Many things factor into the duration between your vehicle’s oil changes. Of course, an excellent rule of thumb is every 3,000 miles. This being said, there may be things that will make getting an oil change earlier or later beneficial for your automobile. Willoughby Hills Auto Repair is going to list those things below so you can take everything into account to determine the best oil change schedule for your vehicle.
What Does Your Vehicle’s Manufacturer Say?
First of all, take a look at what your manufacturers says in your owner’s manual. In the service section of the manual, there will be the recommended oil change duration. It will most likely recommend that you have your oil changed every 3,000 miles. If you drive a new car, however, that duration may be extended to as long as every 10,000 miles.
What Type of Oil Do You Use?
Another thing to consider is the type of oil that you use. For example, the 3,000-mile recommendation is for drivers who put conventional motor oil in their automobiles. Oil changes extending beyond that duration usually mean that you are using synthetic oil in your automobile. Many automobile manufacturers recommend synthetic for their new cars because it lasts longer and protects better.
How Is Your Daily Commute?
Take into account your daily commute, as well. How far do you drive? Do you get stuck in traffic? Is the commute easy or does it have difficult roads? For example, let’s say that you drive 30 minutes to work every day on open highways. This type of driving extends your motor oil’s life. If you only drive a few minutes every day in stop-and-go conditions, this is hard on the motor oil.
How Fast Do You Like to Drive?
You may not realize this, but how you drive can also affect your motor oil’s life. For example, if you are hard on your automobile and push it to its limits, you’ll need to change your motor oil more often to make sure that you are always protecting the engine. If you take it easy on your automobile, your motor oil is likely the last longer between changes.
How Old Is Your Automobile?
Finally, one last thing to consider is the age of your automobile. For example, if you drive a vintage vehicle, you need to have your oil changed every 2,000 miles.
Look no further than Willoughby Hills Auto Repair in Willoughby Hills, OH, for all of your vehicle’s maintenance and repair needs, including oil changes.