The Truth About Oil Change

If you’ve ever been under the assumption that you need to change your oil regularly, we’re here to tell you the truth! We don’t want you spending unnecessary money but we want you to enjoy your car to the max. Most car owners believe that after 3000 miles, it’s best to change your oil, but this is not only inconvenient but it is also wasteful, and often more expensive in the long run. Here’s exactly how we feel about frequent oil changes and your car.

How often should you change your oil?

This is something that is unique to every vehicle. It is advisable to check your owners manual. If you have purchased a used car and the owners manual is not available, you can easily view this online for free. The first step is to locate your owner’s manual. This is in the glove box of most cars. Most cars have two maintenance schedule, namely, normal and severe. Severe driving conditions can be classified as long idle times, high temperatures or low temperatures, high humidity, dusty conditions or heavy loads. The average driver will fall in the range between normal and severe. It is important to note that the average service oil change interval is around 3750 miles- notice how this is less that the recommended 3000 miles?

Which filter is right for my car?

A high efficiency/high capacity filter is most desirable. An efficient filter is one which filters out particles of a given size. The most common disadvantage of high efficiency filter is that the filter clogs at a much faster rate as it collects more debris. The clog causes oil to bypass the filter and in turn unfiltered oil is able to make its way through the engine. This is why a high efficiency/high capacity filter is recommended, especially if you intend to stretch your oil change interval.

Which oil should I use?

It is advisable to use an oil that meets the minimum requirements required by the automaker. Again, this is information that will be readily available in your owners manual or online. There are some cars which only require an oil that meets the API and/or ILSAC approvals. In this case, you’re in luck, because almost any oil will be satisfactory. Almost every oil sold commercially meets the API and ILSAC requirements. On the other hand, some vehicles have more stringent requirements.
Many other vehicles will require more stringent standards. Some European cars for example require oil that exceed the API/ILASC requirements. Using a premium oil that meets the manufacturers recommendation is the surest way to keep your car functioning optimally. The two most popular oils that fit in with this categories stringent requirements are Mobil1 and Penzoil Platinum.
These are some great tips to help you save some money on your next oil change. Do you have any tips you’d like to share? Let us know!