How Often Should You Change Your Oil?

Your internal combustion engine needs regular maintenance to keep going. It’s a fact of life when owning a vehicle. Routine maintenance is vital to extending the life of your vehicle to get the most out of your investment.

One of the most common maintenance tasks for your vehicle is an oil change. Automakers have made many improvements in engine technology and fully synthetic motor oils over the past decade. These improvements help Lima drivers to go much longer between oil changes than they used to. Gone are oil changes every three months and 3,000 miles when you buy a new or recent-model vehicle.

Many certified pre-owned vehicles that are 10 years old or newer have an oil change frequency between 7,500 and 10,000 miles. Even though these are typical ranges, you should always check your owner’s manual or oil life monitoring system (OLMS) for specifics. The manufacturer may have different requirements from model year to model year.

Read on to learn more about the oil change frequency for your internal combustion vehicle. If you have more questions after reading our guide, contact us at Exceptional Motorcar.

How Often Should You Change Your Oil?

Some vehicles have a higher oil change frequency than others. However, the general rule of thumb is to get an oil change every 7,500 to 10,000 miles. Your onboard OLMS will tell you when it’s time to change your vehicle’s oil. The system works thanks to your vehicle’s computer. The system will monitor driving conditions and may even have sensors to keep an eye on the life of your oil as you drive around Toledo or Findlay to determine how often you should change the oil. Even if you don’t drive very much, you should never go more than one year without getting an oil change.

Older vehicles may need more frequent oil changes, like every 3,000 to 5,000 miles because they aren’t made with newer engine parts or engineering standards. You should still consider synthetic oil for an oil change to make the pistons last longer. Synthetic oil, while more expensive, is better for your engine in the long term because petroleum companies can custom-make synthetic oil.

Be aware of what conditions in which you drive your vehicle. If you’re driving in less-than-ideal conditions, the engine may need oil changes more frequently.

If you engage in these activities with your vehicle, keep an eye on your oil for signs you need to bring it in for service more often:

• Off-roading
• Commercial use
• Racing
• Heavy towing

Oil Change Frequency Information

Want more oil change tips? We’ve got a few more to help you! If you still have questions about auto care,oil changes, and vehicle maintenance, contact our team or give us a call at (419) 782-0607. We want you to get the most out of your investment!

• Check your owner’s manual or vehicle information center to see if your car, truck, or SUV needs synthetic or conventional oil. Synthetic oil costs more per oil change but lasts longer. You’ll have less frequent oil changes with synthetic oil. But the benefits go beyond fewer oil changes because it helps your vehicle’s engine stay in top condition for many years. Most new vehicles require synthetic oil.
• Oil eventually breaks down, even when the car isn’t driven very much. If you don’t drive often, you should still change your oil at least once per year to keep the oil fresh.
• Make sure you change your oil filter at the same time you change the oil. A dirty filter will make your fresh oil dirtier from the start.

How Often Should You Check Your Oil Level?

Check your oil level at leastonce a month. It’s very easy to do! Just lift the hood of your car, prop it open, and look for the yellow or orange dipstick. Clean, fresh oil looks translucent and amber in color. Over time, your oil will change to an opaque, dark brown hue. It will also get thinner and more easily drip off of your dipstick compared to new oil.

Buy a Quality Used Vehicle in Defiance

We want you to get the most out of your used vehicle ownership, which is why we love giving you tips about car ownership and maintenance. Take a look at our other service and parts tips, including if tires affect your car’s mpg, to give you every advantage. We’re happy to help in any way we can!