How Often Should I Get My Oil Changed?

At this point, you may have heard multiple things about how often you should change the oil in your car. Is it 3,000 miles? What about 5,000? Or is it neither? Now, there are actually multiple intervals depending on your car and driving habits. Roadway Insurance Agency, Inc., provider of MAIF in Baltimore, MD, gives you some guidelines to follow.

1,000 Miles

This one is focused on your driving routine. You should change around every 1,000 miles if most of your driving trips are 10 miles or less. Most of the wear on your car comes from starting your engine. Those short trips wear on your engine and changing the oil this frequently can help ease the damage. Your oil is also wearing down faster because the engine doesn’t get hot enough to boil off condensation in the system.

3,000 Miles

Many car experts suggest that this interval is one set by maintenance shops. They get more money if you’re coming in more often. And this may be true for newer cars. However, if you have an older model, the manufacturer’s manual might still suggest this model. And you should probably stick to that if that’s what the manufacturer suggested.

5,000 – 7,500 Miles

For newer cars, more and more owners’ manuals are suggesting somewhere in this range. Don’t just follow all of the advice you’re reading, though it is often researched and correct. Your owners’ manual is still probably going to be the best thing to follow.

10,000 Miles

For some cars, the manufacturer recommends or requires using synthetic oil. Many cars with synthetic oil can go 10,000 miles or even farther in between oil changes. This is because synthetic oil performs better and is better for the environment as well. The downside is that it’s much pricier than regular oil. But is it worth it to switch if your car doesn’t recommend it? This depends

It is nice to go this long between oil changes. Synthetic oil is also helpful if you’re often towing large loads, as it can reduce the strain that this puts on your engine. If you’ve noticed or have read that your particular car engine may have sludge issues, synthetic oil can help ease those as well.

MAIF in Baltimore, Maryland

It’s always important to make sure that you’re giving your car oil changes when it needs it. It’s also important that you have the right car insurance coverage. Call us or get a free quote online!