Top 5 Oil Change FAQs

Oil Changes Ensure Engine Oil Can Do Its Job

Over time, your engine oil picks up a lot of debris from the metal parts in your engine as well as the environment. The more contaminated your engine oil becomes, the less it’s able to do its job lubricating and maintaining proper flow inside your car’s engine. This can cause extra wear and damage – even leading to your engine overheating. Having fresh oil put in your car by keeping up with regular oil changes will keep your engine healthy.

How Often Do I Need an Oil Change?

The simplest answer is to look at your owner’s manual for specific information about your car’s maintenance schedule, including oil change frequency. However, a good rule of thumb is to get an oil change every 5,000 miles or every six months, whichever comes soonest. This will fluctuate depending on the type of driving you to do the most and the environment in which you drive. Generally speaking, the more strain you put on your car’s engine, the more often you’ll need oil changes.

Why Can’t I Just Top Off My Engine Oil?

Especially if you check your oil and see the level is low, it can be tempting to just top it off and not worry about an oil change right away. While it’s a good idea to top off your engine oil in this case, it still does not replace a full oil and filter change.

When you add new oil to top off your oil level, it’s mixing with the old, contaminated engine oil. This means that the new oil will not do as good a job as it could of lubricating and aiding the flow inside your engine. Those same contaminants in the old oil will mix in with the new oil, automatically accelerating the time before you’ll need another oil change. If you find you need to top off your oil, it’s a good idea to think about scheduling an oil change as well.

Is An Oil Change More Necessary During a Certain Time of Year?

While outside temperatures will have an effect on the consistency of your engine oil, it does not impact how frequently you need an oil change. However, if it’s cold out, it’s easiest to do an oil change after the engine has run for a few minutes since cold temperatures make engine oil thicker. Still, for the recommended frequency of oil changes, you should follow the manufacturer’s maintenance schedule regardless of the outside temperatures.