When to Change Your Oil: Variables That Affect Oil Change Interval

Does your car need an oil change? For such a routine maintenance service, you may be surprised to find out how few people know when to change their car’s oil. There are actually a lot of factors that can determine whether or not your car needs an oil change.

In order to keep your car running smoothly for years to come, here’s a helpful guide to discovering the correct oil change interval. You’ll also learn what happens during an oil change, what factors affect when you’ll need an oil change and where you can get a reliable, professional oil change.

When to Change Your Car’s Oil

Most people are familiar with the old rule of 3,000 miles or 3 months. This rule-of-thumb may have been true in the past, but now it’s history. Advances in oil and car technologies have allowed our cars to run far more efficiently. Even worse, changing your oil every 3,000 could harm the environment. Make sure you get the most out of your oil change and wait to change it until it’s ready. For most cars and most drivers, this means between 7,500 and 10,000 miles. However, there are a lot of factors that can affect your oil change interval, so when in doubt talk to an experienced mechanic about your personal vehicle and driving habits.

What Does an Oil Change Entail

Changing your oil is a relatively straightforward process, but it can be messy and time-consuming. Because auto shops can buy oil in bulk, you may not save much by changing it yourself. Here’s a basic guide to what will happen during an oil change:

1. The oil drain plug is removed, emptying your used oil in a container
2. Your oil filter is replaced, using oil to lubricate the gasket
3. A mechanic will fill your oil reservoir with the recommended amount of new oil
4. Your car will be inspected to ensure there are no leaks
5. Most mechanics will perform a full inspection to make sure all your fluids are full

What Can Affect Oil Change Intervals

Not every car needs an oil change at the same mileage. There is a wide range of factors that can affect when you change your oil. Some of those factors include:

• Make and model of your vehicle
• Climate
• Driving style
• Length of each trip
• Type of oil

Talk to your mechanic about all of these factors. If you typically drive short distances in extreme temperatures, you may need to have your oil changed more frequently. Quickly accelerating and braking can also be factors. Older vehicles burn more oil than newer ones, so your new car will be much more efficient than one that is ten years old.

Where to Get Your Oil Changed in Mesa

For a fast, affordable and professional oil change in Mesa, AZ, visit Highline Car Care. From major repairs to routine maintenance, our team of friendly and expert mechanics can help keep your car running. Bring your car for a routine oil change, and we’ll offer a complete 18-point inspection. We carefully check your coolant, battery, brake fluid and more with this comprehensive service.

Stop by or give us a call to discuss your car’s oil change interval, maintenance routine or other questions and concerns. We’re happy to help keep your car running efficiently.

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