New Guidelines for Oil Changes

Posted: May 10, 2019
Author: Country Town Tire & Auto Service Center

While oil changes are some of the best maintenance you can give your vehicle, you might be surprised to learn that your car doesn’t need them as much as we once were told! The standard of 3,000 miles or every three months, whichever comes first, simply doesn’t apply to most of today’s vehicles. There are newer, less frequent oil change guidelines which, believe it or not, do just as well for the car’s maintenance. Keep reading to find out some of the new guidelines for oil changes!

The biggest difference for this guideline is simply the timing between oil changes. Instead of every 3,000-5,000 miles, your car can generally go between 7,500-10,000 miles between oil changes. With more efficient engines and better, synthetic oils, more frequent oil changes aren’t only unnecessary, but wasteful.

The next thing you need to do is not only pay attention to mileage, but also the type of driver you are. If you are an around-town driver, your engine might stay cool, which means standard oil can’t heat up enough to properly lubricate your engine. However, if you drive long miles daily, you most likely don’t need more expensive synthetic oil. Additionally, if you’re an infrequent driver, pay attention to time rather than miles. Oil degrades over time, so oil changes are still needed at least twice per year, even if your car spends that time in the garage.

Do you have questions about oil change guidelines? Come and see us at Country Town Tire & Auto Service Center for more information.