Drivers in the Brockton, Randolph, or Stoughton area love their cars, which is why they want to make sure their vehicles are getting the service and care they need. Knowing how often to get the oil changed is an important part of vehicle ownership. Without clean engine oil, your car would eventually break down.
While it’s obvious that you should never go too long between oil changes, it can be harder to determine how frequent is too frequent. After all, it doesn’t make much sense to drain perfectly good engine oil and replace it if you don’t need to. While getting oil changes too often is bad for your engine, it could hit your wallet especially hard. So, to find out how often you should change the oil in your car, keep reading the article below by Collision 24.
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Is It Time for an Oil Change?
If you’re still following the old 3-month/3,000-mile rule, then you’re in good company. Just about every driver has been given this basic piece of automotive advice without really questioning where it came from or if it’s true. To clear the air, the rule does hold some merit, at least for older models. Newer engines, however, have been made more efficient, allowing them to enjoy less frequent oil changes (among other things.) It’s not uncommon for newer models to have oil change intervals of 5,000, 6,000, or even 7,500 miles.
Of course, older vehicles have older technology and equipment that lack the advancements of today’s automotive manufacturing. For these models, following the 3-month/3,000-mile (whatever comes first) rule is a good idea.
Check Your Driving Habits
Most motorists today can rely on an oil change mileage interval like those discussed above to tell them when they should get new engine oil. But if you’re one of the drivers who drive in what’s known as “severe conditions,” then you’ll probably want to get an oil change much sooner.
Inside your owner’s manual, the manufacturer will typically define what it rules as severe driving conditions. Most commonly, this includes driving in extremely high temperatures, stop-and-go traffic, and dusty conditions. The owner’s manual will also specify a new mileage interval for oil changes. Note that this interval will be more frequent than if you were driving in normal or average conditions.
Check the Maintenance Schedule
Your vehicle’s owner’s manual is filled with tons of useful information, including a recommended maintenance schedule. This schedule will give you instructions on all the recommended service intervals laid out by the manufacturer and the engineers of the vehicle. It’s important to follow this schedule if you have a new vehicle warranty, since failure to have the vehicle serviced regularly can void the warranty.
Your vehicle may also feature an oil change warning light, located on the dashboard. This light can help alert you when an oil change may be needed. However, not all vehicles have this feature, so check your owner’s manual, or ask a certified technician.
Find a Professional Oil Change
We hope we helped you determine when you need an oil change. If you believe it’s soon, then contact us at Collision 24 to schedule a service appointment. Serving the communities of Brockton, Randolph, Stoughton, and beyond, we’ll help you determine what’s the best oil change interval for your vehicle. And, of course, we’ll provide you with a quick and professional oil change so you can get back behind the wheel.
Don’t put off another oil change. Schedule your appointment now.