An oil change is not something to ignore. They are necessary to keep your car running at its best.
One of the most important steps in maintaining a vehicle is getting an oil change. This simple process is critical to ensuring the vehicle is working well. The engine relies on it. Even more important,
the process often takes just a few minutes but can extend the life of your car by years. If you still want to put it off, do not do it. Follow your manufacturer's guidelines for how often you should be changing the oils in the vehicle.
What Your Manufacturer Says:
It is a good idea to follow the guidelines provided by your manufacturer when it comes to knowing how often you should be making the changes. However, most recommend between 3,000 and 5000 miles or every three to six months, depending on how often you use the vehicle and the type you own. Your owner's manual will provide you with information about this. That is a good guide to follow overall.
When You May Need It More:
There are some situations when getting an oil change more frequently is necessary. This will ultimately depend on the way you use your vehicle. Your mechanic can give you more information but the following are some examples if when it is a good idea to get this done.
In some situations, the way you drive makes a big difference. If you accelerate quickly or you do a lot of high speed driving, you will need to have this done more frequently.
For those that are in extreme climates, where it is very hot or very cold, it may be necessary to get this done more frequently as well.
For those who drive on surfaces that are broken, including dirt roads, it is also important to use this method to remove as much of the debris that builds up in the engine as possible.
Those who have engines that burn through a lot of oil, due to problems or age, it is also important to do this more frequently. You may just need to add more to them frequently.
Those who carry heavy loads on a regular basis may also need to have this done more frequently. Because this process taxes the engine more so, it requires more maintenance than other people will need to consider.
An oil change is one of the simplest of things you can do for your vehicle's maintenance and upkeep. In some situations, it is forgotten about, but those who make the decision not to have it done may end up dealing with costly mechanical problems down the road. That may not be what you want to happen to your vehicle especially if you want to save money overall.
