Buying Your First Car

Got Oil Changes?

Modern vehicles are incredibly complex when compared to their predecessors. That being said, they still face the same enemies of the very first engines. Yes, I am talking about friction and the resulting heat it causes.

As any car owner well knows, lubricant is the best tool for fighting the ravages of friction and heat. This lubricant is, of course, better known as motor oil and it performs a vital function that keeps your car on the road.

Oil will only perform for so long under the stressful conditions found in the engine of a modern car. This leads us to the question of how often you should change the oil in your car.

The oil change mantra has been so ingrained into our head that we all know it. We must change our oil every 3,000 miles or 3 months, whichever comes first. None of us know why this is. Most would be unhappy to learn it is just a marketing slogan!

As with many things we know, the 3 and 3 rule is wrong. It is just marketing with no basis in fact. Every car performs differently and does different tasks. This means there is a different guideline for each of them.

The simple truth is there is no one standard mileage or time period that should be used for oil changes. A big Ford truck simple runs differently than a Honda Civic. The oil in the truck will need to be changed well before the oil in the Honda.

Still, we need some type of guideline right? Well, you have one. For men, this will be painful. Yes, we will have to read directions. In the owners manual for the car, we can find the information for the specific needs of our vehicle.

The manufacturer is actually going to designate a number of things regarding the oil. Yes, the number of miles between recommended changes will be there, but so will the weight of oil to be used and the recommended oil brand.

Now pay attention. The miles and brand of oil are important, but the information on the weight of oil to be used is absolutely critical. You can get the miles and brand wrong, but do not get the weight wrong under any circumstances.

You are often going to have a choice between normal and synthetic oils. The synthetic oils are really great. They can last for 10,000 to 15,000 miles. Make sure to look at the different brands and their expected life spans.

I personally use Mobil 1 oil for my vehicles. I have minimal engine problems. We recently broke down the motor of a friend who used Mobil 1 for 125,000 miles in a BMW and found the engine to be in great shape.

Ultimately, you should follow the directions of your manufacturer on oil changes. They typically will be for 5,000 miles or more, which can save you a lot of money.

Custom Search