Oil Change for Severe Driving

There is a frequent adage saying that a driver should have an oil change every 3,000 mile or three months whichever comes first. Recently there has been some revision this rule saying that it really applies to those who are severe drivers. Well a surprising number of people will be shocked to find out that even if she is a soccer mom she could qualify for this category. The requirements are not what you might think and the demands that are put on one of these types of people's vehicles are significant.

First of all to be a severe driver and thus require more stringent oil change schedules you basically need to put your vehicle through stressful situations. That means driving in hot and/or cold weather, in stop and go traffic/ down poorly paved roads, in the mud, dirt, and dust, in very hilly areas, or for many moms most notably taking many short trips under ten miles in length it is possible that you are putting a lot of stress on a vehicle.

If this sounds like the sort of driving habits you have it is time to consider having a more stringent maintenance schedule. Most mechanics and auto care professionals would suggest adopting the 3,000/3 month cycle of oil change work. In fact the term severe driver may be something of a misnomer as many sources indicate that more than ninety percent of people on the road fall under that category. When in doubt always refer to the owner's manual to determine what the actual habits are and what the recommended service schedule is.

Even if perhaps the way you drive your kids to and from school and practices is not indicative of the fact that you are driving in a severe manner it is always good to stay on top of the oil change work that needs to be done. For one thing it will help remove moisture and damaging acidic conditions that can cause breakdown and degradation of components. Also it can remove sludge. Sludge may sound like a sort of lazy term but it refers to a specific problem. As lubricant is used it sometimes foams and this foam mixes with unburned gasoline and fine metal shavings and other fluids in the engine. This amalgam can build up and eventually begin to cause functional problems in the motor. Having an oil change will flush this sludge out and leave only clean and fresh lubricant behind to replace the lost fluids.

It is clear through education that driving the weekly carpool, running errands, and making it to ballet classes is enough to put any mom in the severe class of drivers. A little education and a rigorous schedule of car care can make sure nobody misses a game or a practice as a result of a break down.