Oil Pouring from a can

How often should I change my oil?

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Posted in Service and Repair, Tips and Info

Getting an oil change at the right time is important. Neglecting to do so can cause serious engine issues and even void your warranty. But when it comes to an oil change, what exactly is the right time?

Recommended Oil Change Intervals

In the past, people used to say that the golden rule was to change your oil about every three months or 3,000 miles. But with modern vehicles, getting oil changed this often isn’t generally useful to anyone except the service shops. Changing your oil too much won’t hurt anything, but it also won’t help, so in the end you’re wasting your valuable time and money.

Schedule Service

In reality, the regularity of your oil changes should differ based on your vehicle and driving habits. Let’s take a closer look.

Oil Pouring from a can

  • If you’re constantly doing trips of ten miles or less, stopping and starting often, and turning the car off and on several times, you should change your oil about every 1,000 miles. This is because that kind of driving is likely hard on the engine. If you’re only making short trips, you’ll probably not be racking up 1,000 miles until six months have passed anyway.
  • If you drive an average of twenty minutes at fairly steady speeds and have an older vehicle model, get your oil changed about every 3,000 miles.
  • Most new cars only need their oil changed every 5,000 to 7,5000 miles. This is especially true if you drive twenty minutes or more on average and achieve fairly steady speeds.
  • If you use synthetic oil in your car, you can go as long as 10,000 miles before getting a change. Yes, the oil itself is more expensive, but it brings benefits such as lasting longer and working better in some sludge-prone machines. Plus, it’s healthier for the environment.

In all cases, check your owner’s manual (which can almost always be found online) for exact information on when to get your oil changed.

Note: Even if you’re not driving much and racking up miles, it’s still important to get your oil changed periodically because the substance breaks down over time. Get it changed every six months to be on the safe side.

Read More: How to Get Your Car to 200,000 Miles