How Often Should I Schedule Oil Service?

How Often Should I Schedule Oil Service for My Vehicle?

Changing your oil every 5,000 to 10,000 miles is usually a safe range to work within. Depending on the type of vehicle, your driving habits, and local road conditions, the actual time between oil changes may fluctuate.

For instance, if you drive a work truck with over 100,000 miles on the odometer, you should prepare to change your oil on a more frequent basis than someone who drives a new subcompact.

To make things even easier on yourself, try your best to schedule an oil change at least once per season. You can also turn to our knowledgeable service pros who can devise a maintenance schedule built around your vehicle's specific needs.

Why Is Changing My Car's Oil So Important?

Your engine is in many ways the beating heart of your car, truck, or SUV. Responsible for creating the energy that propels you down the road, its complex inner workings need to move in perfect sync. Motor oil is used to lubricate these parts and helps reduce heat buildup inside your engine block. Without clean motor oil, your engine can quickly overheat.

Motor oil also helps clear away any harmful particles which inevitably find their way inside your engine. Over time, these particles start to transform the oil from a translucent amber color to a dark, heavy sludge.

If not replaced every 5,000 to 10,000 miles, you might start to notice several unwanted effects, including:

• Weak acceleration
• Overheating
• Poor fuel efficiency
• Dark, smoky exhaust fumes
• Premature wear

How to Check Your Oil at Home

At least a couple of times between oil services, we recommend checking your vehicle's oil level. Fortunately, with a few simple tools, this often takes just a few minutes to perform.

To start, find a cool and level spot to park your vehicle, like the inside of your garage or at a parking lot. Next, run the engine for a few minutes, allowing the oil inside to cycle through the engine.

From there, turn off the engine and pop open the hood. Using a shop rag or paper towel, remove the dipstick from its holster to examine the oil's color, consistency, and scent. Remember, clean oil should be relatively translucent and odorless. If your oil is black or has a burnt scent, schedule oil service right away.