How Often Should You Change Your Motor Oil?

When you got your first car, chances are that your father gave you a list of things that you needed to do. At the top of the list was probably to change your oil every 3,000 miles. That number has become an industry standard – if you go to a mechanic to have your oil changed, chances are that they will give you a reminder to come back and have your oil changed again within three months or 3,000 miles.

But do you really need to change your oil that often? The answer is that you don’t, even though 3,000 miles was a good standard until recently. However, improvements in oil quality and the ability of modern engines to operate well at higher heats and stresses that are closer to their maximum tolerances mean that motor oil can last longer and that your engine doesn’t need fresh oil every 3,000 miles.

How often you decide to change your oil depends on several factors. If you have an older car or a work vehicle that is under high stress, then it’s still a good idea to change your oil close to 3,000 miles. Newer passenger cars can go significantly longer depending on the type of oil used. If you are using a regular, petroleum-based motor oil, you should change your oil around every 5,000 miles. If you use a synthetic oil, you can get up to 7,000 miles out of one oil change.

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