As engine technology advances, recommended oil change intervals have gotten longer. High quality oil in a well-engineered engine has led to extended intervals.
Here’s the problem: With longer oil change intervals, it’s tough for vehicle owners to follow them closely. Back in the day of 3 months or 3,000 miles, if you went an extra month or 1,000 miles your oil was still fresh enough that it didn’t have time to build up much sludge.
But if your recommended interval is 5,000 or more and you go over another thousand, you’re getting into heavy sludge territory.
Motorists absolutely need to follow mileage intervals very closely. And, don’t forget your severe service schedule. If you do a lot of stop and go driving, short trips around the area, drive in dusty or polluted conditions, hot or cold weather, or haul heavy loads, you’re driving in severe service conditions. Is your driving closer to the regular schedule or the severe schedule? It’s your call as to when to change your oil to protect your engine.
If your car came from the factory with synthetic oil, the recommended oil change interval is for synthetic oil. If you use conventional oil, you shouldn’t use the synthetic interval — you need to shorten it.
When we talk to someone that has 200,000 miles or more, the vehicle owner will usually say their secret is changing the oil on time. Please don’t skip an oil change. Once sludge has started to build up, it’s touch to get out.
Give Douglas Automotive Repair a call if you have questions about your oil change interval, or would like to schedule an oil change!
This entry was posted in Oil Change, Vehicle Maintenance and tagged Oil Change, Vehicle Maintenance on .
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