How often do I need to change the oil in my vehicle and why
Believe it or not, there seems to be some controversy on this and some disagreements. The first thing you should do is go to your car´s user manual. Most cars usually suggest an oil change every 5,000 miles. But, is there truly a lot of difference between changing the oil every 3,000 mile and doing it at 7,500 miles?
Today, there are still people who suggest and do oil changes every 3,000 miles. That is a thing from the past. Oil chemistry and engine technology for the last 15 years ensure that a vehicle can easily keep running with no oil change for at least 7,500 miles. Some could go as much as 10,000 miles if your car runs under normal conditions.
Once you have read the manual, consider that the value given there is an average. There is driving under normal conditions and driving under severe conditions. This will help you determine the time between oil changes.
Normal vs severe driving conditions
Normal driving conditions is when you use your car to go and come from work and go to the stadium or shopping on weekends. These conditions are for low altitude and low traffic areas. In addition, if you usually use your car to travel on the highway, you can certainly wait for 7,500 miles between oil changes.
Sever conditions are defined as those where you stop and go constantly in high traffic. They include areas of high altitude. If you usually tow a car or like to accelerate hard, then you should not exceed the time suggested in your manual.
Why should I change my oil?
The answer is easy. With constant use, oil picks up dirt from the engine. Dirty oil will not do the job as well as clean oil. Oil collects contaminants from the crankcase, it forms sludge when mixed with water, and the additives will eventually boil out.