There are many different numbers floating around for how often your car needs its oil changed. How do you know which is the right one for your car? Roadway Insurance, providers of MAIF car insurance, offers these tips so you know when you should get your oil changed.
1,000 Miles
This might be a much lower number than you’ve heard before. But this is actually recommended for some cars, depending on the type of driving you do. If most of your driving is trips under 10 miles, you should be changing your oil this often. Trips at long, steady speeds, like on highways, are essential for getting your engine hot enough to boil off the condensation that gets in the system. This causes your oil to break down faster.
In addition, a lot of the wear and tear on your engine happens when you start your car. If you aren’t driving very far, most of the driving you’re doing is the kind that’s hard on your engine. Changing your oil more often can help ease the damage on your engine. Even if you don’t drive your car very often, you need to change your oil at least twice a year because it degrades over time.
3,000 Miles
The 3,000-mile number is one you’ve probably heard from your auto shop. Some experts think that this is only recommended for the benefit of the shop and its business. However, some older-model cars might need this. Check the owner’s manual that came with your car from the manufacturer. If it says 3,000 miles, you should always follow their advice.
5,000 – 7,000 Miles
This is the average for what’s now recommended in most recent car manuals. If your car is newer, you should see something in this range in your owner’s manual. But you want to make sure you take the way you drive into consideration.
If you normally drive for at least 20 minutes at a time and it’s not stop and go traffic, you should be able to increase the time between your oil changes. If you make short trips and are often getting stopped, with little highway driving, you may want to stick to the 3,000-mile number.
10,000 Miles
If you’re using synthetic oil, you can wait until around 10,000 miles for your oil change. Your car manufacturer might recommend that you switch to synthetic oil. While synthetic oil is more expensive, it definitely makes up for it in that it performs better. It’s also helpful that you don’t have to change your oil as often, so the price can be worth it.
However, many people don’t recommend that you make the switch unless the manufacturer recommends it. It can be beneficial for other drivers, too, though. Towing heavy loads can strain your engine and synthetic oil can help. Synthetic oil can also be helpful if your engine is prone to sludge issues.
Stay Safe With MAIF Car Insurance
While we offer roadside assistance with our MAIF car insurance plans, you don’t want to have to use it because you haven’t been changing your oil enough. If you need a quality insurance plan, call us, contact us online, or request a free quote!