeated trips have been taken.
The old-fashioned 3,000 mile rule has changed. Nowadays, motorists should check their manufacturer’s recommendation which is found in the owners’ manual. Every car is different and the oil change frequency will vary depending on the brand, model and year of the car as well as the region and manner in which it has been driven.
