When Does Your Vehicle Need An Oil Change?
One vital piece of information that is captured by the vehicle manufacturers handbook is the prescribed oil changing intervals for a vehicle owner.
All of the information expected to guide a car owner, including the vehicle oil change interval, is captured within the contents of the manual.
The owners manual of a new vehicle might not contain any serious maintenance recommendations, because the car might have an internal system that tracks the way you drive and conditions that would impact the oil.
Instead of relying on benchmarks such as miles with an older car, a newer vehicle often has systems that notify you when it is time for an oil change or other maintenance. The intervals can vary greatly depending on make and model, so check the owners manual or manufacturer site to find out the best oil change intervals for your car.
Some cars have oil filters that last for up to the longest intervals, but you will want to refer to the owners manual to be sure that is something that your car can handle. As motor oil deteriorates over time, getting it changed at recommended intervals is essential for maintaining the overall health of the engine and vehicle. If you are driving an older model or a classic vehicle, shorter intervals between new engine oils will help maintain its life span.
Whether you are a routine driver or low-mileage, knowing how frequently to change the engine oil can help ensure that your car stays in great shape over a long period. While you know your engines oil needs changing, here are a few tips that will help you figure out when you need to have it done.
As you are learning to check the engine oil, you should also be understanding why changing the cars oil is important for keeping the vehicle running smooth. Whether you do it on your own or get it done for you, changing the oil at the right intervals will keep your engine running for longer and with more power.
To ensure that you are enjoying driving your car and spending less time at the garage getting expensive repairs, you just have to keep checking the engine oil. Oil smell or fumes When you notice an oily smell whenever you step inside the vehicle, it is necessary that you check your engines oil.
If you are experiencing an odd burning smell while you are inside the vehicle, your engine may be overheating because of a low oil level. It is worth checking your motor oil when you see smoke coming out of the tailpipe of your car. If you are driving a classic car, you definitely want to stick to conventional motor oil, since it is the kind of stuff these engines were designed to run on.
If your vehicle runs on synthetic motor oil, this number could go as high as 15000, due to increased efficiency. Lately, owners are now able to push the mileage of their vehicles oil farther, up to 10,000 miles, and even as high as 15,000. Modern vehicle engines are now capable of going between 7,500 to 10,000 miles before they need to be changed.
It used to be commonplace to change your oil every 3,000 miles, but thanks to modern lubricants, most engines now have recommended oil change intervals between 5,000 and 7,500 miles. While getting an oil change this frequently will help keep the engine healthy and prevent repairs, the days of the 3,000-mile interval are over. If you are asked about the time to get the first oil change in your new Nissan vehicle, you are better off getting the change sooner than the commonly prescribed interval (7,500-10,000 miles).
Some automotive experts have suggested the 3,000-mile interval is actually to benefit shops who do the oil changes, as they earn more money the more often you visit. Some car experts recommend somewhere between 7,500 and 10,000 miles, or six and 12 months, as an interval to change your cars engine oil.
For instance, if you are driving your vehicle through the city most of the time, with about 6,000 miles putting about 6k miles on your odometer every six months or so, then changing your cars oil every two years may be good idea. In short, if you do not drive your car often–as in, far below the miles in your recommended service interval–you should still change the oil twice a year, because the oil will eventually break down. If you do not drive your car under harsh conditions — and not many of us do — you can adhere to the manufacturers recommended oil-change intervals (which usually includes a filter change at the same time).
For example, if your car is pretty new, you typically drive for 20 minutes or longer, and get pretty consistent speeds (as opposed to stopping and going all over traffic) – you are a good candidate to extend your oil-change intervals. Changing a vehicles oil according to manufacturers recommendations might not necessarily impact your engine; however, experienced car mechanics suggest that vehicle owners should start their oil changes sooner than manufacturers recommendations in order to stay safe. If you are changing the oil yourself, you may want to reset your oil-life monitor by following instructions provided in your vehicles owners manual. Less frequent oil changes in newer engines mean that you should monitor your oil level on a monthly basis and add more as needed.
Changing the oil in your vehicle is generally a quick, painless procedure if performed at a modern car care facility. Let Spiffy go over what a regular oil change does for your cars engine, and determine the best time to schedule your next service. Our technicians will arrive with the tools and resources needed to change out your oil and filter, so that you can enjoy your healthy engine for another year or 7500 miles — whatever comes first.
There are likely to be two different types of maintenance recommendations for your vehicle, depending on the driving history. Some newer cars have electronic oil monitoring systems, instead of a traditional dipstick to check manually. If you are wondering when you should get your first oil change in your new vehicle, the best thing to do is to follow the recommendations from your cars particular manufacturers manual on your first oil change, and thereafter.
