How Often Should You Change Your Oil?
It’s incredible how many drivers still think engine oil needs to be changed every 3,000 miles. That might once have been an accurate number, but advances in oil and engine technology mean the latest GMC vehicles and Buick vehicles can go significantly longer between changes. So, how often should you change your oil? Every 7,500-10,000 miles is the modern rule of thumb, but there are a few more things you should know about.
With that in mind, read on to explore:
- Oil Change Frequency Guidelines
- Why You Might Need to Change Oil More Often
- How to Check Your Oil
Oil Change Frequency Guidelines
Every 7,500-10,000 miles works for most drivers, but if in doubt you can always check your owner’s manual for a guideline that’s specific to your exact make and model. In fact, you’ll usually find oil changes are done as part of your scheduled maintenance intervals.
In general, you should:
- Have the oil changed at least twice a year, even if you don’t do much driving.
- Get your oil filter replaced whenever you get your oil changed.
Why You Might Need to Change Oil More Often
The way you drive and the type of driving you do is going to impact how long your oil lasts. Here are just a few things that could necessitate more frequent oil changes:
- Long distance driving
- Off-road driving
- Commercial driving
- Racing
- Heavy towing
While everyday driving isn’t going to interfere with oil change frequency guidelines, doing any of the above on a regular basis will place added stress on your oil and cause it to break down faster.
How to Check Your Oil
Driving without enough oil risks everything from inconvenient breakdowns to expensive repairs, so you should check it once a month or so by following these steps:
- Wait half an hour after driving to let the engine cool.
- Pop the hood and find the oil reservoir.
- Unscrew the top, then draw out and wipe down the dipstick before reinserting it.
- Slowly draw the dipstick back out and check that the level is between its Minimum and Maximum lines.
Let Our Team Take Care of All Routine Servicing and Maintenance
We’re always happy to provide servicing tips and tricks, so don’t hesitate to get in touch with the team at our South Salt Lake service today to find out more about anything from oil change intervals to more complex repairs.