How Often Should You Change Your Oil?
How Often Should You Change Your Oil?
Posted on November 2, 2023
How Often Should You Change Your Oil?
Regular car maintenance ensures the smooth running of vehicles while preventing potential breakdowns and frequent repairs. However, maintenance intervals are the leading source of confusion, customer displeasure, and arguments in dealership service facilities. It all revolves around what car manufacturers recommend and what the dealership suggests.
Car manufacturers continue to extend their service intervals, which can reach 24,000 km or more for engine oil changes in vehicles with automated reminders. But is that really how often you should change your oil? Read on to find out.
Auto Repair Facility vs. Car Manufacturer
Engine oil is crucial for your vehicle’s operation, which is why regular maintenance can ensure optimum performance. While car manufacturers recommend one time interval, mechanics and technicians often provide deferring timeframes. This can be confusing for anyone.
Most dealership service centres and independent repair shops, including regional and national chains, recommend changing your car’s oil at small service intervals, such as every 5,000 km or every four months. However, modern automotive technology has extended these timeframes a bit.
Car manufacturers say improved design of modern vehicles mean they require less maintenance. But repair technicians believe lightweight car materials and thinner engine oils result in more fluid contamination. So you can see where the confusion can come up.
Best Bet? Change it Twice a Year
Most Canadians own their vehicles longer than the manufacturer’s warranty coverage. Therefore, it is advisable to have an oil change and inspection every 5,000 to 7,500 km, or at least twice a year. Besides being a relatively inexpensive way to maintain your vehicle, it also helps protect the engine against water damage associated with cold weather operations.
In addition, longer engine warm-up times due to cold temperatures can increase the carbon and raw fuel levels in engine oil. Understanding when to change the oil also helps you monitor other vehicle components and parts that could be damaged. This makes it easier to address problems before they escalate and result in road breakdowns.
Don’t Forget to Monitor your Tires, Too
Tire pressure sensors are crucial for vehicles to help monitor pressure levels. While most car owners use winter tires and dedicated rims without tire pressure sensors, car manufacturers recommend keeping a close eye on your tire pressure. Moreover, many manufacturers even provide gentle reminders to their customers to ensure usage and improve safety.
However, the cost of replacing a damaged tire pressure sensor remains a significant factor in declined usage of such a feature. Most OEM suppliers have reduced prices to promote usage, while popular aftermarket providers offer replacements at a reduced cost. Purchasing a reliable tire pressure gauge and using it often can be a good alternative if you lack a working tire pressure monitoring system.
Contact Us Today for Maintenance!
Maintain your vehicle's lifespan and performance by regularly performing oil and tire checkups. Find out more about oil changes and pressure sensors by visiting us at Laird Wheaton Cadillac today.