Generally speaking, it’s a good idea to have your automobile’s oil changed every 3,000 miles if you drive a lot. This is a general recommendation, however, and other factors can affect when you need to have the oil changed. Hummel’s Automotive Diagnostic & Repair would love to sit down with you and come up with a customized oil service plan that changes the oil in your automobile exactly when it needs it. Here are some things that need to be taken into account for the oil change schedule.
Manufacturer’s Recommendation
One of the most important considerations is your vehicle manufacturer’s recommendation. You will find this in your owner’s manual. Again, generally, it is recommended that you have your oil changed every 3,000 miles, but some vehicle manufacturers extend that duration if they recommend synthetic motor oil for your automobile. Take a look at what your vehicle manufacturer recommends for your specific make, model, and year.
Oil Type
As we said above, synthetic motor oil can extend the duration between oil changes. The duration for synthetic oil changes ranges from every 5,000 miles to every 10,000 miles. The 3,000-mile recommendation is for vehicles that run on conventional motor oil. Synthetic motor oil gets a lot of well-deserved hype, but it’s important to keep in mind that conventional motor oil is incredibly effective at protecting your engine, as well.
Commute Type
Another thing to take into account is the type of commute that you drive every day. For example, if you drive your vehicle for a long time in zero traffic, this is actually better for the motor oil. If you drive short distances or long distances in stop-and-go traffic, this is harder on the motor oil. You may need more frequent oil changes if your commute is difficult for your engine.
How You Drive
How you drive can also affect your oil change schedule. Those who allow their engines to warm up and take it easy behind the wheel generally end up with oil that lasts a little bit longer. If you drive like a maniac and put the pedal to the metal, you make your engine work harder and it may need oil changes more often to help protect it.
Finally, one more thing we like to consider is your vehicle’s age. The older the car the more frequent the oil changes. Call Hummel’s Automotive Diagnostic & Repair in St. George, UT, today to discuss an oil change schedule for your automobile.
