If you’re confused about motor oil—the right time to change it, how often to change it, what’s the best oil for your car.
1. When to Change the Oil
The answer to a lot of these questions is the same: Check your owner’s manual. It should be your car maintenance and operation bible. Don’t make assumptions on the interval based on past experiences or guidance from mechanics who profit from the work, because the timing has evolved over the years.
Many cars, pickups, and SUVs now have service reminder monitors that alert drivers when to change their oil. “These systems typically monitor the number of miles a vehicle has traveled, and they also sense how hard the car is being driven, and adjust accordingly,” Ibbotson says.
Make sure you get your oil change soon after you receive such an alert.
2. How Often to Check the Oil Level
CR recommends checking your oil level at least once a month. Be sure to get repairs done at the first sign of a leak.
Check the owner’s manual and follow the automaker’s recommendations. Some newer cars have electronic oil monitors and don’t have traditional dipsticks for manual inspection.
If you do have a dipstick, and you’re checking it yourself, make sure the car is parked on level ground. If the engine has been running, be aware of potential hot spots under the hood.
With the engine off, open the car’s hood and find the dipstick. Pull the dipstick out from the engine and wipe any oil off from its end. Then insert the dipstick back into its tube and push it all the way back in.
Pull it back out, and this time quickly look at both sides of the dipstick to see where the oil is on the end. Every dipstick has some way of indicating the proper oil level, whether it be two pinholes, the letters L and H (low and high), the words MIN and MAX, or simply an area of crosshatching. If the top of the oil “streak” is between the two marks or within the crosshatched area, the level is fine.
But if the oil is below the minimum mark, you need to add oil.
Pay close attention to the oil’s color. It should appear brown or black. But if it has a light, milky appearance, this could mean coolant is leaking into the engine. Look closely for any metal particles, too, because this could mean there is internal engine damage. If you see either of these conditions, get the car to a mechanic for further diagnosis.
If everything is okay, wipe off the dipstick again and insert it back into its tube, making sure it’s fully seated. Close the hood and you’re done.
3. How Often to Change the Oil
“Your owner’s manual has more detailed information about your car than any mechanic does,” Ibbotson says. “Don’t get talked into too-often oil changes. Follow the manual and your car’s engine should stay well-lubricated and perform well.”
Over the course of two years and 30,000 miles, assuming that your oil change costs $40 a pop, you could save $240 if you get it changed every 7,500 miles vs. every 3,000 miles.
It’s not just about miles: If you don’t drive your car a lot, your oil still needs to be kept fresh. Even if you drive fewer miles each year than your automaker suggests changing the oil (say, 6,000 miles, with suggested oil-change intervals at 7,500 miles), you should still be getting that oil changed twice a year.
Why? Oil becomes less effective as it ages, and by not getting the engine warm enough, excess moisture that forms in the engine will not be removed, which can lead to shorter engine life.
4. Choosing the Right Oil for Your Car
In many newer models, the weight of your car’s motor oil is printed on the cap where you add oil. “Make sure you know what’s recommended or required by your automaker before you visit your mechanic so that you can control the cost of the oil they’re putting in,” he says.
If you have a much older car, do you need special motor oil?
“Not if it’s running well,” Ibbotson says. “If you’re not sure what oil you should be using because you don’t have an owner’s manual, check with your local dealer or an online enthusiast group for your particular model,” he says.
5. Do You Need Synthetic Oil?
Synthetic oil is designed to be more effective at resisting breakdown (and because of that, it lasts longer) and withstanding high temperatures.
There are situations where that resistance to breakdown can help prolong the life of your engine.
“If you make lots of short trips, standard motor oil may never get warm enough to burn off moisture and impurities, which means it may not be doing enough to protect your engine,” Ibbotson says.
Another consideration is your lifestyle. “If you live in a region with very cold winters or very hot summers, or if you use your vehicle for towing or hauling heavy material, synthetic oil is your best bet,” he says. “While synthetic generally holds up better and can serve for more miles, it is equally important to not extend oil changes beyond the time interval recommended by the manufacturer—typically six months or a year if it is a motor that is not driven many miles or on many short trips.”
Synthetic oil can also help engines that are prone to building up sludge; some Volkswagen and Toyota models have had sludge issues in the past. This residue, formed when oil breaks down, can block the flow of oil, leading to the quick death of an engine. Synthetic oil would be beneficial in these engines because it helps to reduce sludge buildup, helping to extend the engine’s lifespan.
harbiye escort
•3 years ago
I could not resist commenting. Exceptionally well written!
inzin
•2 years ago
Thanx for appreciating us. Please keep sharing this blog to provide this knowledge to others.
