Colchin Automotive and Diesel

Oil Reminder Display

Oil Service Intervals:

 How often should I have my engine oil and filter changed? The majority of professionals in the industry tell you 3 months or 3000 miles. Some insiders say you may be able to go 5000 miles with out issue. The owner’s manual that came with your vehicle may indicate you are fine for 7,500 or even 10,000 miles!  Who do you trust and even better….. Who is correct?

One central point that the automotive industry will agree on is the importance of regular oil changes to protect and extend the life of your engine.  The frequency of those oil changes is influenced by several factors. Many owner manuals will have two different maintenance schedules based on “normal” vs. “severe” driving styles – with “normal” allowing for less frequent servicing, and “severe” requiring more frequent service. Ideal, or “normal”, driving conditions – in other words, what your engine prefers – is trips over 10 miles, cruising on the highway, at moderate temperatures and loads, in a relatively clean-air environment. If your driving habits fit this category, you may not need your oil changed as often. “Severe” driving consists of short or frequent trips less than 10 miles, extreme outdoor temperatures, stop-and-go city driving or extensive idling in traffic, towing or heavy loads, and a dusty or polluted environment. If any of this description fits your driving style, then your engine would benefit from more frequent oil changes.

Then there’s the “months vs. miles” question, Which is right for my car? Let’s say six months have passed since your last oil change, and you have driven 2,000 miles. Look at the nature of those miles – did you carpool to work and let your car sit in your driveway most of the time? Or did you drive 15 miles every day, and sit in traffic for over an hour each day? If so, remember that your engine is working just as hard idling during that hour as it would be accumulating miles. If the nature of your driving is shorter trips then you should be changing engine oil twice a year – at least. So while 3 months or 3000 miles may be too frequent for some, it still makes sense to protect your self from a huge repair bill through timely service. Another upside of regular service is the opportunity for us to inspect your car during the oil change and keep you apprised of concerns that may be forthcoming – proactive service always pays dividends.

Let’s take a quick look at some numbers. Over a period of 100,000 miles (which is 8 years for the average driver), following the 3,000-mile interval will result in 33 oil changes. Assuming the average price of an oil change (using regular, not synthetic, motor oil) to be $30 – $35, the total cost will be $990 – $1155. Increasing the interval to 5,000 miles and 20 oil changes, the total cost decreases to $600 – $700. And the respective numbers for a 7,500-interval are 13 oil changes at a cost of $390 – $455. The greatest possible savings are $700 which, when divided over an 8-year period, averages out to less than $7.30 per month. This cost can be viewed as cheap insurance against a possible $5000+ replacement engine.

The type of oil you use – regular or synthetic – also comes into play here. We won’t examine the pros and cons in this article of which to use as that is will be covered in an up coming newsletter.  What we can say is that with the use of synthetic oils, extending your drain interval is possible if proper sample testing is done to ensure wear metal content is in spec.  We will cover oil analysis testing in another article, again due to the scope of the topic.

In summary, there are several factors that go into determining when to have your engine oil serviced.  So rather than turning your mind into mental lemonade when weighing all the factors out, come in today and let the professional service staff at Colchin Automotive & Diesel help you figure out WHEN TO CHANGE THAT OIL!