Are You Changing Your Oil Too Soon?
If you own a car, odds are you’ve probably heard at one point or another that you should change your oil every 3,000 miles. Right? Wrong. That may have been the case thirty years ago, but times are changing, and so is your vehicle. So, are you changing your oil too soon? Keep reading to find out.
When Should I Change My Oil?
As mentioned, it was once believed that you should change your oil every 3,000 miles. However, newer vehicles have proven to go longer distances without an oil change. The trick is synthetic oil. This high-quality substance can keep these high-tech vehicles going for longer. So, what happens when you do eventually need to change your oil? Many cars have oil-life monitoring systems, which will alert you when it’s time to change your oil. If you want to be even more precise, check your owner’s manual for the vehicle. It will tell you how many miles you can go between oil changes. Depending on the car and driving conditions, you can go as far as 5,000 to 15,000 miles before making a pit stop. Regardless, we recommend that you get an oil change at least once a year to help protect your engine. There’s nothing worse than old oil! If you don’t change your oil enough, the entire engine will shut down, and you’ll have to replace it.
What Driving Conditions Affect My Oil Change Date?
Typically, your owner’s manual will give you an interval based on “normal driving conditions,” but what are normal driving conditions? According to the Filters Manufacturers Council (FMC), normal driving conditions refer to ideal driving environments. These include highway driving rather than short, around-the-town- driving. It’s essential to point out that only about 20% of vehicles are regularly driven under “normal conditions.”
So, we know what’s considered normal. So, what does the FMC consider to be severe?
- Extreme temperatures (below 10˚F and above 90˚F)
- Extreme humidity
- Driving in dusty conditions (dirt or gravel roads)
- Regularly driving on steep hills or mountains
- Towing a trailer
- Hauling heavy materials
- Primarily short trips (five miles or less)
- Extensive idling
- Stop-and-go traffic
According to the FMC, if you drive in one or more of these conditions at least once a week, you may need to change your oil more often.
Why Should I Wait Longer to Change My Oil?
There may be several reasons you would want to wait to change your oil. However, there are two that might make you think twice about abandoning the 3,000 miles rule. The first and most obvious reason is that it saves you money. As mentioned, many modern vehicles take synthetic oil, which is more expensive. Suddenly, an oil change that once cost $40 is now $79. Say, over two years, you drove 30,000 miles. Suppose you changed your oil every 3,000 miles. That comes to $790 just in oil changes. Upping the mileage to 10,000 miles would reduce your cost to $237.
The second reason you should avoid changing your oil too much is that it’s not good for the environment. According to EPA, oil from a single oil change can contaminate one million gallons of drinking water if not properly disposed of. Going longer in between oil changes will not only ensure that you’re not wasting good oil but that you’re not causing unnecessary harm.
A little tip: if you want to make sure you’re changing your oil at the right time, manually check your oil each month. This way, you avoid computer error with the oil-life monitoring system, and it will give you a better sense of when to change your oil compared to the owner’s manual, which is dependent on normal driving conditions.
Find Your Oil Through Home Service Oil
Are you looking for a reliable bulk fuel and oil supply company? You’ve found the right place with Home Service Oil. We offer a variety of services. One of which is the bulk supply of many different types of oils. Need synthetic oil for your store? We’ve got it! Visit our website today to request a service. You’ll be glad you did.