How often do I really need to change the oil in my car?
Like a lot of people, I don't drive much these days. According to the date sticker the mechanic put on my window, my car is very overdue for an oil change. At the same time, the sticker also says the oil has a few thousand more miles to go before the next visit to the mechanic. Is getting the oil changed by a certain date important or should I wait until my car meets the mileage recommendation?
Answers ( 1 )
Conventional wisdom has always put it at every 3,000 miles to prevent engine wear, but many mechanics would tell you that such frequent changes are overkill. Indeed, most car owner’s manuals recommend changing out the oil less frequently, usually after 5,000 or 7,500 miles. The answer depends more on driving patterns than anything else. If you rarely drive more than 10 miles at a time (which does not get the oil hot enough to boil off moisture condensation) or start your car frequently when the oil is not hot (when most engine wear occurs) you should change your oil more often- at least twice a year even if that is every 1,000 miles. As your car ages, more frequent oil changes might be in order.