When Does Your Car Need an Oil Change?

One of the quickest ways to shorten the lifespan of your car is to run it with old oil in it. Old oil does not act as a good lubricant, which will result in your car’s components being exposed to more heat. In addition, old oil makes it more difficult for components to move, and so your car’s gas mileage will go down. In extreme cases, the oil can boil away, which will result in the entire engine and transmission seizing up. This is why it is very important to know when your car’s oil needs to be changed.

The best way to know when your car’s oil needs to be changed is to keep track of how many miles you have driven since your last oil change. The general rule is that your car’s oil needs to be changed over three thousand miles, or whenever you have gone three months without an oil change. A great way to keep track of this is to simply get an oil change every season.

However, each car is different. Some cars will be able to go much longer without needs a change, and other cars will need a cheap car oil change far more often. Newer cars are able to go a long time without an oil change. In addition, cars need an oil change less often than trucks. If you tend to drive your car in the snow, or up and down steep hills, you will need to get an oil change more often.

One great way to check if you need an oil change is to simply take a look at your car’s oil. Pull the dipstick out, and then wipe the dipstick off with a rag. Then put the dipstick back into your car’s oil tank. The second time you pull out the dipstick it will have the oil that your car is using on it.

If the dipstick has any small pieces of gunk or metal on it, you need to get an oil change right away. If you cannot see the metal color of the dipstick it is also time for an oil change.

You can also tell if your car needs a change by keeping a close eye on its thermostat. Write down where the temperature gauge is after driving about twenty miles. If the temperature is higher, you need a change.