How Often Should You Change Your Car’s Oil?

The old guideline for how often to change your oil was every three months or every 3,000 miles. But with today’s advanced oil chemistry and engine technology, oil change frequency is changing.

It’s not uncommon now for car owners to change the oil in their cars or trucks every 7,500 or 10,000 miles, depending on driving habits. If you do not put many miles on your car, it is recommended that you still have your oil changed annually. Longer intervals between oil changes are not only easier on your wallet, but also on the environment—as there’s less dirty, old oil to dispose of. Nevertheless, check your owner’s manual and don’t go beyond the carmaker’s recommended oil change interval.

Do you have a car you don’t drive very often? Learn about how to care for it in this article.

One of the most common car maintenance tasks is an oil change. And, while you may have many other projects and priorities to juggle, it’s important to prioritize car maintenance on a regular schedule. Ultimately, the total length of an oil change is dependent on whether you’re able to complete the job alone or if you’re taking it into an auto shop to be serviced. Even more, an auto repair shop If you’re doing the latter, you can expect to wait up to 45 minutes for oil change service. If you’re going to change your vehicle’s oil yourself then you may spend up to an hour on the task.

Are you planning to incorporate your oil change into your annual budget? That’s a great idea. It’s important to keep in mind that your owner’s manual includes details on oil changes, including price ranges. Pricing will also depend on whether you choose synthetic oil or conventional oil; both come with certain advantages and disadvantages. Doing the labor yourself can save you some money. However, if you choose to take your vehicle to be serviced, then it can cost up to $100. In pursuing the serviced route, be on the lookout for any upsell approaches that could impact the overall cost.

Synthetic motor oil is made from chemical compounds rather than from whole crude oil. Performance-wise, it’s a step up from conventional engine oil. It resists break-down, withstands high temperatures and flows well, even in cold temperatures.

Although synthetic motor oil is more expensive than conventional oil, its performance makes up for it. Today, approximately 70% of new cars are made to use synthetic motor oil.

Looking to save a few bucks on gas after spending a few extra on synthetic oil? Read this article to learn how.

Without the lubrication that properly maintained oil provides, the chances of serious damage happening to the engine increases. If not changed, oil will eventually turn into sludge, which can clog up your engine and wear out your pistons, which will seriously damage your engine. This can lead to needing a replacement engine all together. Repairing that kind of damage is a lot more expensive than a simple oil change. A new engine usually costs around $4000, and a standard oil change at the shop costs around $75, meaning the cost of a new engine is roughly 50 oil changes.

While oil changes are fairly inexpensive today, you can still save a bit of money by doing it yourself. If you are willing to get dirty and learn a new skill, follow these steps and learn how to change your oil yourself.

1. First, warm up your engine for 2-3 minutes to heat up the oil that you will be changing and keep it moving through the engine. We recommend you wear gloves throughout this process. When the engine is warm to the touch turn the car off.

2. Next, find the drain plug under your car.

    

   You may need to crawl under your vehicle or use a jack to lift it to find the plug.

3. Place a container under the drain plug to collect the oil.
   Unscrew the drain plug, letting the oil collect in the container underneath the plug.

    



4. Next, remove the cap from the oil filler hole at the top of the engine.
   Unscrew the oil filter. You may need a wrench if you cannot unscrew it by hand. Empty the oil from the oil filter into the drain pan.

5. Replace the oil filter and apply some of the new oil to your fingers and use it to moisten the new gasket on top of the oil filter.

6. Now, replace the oil drain plug and use a wrench to tighten it.

7. Use a funnel to begin pouring 1 quart of your new oil into the oil fill hole.

    

   Make sure to pour slowly to give the oil time to move down.

8. Next, replace the oil fill cap and run the vehicle’s engine for roughly 60 seconds, make sure there are no leaks around the filter or underneath the oil drain plug.

9. Turn off the engine and wait around 10 minutes to let the oil settle and then check the oil level with a dipstick.

    

   Keep adding oil until you reach the full line on the dipstick.

10. You can now remove the drain pan from underneath your car and give your car a short test drive. When you get back, let the oil settle for another 10 or so minutes and check it one final time with the dipstick, if the oil still reads full you are good to go! If not, you have an issue and should take your vehicle to a service station.

Interested in learning other DIY tasks you can do to keep your car running smoothly? Read about them here

You can use your Synchrony Car Care^TM credit card for everyday purchases like oil changes, gas, and more. Learn more about Synchrony Car Care.