How Often Should You Change Engine Oil

Every car engine needs oil, but not just any. Modern engines are designed and manufactured to exacting standards and require oils that meet highly specific industry and automaker specifications to ensure a long service life. Failure to use and document the proper oil may void your new vehicle's warranty.

Most modern cars require synthetic blends or oils that are fully synthetic, low viscosity, multigrade, resource-conserving oils that reduce friction and maximize fuel economy. However, choosing the right oil is not always easy. The right oil for your make and vehicle model must have the correct viscosity grade under SAE standards, meet performance standards set by API, ILSAC and/or ACEA, and conform to any unique specifications set by the automaker or engine manufacturer. These requirements are detailed in the vehicle's owner's manual, and your auto repair center can also provide information on recommended oil specifications for your vehicle.

Depending on the vehicle's age, oil type and driving conditions, oil change intervals will vary. It used to be normal to change the oil every 3,000 miles, but with modern lubricants, most engines today recommend oil change intervals of 5,000 to 7,500 miles. Moreover, if your engine needs fully synthetic engine oil, it could run up to 15,000 miles.

Note

You cannot judge the condition of your engine oil by color, so follow the factory maintenance schedule for oil changes.

Oil Change Intervals – Older Cars

Older cars usually have oil change intervals based on mileage, and they have two maintenance schedules, one for cars that run in "normal" mode and one for those used in "extreme service". The latter category includes operating your vehicle under one or more of the following conditions:

• Primarily short trips (5 miles or less)
• Extremely hot, cold, or dusty climates
• Sustained stop-and-go driving
• Carrying heavy loads or towing a trailer

If using your vehicle falls under the definition of harsh service in your owner's manual, have your vehicle serviced using the recommended schedule.

However, if you are driving under normal conditions, be wary of spending your hard-earned money on oil change services and other maintenance that your vehicle may not need or benefit from.

Oil Change Intervals – Newer Cars

Most newer cars are equipped with oil life monitoring systems that automatically identify when an oil change is needed and notify you with an alert on the dashboard. Innovative simple systems depend on time and mileage, but current advanced designs analyze a vehicle's actual operating conditions to determine when the oil will begin to degrade. In fact, many new cars' owner and maintenance manuals eliminate "hard-duty" recommendations entirely because the oil life monitoring system automatically shortens the oil change interval when it detects heavy-duty operations.

Whenever you change your vehicle's oil, the service technician must reset the oil life monitoring system. If you have changed your oil, you can reset the system by following the instructions in your vehicle owner's manual.

Less frequent oil changes on newer engines make it necessary to check the oil level monthly and replenish as needed. While many engines will use less than a quart of oil between changes, other engines can use up to a quart every 600 to 700 miles. Maintaining proper oil levels can help you avoid costly auto repairs; Your new vehicle's warranty will not cover engine wear or damage caused by low oil levels. Note that if you don't run many miles on your car, most automakers recommend an oil change every 12 months, even if a maintenance reminder doesn't come.

Finding Quality Auto Repair

We recommend that you plan ahead for your car service by looking for an auto repair shop and technician you can trust.