How Often Should You Change Your Oil
Posted on March 12, 2020
You probably already know that oil change service is a vital part of car servicing. While that's certainly important, having a firm knowledge of when to do an oil change is just as significant. Read on to learn from the automotive professionals at Caledon Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram about when you should change you oil, and the exact benefits of doing so.
Not Every 3,000 Miles
It used to be that many in the automotive field recommended oil change intervals every 3,000 miles. Thanks to modern designs and knowledge, that no longer is the case.
Car manufacturers will give you a good idea about how long you can go between oil changes. You will not find any that tell you to get oil changes anywhere near every 3,000 miles, because doing so is unnecessary and contributes greatly to waste.
You can get the exact recommendations for your vehicle through the manufacturer. That information is in the owner's manual, or on the manufacturer's website. Alternatively, we can provide you with that oil change internal recommendation, change your oil for you, and even remind you when it's getting close to time for another.
Some modern vehicles even have a reminder system built in. That helps take the guesswork out of when you should get an oil change, so you can worry about other things in life.
Complicating Factors
Some activities and environmental factors can change how often you change the oil in your car. The older your vehicle, the more these can make having the oil changed more often a wise idea.
Believe it or not, taking your car on short trips most of the time is hard on it. That includes if you just run to the local store that's a few minutes away. While it might be great for your fuel consumption, your car was designed to run at a certain temperature. If the oil doesn't heat up all the way, it can cause excess sludge, making it necessary to remove more often to avoid serious problems.
Living in Canada, you need to be careful about the extreme winters we experience. Extreme cold can break down the oil in your car more rapidly, shortening the length of time you wait between oil changes.
If you commute in stop-and-go traffic on a regular basis, that's also hard on your car in general. To ensure the different parts of your engine continue to run properly, you need fresh oil more often.
Using your car to tow or haul heavy loads puts additional strain on it and your oil. You'll need to have more frequent oil changes if you use your vehicle this way.
Why Change Your Oil
You might already know that oil changes are some of the most important forms of maintenance you can perform, but you might not know why. Without getting too technical, oil protects against metal-on-metal contact inside the engine. It also removes deposits and keeps things cool. As oil ages, it becomes less effective at these traits, and so it must be swapped with new oil.
Contact us at Caledon Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram for your next oil change.