When was the last time you had your oil changed?
While oil changes are a hassle for any car owner, they are crucial to maintaining your car in good running condition and can extend the life of your vehicle. If you don’t change your oil according to a regular schedule and with the right products, it can even void your car’s warranty.
While experts used to say that you needed to change your car’s oil every 3,000 miles, that figure has become outdated. So how often do you need to change your oil? And what are you risking if you don’t change your oil frequently enough?
In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to inspire you to finally get that dreaded oil change you’ve been avoiding.
How long does an oil change take?
If you’ve been avoiding getting your oil changed because you think it will take a long time – think again! There are many maintenance services out there that can perform instant drive-thru oil changes in around 15 minutes.
For instance, try Valvoline Oil Change. Their friendly and certified technicians can perform an instant oil change for your car, in most instances under 15 minutes. Grab an oil change coupon and you can save an extra $10 off your next oil change.
Why are oil changes important?
Regular oil changes are an important part of car maintenance that you simply cannot afford to forget. By waiting too long to change your oil, you’re risking irreparable damage to your car.
Here are some of the major benefits of regular oil changes:
- Fresh oil keeps your engine operating under peak performance
- OId, dirty oil leads to dangerous engine emissions. Regular oil changes reduce the harmful emissions produced by your car
- Regular oil changes keep your engine debris free, which can extend its life
- Changing your oil regularly can even improve the mileage of your vehicle
- Having your oil changed is the perfect time to check on other aspects of your car maintenance checklist
How often should you get your oil changed?
So how do you know what oil change frequency works for you? It depends on your vehicle. Different vehicles have different requirements and each will benefit from a different oil maintenance schedule.
Generally speaking, you’ll need to schedule oil changes more frequently if you do any of the following:
- Off-roading
- Heavy towing
- Commercial driving
- Heavy commuting
- Racing
While many mechanics and maintenance services will tout the “every 3,000 miles” figure, you may not need oil changes that often.
To learn how often you actually should change your oil, it’s best to consult your owner’s manual first. Most manuals will provide two different maintenance schedules. One for “normal” driving and the other for “severe” driving. The severe number should only be used if you often do a lot of hard driving like off-roading or if you often drive in extreme weather conditions.
Even if you don’t drive your vehicle very often, you should always get at least two oil changes a year.
How do I check my own oil?
It’s easy to do a visual check of your engine’s oil by using the dipstick. Simply pull out your vehicle’s dipstick and look for common warning signs of engine damage while you’re there. If your oil looks cloudier, lighter, or further than usual, you may have coolant leaking from the engine. This usually signifies internal engine damage is occurring.
If you notice damage, consider having an oil analysis to determine the cause of the damage. They’re usually inexpensive with some maintenance services offering them for less than $30.