Oil Change – When to Have it Done

It’s a controversy. Sure it sounds silly, but it really is a controversy when you get an oil change for your car. Is it every three thousand miles; is it every five thousand miles, or even longer? You hear conflicting reports from your mechanic, oil companies, and other sources. It can be frustrating if you’re trying to figure out the best way to take care of your car. But there are some ways to figure out what is best for your engine.

If you have an older car, then you might want to get your oil changed more often. It might sound silly to put so much work into an old car like that but it will help it to work more efficiently. You’ll need to keep those older parts well lubricated so that your car will run efficiently. The older components take more maintenance than newer components. Keeping them well lubricated with clean lubricant is the best way to make sure that they maintain their top performance.

If you have a newer car then an oil change at every three thousand miles might not be required. It might not have to go into the shop but once every five thousand miles. If that is the case then you’re looking at a lot less service jobs. This is because the way newer engines are made they last longer between changes. While you’ll still use the same amount of lubricant as you would with an older engine, it doesn’t have to be cleaned as often. It just means that it can withstand some of the junk and crud that might begin to build up.

If you drive long distances, however, you should take your car for an oil change more often. Even if the manufacture of your car states it doesn’t need to go in for servicing until five thousand miles it’s in your best interest to take it in early. Contaminants from the air around your car can get into the lubricant and gunk up the engine. Those contaminants can cause major issues if you don’t take care of replacing it every so often.

Deciding on when you should take your car into be serviced varies depending on a lot of different details. You should review your manufactures suggested service schedule as well as your mechanic’s recommendation. Take into account how far you travel and how much stress you put on you vehicle’s engine. It’s important to not delay on having your car serviced. Your car requires clean lubrication in order for it to work correctly. When in doubt, it doesn’t hurt for the service to happen more often than not.