How Often Should You Change Your Oil Near Bristol, TN Johnson City Toyota

How Often Should You Change Your Oil?

Engine oil is the most important lubricant in your car. Fresh oil plays a vital role in protecting your engine and extending its life. Like any other compound, oil does not stay in its original form for long and needs to be replaced at specific intervals. This leaves one major question to be answered: how often should I change my oil? To make things easy for you, we answered that exact question below.

Does the 3000 Miles Oil Change Rule Hold True Even Today?

There is no singular correct answer to this question. If you are driving a new car, your car can run more than 5000 miles before you need to go in for an oil change. Some modern cars have even longer oil change intervals like 10,000 miles. Daily driving habits and road conditions also determine how often you should change your oil. Here are some additional factors that directly affect oil change intervals.

Factors That Determine Frequent Oil Changes

• If your daily drive is less than 10 miles and you live in a colder region, you might need to change your oil every 3000 miles. The reason behind this is the condensation that occurs in the engine. During cold weather condensation forms within the engine and that moisture mixes with the engine oil. The moisture in the oil needs to vaporize to prevent oil breakdown. If you rarely drive on highways, your engine may never attain a temperature needed to vaporize the moisture. If the moisture remains mixed, the water molecules combine with additives to form insoluble molecules that are harmful to the engine
• If you find that most of your time behind the wheel is taking place on gravel or dirt roads, fine particles of dust often mix up with the engine oil. This can cause damage to the engine. In this case, you need to change your oil every 3 months or every 3000 miles for optimal engine protection.

How Often Should You Change Your Oil?

Automotive technology has grown by leaps and bounds and the oil change interval has extended from 3000 miles to 5000 miles. According to many auto experts, most modern cars can go 5000 miles before needing an oil change. In fact, some car manufacturers even recommend an oil change every 10,000 miles instead. While this may be confusing for many, here is the explanation for these differing oil change intervals.

Every engine and lubricant is different. Car manufacturers test different lubricants before recommending a few for a specific engine-type. Car manufacturers also include information about oil change intervals in the car manual. Read the manual carefully to find out how often you should change your oil.

If the car manufacturer recommends an engine oil change every 5000 miles, there is no reason to listen to other people's advice. The car manual includes information about basic maintenance tasks that are essential in keeping your car’s engine and other components in the best condition.

Changing your oil at the right intervals is one of the most beneficial things you can do for the overall health of your car. Sticking to the manufacturer recommended maintenance schedule will keep your car’s engine in good condition and ensure fewer engine repairs.