How Often Do You Need an Oil Change?

You know it’s important to have your vehicle oil changed regularly. But you may be wondering: how often do you need an oil change?

The answer isn’t as straightforward as you might expect.

The standard recommendation you might have heard before is to change your car oil every 3,000 miles or six months, whichever comes first. But with a relatively new car in optimal conditions, every 5,000 miles can be okay.

But what if there’s more to the story?

The truth is that how often you need to see an oil change company depends on several factors. These include manufacturer recommendations, typical operating conditions (or environment), and wear and tear.

Keep reading to find out when you should visit an oil change service.

How Often do You Need an Oil Change? It Depends

As we’ve seen already, different circumstances can require different maintenance levels for your vehicle. But what makes an oil change necessary in the first place?

Simply put, oil gets dirty over time, and dirty oil doesn’t work as well as fresh oil. The additives that keep your engine working smoothly boil out of the oil, and contaminants make their way in and start eating at the metal parts.

After a while, abrasive particles in old oil can start wearing away at the engine's parts the oil is meant to protect. This is why changing your oil is essential and why more extreme operating conditions demand more frequent changes.

Extreme Operating Conditions

The term 'extreme conditions' doesn’t mean driving at very high speeds or off-road. Instead, if you do a lot of stop-and-go driving in a city and frequently drive in rush-hour traffic, these should be considered extreme conditions.

If you make a lot of short trips every day and leave your car parked long enough for the engine to cool down between them, those are also considered extreme conditions.

Driving in very hot weather or environments with lots of blowing dust or dirt can make more frequent oil changes necessary.

If these conditions describe your situation, you should have your oil changed every 1,000 to 3,000 miles. Alternatively, you can follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for excessive use of newer vehicles.

Optimal Operating Conditions

Optimal conditions mean you go on long journeys at high speeds, with minimal breaking or slowing down and speeding up and take relatively infrequent trips. You can afford to change your oil every 5,000 miles or six months in these conditions.

Once again, the manufacturer should provide more specific guidelines for newer vehicles.

Come to B&M Auto Repair for Your Vehicle Maintenance Needs

So how often do you need an oil change? As you now know, the answer depends on your car and how you use it. There’s only one question left: where should you go for your oil change?

If you live near Collegeville, PA, you should consider coming to B&M Auto Repair and Towing. No matter what your vehicle needs, get in touch and let us help you get back on the road.