No other maintenance item is as important to reduce vehicle repair costs and to extend the life of 
your vehicle as changing the oil in a timely fashion. Leaving contaminants in the oil will slowly damage your engine resulting in costly repairs. Heat and friction brake oil down over time resulting in sludge, which can transform to a hardened solid. Oil collects contaminants like carbon and metal from your engine and carries these potentially damaging substances to your oil filer where they are stored.
When carbon and metal pass over crankshafts, piston rings, camshafts and other metal surfaces, they cause lower oil pressure and ultimately premature engine failure. Many repairs are covered by warranty, BUT if the problem is related to low oil and engine damage occurs, you will not be covered so you must pay attention to your engine oil level.
How Often Should I Check My Oil?
It’s important to check your engine oil between oil changes and your Owners Manual recommends that you check your oil every time you get gas. If you your oil is below the ADD mark, always top it off. When an engine runs out of oil, it will seize and you’ll need to replace your engine.
Recommended oil change interval according to car manufacturers used to be every 3 months or 3 thousand miles, whichever comes first. Why? Because the oils of yesterday broke down. Oil is much more advanced today and engines are further protected with other new lubricants as well. There are also synthetic options available to extend the time between changes however, the same advances do not apply to oil filters, where the carbon and metal is stored and needs to be replaced.
Newer Vehicles now offer “Oil Life Monitoring” systems and require less attention. These Maintenance Reminders 
monitor crankcase temp, moisture, and combustion chamber activity and oil viscosity. These elements measure the serviceable life of the oil to within 10% and dictate other scheduled services due at prescribed intervals. Nevertheless, many people continue to change their oil according to the old guidelines and others not confident with the Oil life monitoring systems, sometimes just to take advantage of car service specials.
So How Often is Often Enough to Change Your Oil? Take this simple quiz:
Do Any of These Describe Your Driving Style or Conditions?
- Lots of stop-and-go driving
- Extensive engine idling
- Driving in dusty conditions
- Many short trips of 10 miles or less
- More than 50% of miles are at high speeds during weather over 90 degrees
- More than 50% of miles are at temperatures below 32 degrees
- Towing a trailer or boat
- Regular off-road or desert operation
- Saving with E-85 (Ethanol) fuel
- Taxi, police car, delivery and other similar driving conditions
If you answer yes to any of the conditions described above you may want to continue to change your oil every 3,000 miles. If you have a diesel engine or you still don’t feel comfortable making the decision stop into any Executive Auto Group service center for a free consultation.
If you mention this post to your Service Advisor at time of writeup, but before the end of this month, ask for your complimentary oil and filter change at the Executive Auto Group vehicle repair center near you. Visit Liberty Mazda or Liberty Honda in the Hartford area, Executive Honda, Executive KIA, Executive Dodge JEEP RAM or The Executive Auto Center Used Car Center in Walling ford and Acura by Executive, Executive JEEP or Executive Nissan in North Haven.
