How Often Should You Change Your Oil?

Keeping up with the correct oil change frequency is one of the most important things you can do to maintain your vehicle and keep it running in top shape on our Traverse City roads. But, how often should you change your oil? For that matter, how often should you change your oil filter? Is it every 3,000 miles like the quick lube managers tell you? The answer is usually closer to 5,000 miles, but let’s dive into the topic and determine how often you should change your oil.

Factors that Impact Oil Change Frequency

The oil change frequency for your vehicle will depend on a variety of factors. For example, if you drive a lot of short trips in stop-and-go Traverse City traffic, you’ll likely need to change your oil more frequently than someone who primarily drives on the highway. Additionally, if you’re using synthetic oil, you can typically go longer between oil changes than if you’re using conventional oil. Here is a list of factors that determine how often to change the oil in your car:

• Make and model of the car
• Driving habits (e.g. short trips in stop-and-go traffic vs primarily highway driving)
• Type of oil used (e.g. synthetic oil vs conventional oil)
• The oil life monitoring system of the car
• What the owner’s manual says

How Often Should You Change Your Oil?

So, how often should you change your oil? The commonly held belief among many Manistee drivers, fostered by quick lube managers eager for repeat business, is that you need that every 3,000 miles to keep up with the correct oil change frequency. However, most manufacturers recommend changing your oil every 3,000 to 7,500 miles, with most recommendations closer to the high end of that range. So consult your owner’s manual to see what your specific vehicle’s recommended oil change frequency is. And don’t forget to take into account other factors we listed above, such as your driving habits and the type of oil you’re using.

How Often Should You Change Your Oil Filter?

What about the oil filter? How often should you change your oil filter? The oil filter works to remove impurities and debris from the oil, helping to keep your engine running smoothly. As such, it’s important to change your oil filter at the same time as you change your oil, or at least every other oil change.

What About the Oil Life Indicator on My Dash?

It’s worth noting that some newer cars come with an oil life monitoring system, which will let you know when it’s time for an oil change. These systems take into account various factors, such as engine temperature, oil level, and driving habits, to determine when the oil needs to be changed. It’s OK to go by this system.

Let the Service Center at Serra Toyota of Traverse City Help

Determining your oil change frequency can be a bit of a tricky task, under some circumstances. But our service center is here to help and can assist you in keeping up with the correct service schedule for your car, so schedule an appointment with us today! Just be sure to take advantage of our service specials. We’re just a short trip away from Glen Arbor. So, drop by or contact us today.