Oil Change Myths Busted

Dec 1
10:49

2010

Andrew Stratton

Andrew Stratton

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It seems that most of us were taught the three-thousand mile oil change rule for basic car maintenance. This might not necessarily be the case any longer. In this article, we discuss many other myths related to automotive maintenance.

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It seems that most of us at an early age were taught the three-thousand mile change rule for basic car maintenance. The evolution of the later model car as well as the service industry’s more accurate ability to diagnose the needs of a particular vehicle have left some older predictive tools by the wayside. You can trust your owner’s manual these days to help you determine a maintenance schedule for your car, what you need to avoid is performing maintenance based on long standing myths.

Of course the three-thousand mile myth for a scheduled oil change has been debunked. With the advancements in automobiles and the changes in the way that we live even compared to twenty years ago,Oil Change Myths Busted   Articles different cars used for varying reasons and their different drivers mandate different oil change schedules. You may end up sticking to the three-thousand mile rule, or you may be able to stretch to seven-point-five thousand, and some of you may be lucky ten thousand milers. It all depends on the condition under which your car is operated and what kind of driver you are.

The color of lubricant is also a prevalent myth. Oil gets dark in color almost immediately after an oil change. That is the symptom of its job. It takes the sludge and grime out of the engine, and therefore it changes color. Following the recommended guidelines in your owner’s manual or those set forth following an engine oil analysis are far better indicators.

Opinion and myths surrounding the proper viscosity also contribute to confusion. The weights have to do with the weather condition under which the car is driven; they do not have much to do with manufacturers or type of car. You do not need to change the viscosity you use with the seasons if you continually operate your vehicle in the same climate. By the same token, synthetic oils are of no particular benefit under traditional driving conditions. These should be reserved for high performance racing engines or for those cars operated in severely cold climates with temperatures below zero degrees Fahrenheit. Making the change to synthetic will not prolong the time between scheduled maintenance.

It is suggested that you always follow the maintenance program set forth in your vehicle’s accompanying owner's manual. You can also have the used fluid analyzed for an extremely accurate prediction. Companies in the business of engine oil analysis can be found on-line or by asking a car care specialist for a referral.