Top Shelf Bread
•3 years ago
Everything is very open with a really clear clarification of
the issues. It was truly informative. Your site
is very helpful. Thank you for sharing!
inzin
•2 years ago
Thanx for appreciating us. Please keep sharing this blog to provide this knowledge to others.
https://www.inzin.in/
merter masöz
•2 years ago
of course like your web-site however you have to take a look at the spelling on quite a few of your posts.
A number of them are rife with spelling problems and I in finding it
very bothersome to tell the reality however I will surely come again again.
inzin
•2 years ago
Thanx for appreciating us. Please keep sharing this blog to provide this knowledge to others.
beykent masaj salonu
•2 years ago
Its like you read my mind! You appear to know so much about this, like you wrote the book in it or something.
I think that you can do with a few pics to drive the message home a bit, but instead of that, this is fantastic blog.
A fantastic read. I’ll certainly be back.
inzin
•2 years ago
Thanx for appreciating us. Please keep sharing this blog to provide this knowledge to others.
Coffee Pods Nespresso Compatible
•2 years ago
I am not very wonderful with English but I come up this really easygoing to translate.
inzin
•2 years ago
Thanx for appreciating us. Please keep sharing this blog to provide this knowledge to others.
צימרים בצפון
•2 years ago
cheers a whole lot this fabulous website will be proper along with laid-back
inzin
•2 years ago
Thanx for appreciating us. Please keep sharing this blog to provide this knowledge to others.
escort bayan
•2 years ago
Pretty great post. I just stumbled upon your blog
and wanted to say that I have really loved browsing your blog posts.
After all I will be subscribing for your rss feed and I hope you write once more soon!
inzin
•2 years ago
Thanx for appreciating us. Please keep sharing this blog to provide this knowledge to others.
https://www.inzin.in/
inzin
•2 years ago
Thanx for appreciating us. Please keep sharing this blog to provide this knowledge to others.
gamble
•2 years ago
This is a topic that’s near to my heart… Take care! Where are your contact details though?
inzin
•2 years ago
Thanx for appreciating us. Please keep sharing this blog to provide this knowledge to others.
Qq Slot Terbaru
•2 years ago
Wow! Finally I got a blog from where I know how to truly obtain helpful data regarding
my study and knowledge.
inzin
•2 years ago
Thanx for appreciating us. Please keep sharing this blog to provide this knowledge to others.
Poker online Indonesia
•2 years ago
What’s up mates, its wonderful article regarding
teachingand fully explained, keep it up all the time.
inzin
•2 years ago
Thank you so much. Please keep sharing this blog to provide this valuable information to others as well.
newtown casino
•2 years ago
Here are some guidelines on easy methods to be successful.
You will profit the happier the business owner are.
The best article titles are individuals get opened, right? https://918kiss.bid/downloads/219-download-ntc33
inzin
•2 years ago
Thanx for appreciating us. Please keep sharing this blog to provide this knowledge to others.
צימרים בצפון
•2 years ago
thanks a lot a lot this site is usually conventional as well as relaxed
inzin
•2 years ago
Thanx for appreciating us. Please keep sharing this blog to provide this knowledge to others.
inzin
•2 years ago
Thanx for appreciating us. Please keep sharing this blog to provide this knowledge to others
loan
•2 years ago
Attractive component of content. I simply stumbled upon your weblog and in accession capital to assert that I acquire in fact loved account your
weblog posts. Any way I will be subscribing for your augment and even I success
you get entry to constantly fast.
inzin
•2 years ago
Thanx for appreciating us. Please keep sharing this blog to provide this knowledge to others
the coconut oil
•2 years ago
Nice post. I learn something new and challenging on sites I stumbleupon every day.
It will always be interesting to read through articles from
other authors and use a little something from other sites.
tinyurl.com
•2 years ago
I think the admin of this web site is truly working hard in support
of his website, because here every information is quality
based information.
inzin
•2 years ago
Thanx for appreciating us. Please keep sharing this blog to provide this knowledge to others.
https://www.inzin.in/
Dewapokerqq
•2 years ago
Pretty! This has been a really wonderful article. Many thanks for providing this info.
inzin
•2 years ago
Thank you so much. Please keep sharing this blog to provide this valuable information to others as well.
espn.com/activate
•2 years ago
Write more, thats all I have to say. Literally, it seems as though you relied on the video to make your point. You clearly know what youre talking about, why waste your intelligence on just posting videos to your weblog when you could be giving us something informative to read?|
inzin
•2 years ago
Thank you so much for appreciation. Please keep sharing this blog to provide this valuable information to others as well.