Should You Have The Oil Changed At Every Scheduled Vehicle Maintenance Visit?

Posted November 06th 2014

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One of the biggest confusions for any car owner is how frequently they should get the engine oil changed. There are many professional mechanics who suggest an oil change every 3000 miles. On the other hand, vehicle manuals advise a greater interval between every oil change. Due to this, some car owners go for a longer period before getting an oil change, while there are others who get an oil change too frequently and spend money unnecessarily.

How Often Do You Use Your Vehicle?

The first factor you should take into consideration is how frequently the vehicle is being driven. If you do not drive your vehicle much, there is no need for frequent oil changes. If a car is not being driven as often, there will not be much stress on the engine itself. Since the engine is not under much stress, the oil will not lose its viscosity. The viscosity of the engine oil is extremely important. The thicker the oil, the better lubrication it will provide to the internal engine components.

How Long Does Oil Retain Its Viscosity?

The trickiest aspect of vehicle maintenance is determining how long oil can retain its viscosity. Naturally occurring engine oil that was used in older cars could not retain its viscosity for long. The oil would only last for about 3,000 miles and would need to be changed after that. However, the oil which is available nowadays is synthetic. It is formulated in a special way to reduce wear between engine parts. Moreover, it is available in multiple viscosity levels. Synthetic engine oil can last for as long as 7,000 miles. But this really depends on how the vehicle is being used and the type of oil you choose.

Should You Change the Oil at Every Vehicle Maintenance Visit?

There is no real harm in changing the engine oil at every scheduled vehicle maintenance visit. But the correct mileage to have the oil change is between 5,000 and 7,000 miles. If you change the oil before 5,000 miles, it is an unnecessary expense.

Changing your oil frequently should be avoided as it is unnecessary. But you should be sure not to drag out the oil change frequency after 7,000 miles. If you wish, you can have it changed at every 3rd vehicle maintenance visit, if you make one every month.