Oil change is an essential part of owning any vehicle. If you don’t do it when you’re supposed to, you greatly jeopardize the health of your vehicle and increase costs due to inefficient fuel. It’s something you have to do on a regular basis, whether you do it yourself or take it to a garage to have them do it.
Unfortunately, your engine doesn’t tell you when you need it. Unlike other repairs and maintenance needs, your car won’t tell you. It’s something you have to remember to do.
Cars and light trucks
When you should do it depends on exactly what you drive, but for most passenger cars and light duty vehicles, an oil change once a year or once every 7,500 miles is recommended.
But wait, this is just an absolute minimum. This is recommended for standard cars that don’t get much use. We put our cars through a lot of abuse these days, so you might want to do it sooner. Mechanics recommend changing your oil more often if you do the following:
– Drive a lot, use your car for work, or take road trips of any kind quite frequently.
– Live in a city, where you do a lot of stops and starts in traffic or at traffic lights.
– Experience extreme weather conditions: anything hot, cold, dusty, or especially humid.
If you fall anywhere on the list above, you give your car a “severe service,” and this means you need to change the oil twice as often: twice a year or once every 3,750 miles.
Diesel and turbocharged gasoline engines
If you drive a vehicle with a diesel engine or something that uses turbocharged gasoline, your oil change needs will be greater. These vehicles should be replaced once every 6 months or once every 3,500 miles.
How do I know when it’s time?
As we mentioned earlier, your car won’t let you know when it’s time to get this essential service. That’s why it’s up to you to keep track of service times or mileage. Most mechanics recommend doing it by mileage, as this is more reliable. If you take a long road trip or drive a little longer at some point, this will increase your mileage and you will need to do it sooner.
The best method is to keep a small notebook in the glove box. Write down the mileage when you last changed it and make a note of the next time you’ll need it. When you’re pumping gas, check that notebook from time to time and make sure it’s not getting anywhere near you.
Getting an oil change for your vehicle is just as important as any other type of regular repair or maintenance. If you don’t want to get under your car and get your hands dirty, you can always take it to a shop where an experienced mechanic can do it for you quickly and cheaply. Be sure to do this regularly and you will ensure a long and clean life for your vehicle’s engine.
