Are you confused when it comes to oil changes? You know that you’re supposed to get them, but that’s where your knowledge ends. First, get the details on everything you need to know about oil changes. Then, you’ll have the information required to take care of your car.
How Often Should You Change Your Oil?
In the past, the rule of thumb was to change your oil every 3,000 miles or three months, whichever came first. Now, though, most vehicles can go longer between oil changes. You can find out how often to change your oil by looking in the owner’s manual.
However, if your car’s service reminder pops up, change your oil, even if you haven’t hit the mileage limit stated in the owner’s manual. Service reminders are generally based on the mileage and how hard you push your car. Hard driving burns oil, meaning you’ll need frequent oil changes.
What if You Barely Drive Your Car?
If your car spends more time parked than on the road, you need to throw the mileage limits out the window. It could take a year or more to hit the limit when you barely drive, but you still need to change the oil at least twice a year. Oil becomes less effective as it ages, and if you don’t change it, it could harm your engine.
How Often Do You Need to Check the Oil?
You might need to add some oil to your car between oil changes. It’s a good idea to check the oil each month. Your car needs to be on level ground with the engine turned off when checking the oil.
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What Kind of Oil Should You Use?
Choosing the right motor oil for your car is vital. You’ll find this information in the owner’s manual. Also, the oil reservoir cap likely has the weight of the oil you need to use.
While some oil change places will try to talk you into a more expensive oil than what you need, that’s unnecessary most of the time. However, if you tend to make lots of short trips, you might need to upgrade to synthetic oil. Standard oil needs time to warm up and protect your engine. That’s hard to do with short trips. Also, upgrading to synthetic oil is a good idea if you use your car for hauling and towing.
Keep in mind that synthetic oil is up to four times more expensive, so only upgrade if you need to do so. Otherwise, it’ll be a waste of money.
The service center at Bob Brady Hyundai in Decatur, Illinois, can help you choose the right oil for your vehicle. We can handle your oil changes and other maintenance needs.
We’re also available if you’re ready to buy a new or pre-owned vehicle. We have a full range of options at our dealership, and we will make it easy for you to take one home today. You can even start the process online. Browse the inventory, value your trade-in, and apply for financing before leaving home. Then, come in to finalize the deal.
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