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How do you calculate oil change time? It is essential to go for an oil change after driving a certain number of miles. Not adhering to this common maintenance practice can cause serious engine damages.
However, a lot of drivers are confused about their oil change time vs mileage they drive in between oil changes.
Most car experts and automakers recommend going for an oil change every 3 months or when you drive up to 3,000 from the last oil change time.
But this is too close; hence, some mechanics would tell you it’s safe to drive up 7,500 miles or even 10,000 miles before thinking of an oil change – if you use Full synthetic oils.
In this article, we try to explain all you need to known concerning oil change time and mileage.
Oil Change Time Vs Mileage
Every driver has certain mileage intervals when he’d go for an oil change. The intervals vary from driver to driver. You may choose to go for an oil change after every 8,000 miles, while other drivers out there could choose 10,000 miles intervals.
More so, the type of oil you use for your car also has a role to play while choosing an oil change time. If you use mixed oils or conventional motors oils, your oil change time should be shorter than someone who’s using fully synthetic motor oils.
Yes, this is because synthetic oils have a longer life than conventional oils. Full synthetics are made with premium additives; thus, they can last and offer solid protection for up to 10,000 or even more.
That said, if you won’t be sticking with the oil change intervals indicated in your owner’s manual, you should set another interval that’s not too far from what your engine manufacturer indicated.
On newer cars, you’d find oil-quality monitoring systems; these components are installed to track the oil in your engine, along with your style of drive — the length of your trips, engine temperature levels, and other actions.
Once this system detects your oil is low or not providing enough protection to your engine, they’d notify you to go for an oil change. So, you could rely on such notifications to know when your car needs an oil change.
Notwithstanding, as your car gets older, you may need to consider synthetic oils labeled “High Mileage” motor oils. Such oils – though still synthetics – include special additives that are beneficial to high mileage engines.
What More?
It is very important that you follow your oil change intervals. If you ignore going for an oil change when due, you could be faced with a wrecked engine sooner than you expected.
More so, lack of oil in the engine can cause overheating, which can lead to other uncomfortable engine problems. It’s either you stick with the intervals recommended by your car manufacturer or follow that of your mechanic.
Finally, while taking oil changes seriously, you should also pay attention to your oil filter. Oil filters are mostly neglected, but they can cause engine problems, which can lead to expensive repairs.