Every car engine needs an oil, but not just any oil will do. Modern engines are designed and built to rigorous standards and require oils that meet very specific industry and automaker specifications to ensure long life. Failure to use the correct type of oil and document its use can void your new vehicle warranty.
Most newer vehicle models require synthetic or fully synthetic, low-viscosity, resource-conserving multigrade oils that minimize friction and maximize fuel consumption. However, choosing the right oil is not always easy.
The right oil for your vehicle makes and model must be the correct SAE viscosity grade, meet performance standards set by API, ILSAC, and/or ACEA, and meet any special specifications set by the automaker or engine manufacturer. These requirements are listed in your vehicle’s owner’s manual, and your auto repair shop can also provide you with information on your vehicle’s recommended oil specifications.
Oil change intervals vary depending on vehicle age, type of oil, and driving conditions. It used to be normal to change the oil every 3,000 miles, but with modern lubricants, most engines today have recommended oil change intervals of 5,000 to 7,500 miles.
Additionally, if your car’s engine requires fully synthetic motor oil, it can last up to 15,000 miles between services! You cannot tell the condition of engine oil by color, so follow the factory maintenance schedule for changing the oil.
Historically, motor oil was just a mixture of base oil and additives used to lubricate engine parts, reduce friction, clean, cool, and protect the engine.
However, modern synthetic motor oils are a complex mixture of base oils and additive components designed to perform a variety of tasks:
In other words, modern synthetic motor oil does a lot more than just lubricate. It’s responsible for engine wear protection and engine performance enhancement as well as complete protection of all moving parts.
Engine oil is comprised of two basic components base oils and additives. The base oils constitute 70-90 percent of the total and are created from natural gas or crude oil, while additives round out the remaining 10-30 percent and can be a variety of things.
These additives include among other things:
Every time your engine runs, by-products from combustion contaminate your engine oil. If the contaminants build up in the oil, they can settle and create sludge and deposits in the engine. Using low-quality motor oil, neglecting to change your oil, and maintenance issues can also lead to sludge forming in your engine.
If your engine components and oil passages are dirty, your vehicle performance, efficiency, and quality can diminish. Deposits also trap heat inside your engine like an insulating blanket.
Park the vehicle on a level surface, apply the parking brake, and switch off the engine. If necessary, raise the front of the vehicle by driving it onto a ramp or by jacking it up and using jack stands.
Caution: Never climb under a vehicle that is only supported by a jack! We also recommend wheel chocks to prevent wheels from rolling on the floor.
These instructions are intended as general guidelines. Please consult your owner’s or service manual for specific instructions on changing the oil and filter on your vehicle. Use extreme caution when lifting or jacking any vehicle.
Did you know that your oil is often a good indicator of your engine’s health? So, how often should you check the oil level in your vehicle? In the days before oil level sensors, many drivers checked their oil level, using the dipstick, at least once a week.
That may not be necessary these days. Having said that, it’s worth remembering that your motor oil is as important as any other engine component. You should check your oil level at least once every couple of weeks or before a long journey and in older cars, maybe even more.
Even if you’re driving a brand-new car or highly engineered European model, environmental factors such as fuel quality, extreme temperatures or stop-and-go driving can increase the amount of oil your engine uses.
It’s essential to change your engine oil at the intervals recommended by the manufacturer.
Firstly, make sure that your car is on level ground. It’s also best to check your vehicle’s oil levels when the car is cold.
In most cars, the dipstick handle is brightly colored, for example, yellow or green, however, if you’re unsure check your vehicle manufacturer’s manual. Now remove your vehicle’s oil dipstick fully using a clean cloth to wipe off the oil.
You’ll note there are maximum and minimum markers on the dipstick. If the oil is anywhere between these two markers it’s ok to drive the car, however, if below the minimum marker you shouldn’t drive the car until the oil has been topped back up.
Having wiped the dipstick clean of oil, next replace it in the tube pushing it all the way down. Then remove it again and inspect the oil level. If the oil is low then fill it up.
Your vehicle’s manufacturer likely lists a mileage-based (like every 5,000 miles) and a time-based (like every six months) oil change schedule in the user manual. It often recommends changing your oil at whichever interval comes first. Prior to COVID, most people arrived at the mileage-based interval long before the time-based one, so that’s the figure they relied on.
However, engine oil also degrades with time, so it’s just as important to change your oil when the time-based interval has been reached. The general recommendation is to change your oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles or every three to six months, with twice a year being the minimum.
Newer vehicles don’t typically require oil changes as frequently as older vehicles, and vehicles that use synthetic oil can go longer without a replacement than those using conventional oil. In any case, you should check your oil at least once a month to ensure it isn’t low or noticeably dirty.
