Oil Change: How Long Can You Go Without Changing Your Oil?
How often do you really need to change your oil? We have been
told for years that it’s important to change our engine oil “every 3 months or
every 3000 miles” so hopefully you’re at least looking for a quick oil change a
few times a year, but how long can you go between oil changes?
Do you still need to change your oil every 3000 miles? How
long can you go with full synthetic oil? Can your Mercedes really go 10,000
miles between oil changes? Well don’t worry! Today I will tell you once and for
all the truth!
Short Answer – It depends….
I know I know, not what you wanted to hear! So, as best I
can, here is the medium length answer.
Conventional Oil and Older Cars – 3000 Mile Oil Change
If your car does not require a synthetic blend oil assume 3,000
miles is the rule. On a side note, oil change specials for $19.95 use conventional,
so make sure your car is old enough and doesn’t need a blend. Older vehicles
were built with older technology and engineered with non-synthetic oils in
mind.
What if your car’s a little newer? You may be wondering “how
often should I change my oil if my car has high mileage”? If you have a newer car
with 150,000 or 200,000 miles you likely should also change your oil every
3,000 miles. If you burn more than 1 quart of oil or your oil is very dark
before you get to 3,000 miles it’s likely time to change it! If you’re oil is
still medium brown and not low after 3,000 miles you’re in luck! In spite of
the high miles you’re engine is in good shape and you can go a little longer.
Synthetic Blend Oil and Higher Oil Capacity – 5,000 Mile Oil Change
Most Oil Changes Use Synthetic Blend Oil These Days
Just about all cars now require synthetic blend oil. “How much more expensive is synthetic blend oil” you wonder? The good news is that the cost is very close. If you’re looking for an oil change near Indian Trail, NC 28079 Kindred Automotive doesn’t even charge extra for a synthetic blend oil change.
Synthetic blends hold up longer and won’t break down, even
after 5000 miles of driving. Newer cars also have better filtration systems,
allowing you to safely drive 5000 miles between oil changes.
If your car holds more than the typical 5 Quarts you may
also be able to safely run 5,000 mile oil changes. More oil means more
additives and more storage for the carbon and gas your filter can’t trap.
Synthetic Blend Oil Changes are much better for your engine,
and safe for older cars, but you still need to check your oil at 3,000 miles
and follow the advice listed above for high mileage engines.
Full Synthetic and European Oil Change – 7,500 Miles to….. well, it’s complicated!
Full synthetic oils will actually last well beyond 10,000
miles. The lifespan of synthetic oil depends, but it’s not crazy to see oils
still working at 15,000 miles or longer. Synthetic technology is pretty
amazing, but it isn’t magical. Just because the oil additives still work and
the oil isn’t breaking down doesn’t mean it’s safe for your engine.
Euro cars like BMW, Jaguar and Mercedes hold 8+ Quarts of Synthetic Oil due to their higher performance and longer service intervals
Over time engine oil gets diluted with gasoline and loses the
ability to lubricate properly. Oil also has limited space to suspend particles,
there’s only so much real estate to go around! Another complication seen in
newer engines is the very tiny passages that oil must travel through, setting
the stage for a clogged engine artery and a mechanical heart attack!
How long can your car go using Full Synthetic Oil depends on
the amount of oil it holds, how large and how good the oil filter is, how well
the engine was designed and how much it has worn over the years. We have seen a
huge increase in engine repairs due to “Extended Oil Changes” leading to rapid failures.
Our standard recommendation is 7,500 miles for a normal
vehicle based on the thousands of engine repairs we’ve seen over the years.
This seems to be the most cost-effective balance of more frequent oil changes
and less frequent repairs.
Changing your oil sooner than 5000 miles will
typically just increase your cost without any additional benefits. Likewise, waiting
past 10,000 miles leads to thousands of dollars in future repairs and will not
pay off in the long run.
Our personal vehicles hold between 6 and 9 quarts of Full Synthetic Oil and we shoot for every 5,000 miles. That means roughly 6,000 miles when we finally get around to it… Yes, we forget sometimes too! ?
Schedule Your Next Oil Change Online!
How long can you go past your oil change?
I was due for an oil change 900 miles ago but I’m not getting one until next week. I have to drive out of state tomorrow and I’m worried about ruining my car. Do you know how long I can go past an oil change?
Lindsey Hoover · Answered on Apr 01, 2022
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
A trip out of state sounds fun(!), but driving past your oil change can definitely cause unwanted stress and worry.
Advances in engine technology over the years have made it possible for you to go 5,000 to 7,500 miles before needing an oil change. If your car uses synthetic oil, you can go for even longer between oil changes: 10,000 to 15,000 miles.
Something to keep in mind: the numbers above are general guidelines and won’t apply to every make and model, especially older models. Check your vehicle’s owner manual to see when you should change your oil and follow accordingly.
Not sure if you need an oil change? Here are some warning signs to look out for:
- Change in oil color and consistency
- Smell of burning oil
- Engine emitting knocking noises
- Dashboard warning light comes on
Staying proactive and scheduling regular oil changes will increase the longevity and reliability of your vehicle. [Jerry] (https://getjerry.com/signup) can also help you protect your vehicle with great car insurance at an affordable rate.
It’s simple: start by downloading the Jerry app. In less than 45 seconds, a licensed broker will collect all of your information from your existing insurer and provide you with competitive quotes from the top insurance companies.
Jerry users save an average of $887 a year on car insurance.
MORE: How to tell if your new car is burning too much oil
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Why does the engine oil need to be changed every 5000 km?
Changing engine oil is a topic that car enthusiasts don’t want to bring up until it’s time.
But how do you know when that time has come? Some act according to the recommendations of the car manufacturer and are guided by 15,000 km, someone is sure that it is enough to change in spring and late autumn. There are those who loudly declare: “The more often, the better,” however, experts say that it all depends on the operating conditions of the car, but on average, replacement must be done every 5,000 km.
Not every motorist thinks about the real life of engine oil, and what functions it will perform. Engine oil is a lubricant that ages particularly quickly under severe operating conditions.
If you delve into the technical literature, you can find additional recommendations from the Japanese, which are often written in small print. The fact is that an oil change every 15 thousand km is possible only under ideal operating conditions. That is, a clean engine, high-quality fuel, no overheating, no dangerous driving, no idling, and it is also desirable to observe an average mileage of 10-19thousand kilometers per year, while not making short trips.
In reality, this happens far from 15 thousand kilometers or even 10. In the city, we constantly stand in traffic jams, where there is not enough airflow from the engine, so the oil “wears out” faster. The main task of engine oil is to keep the many moving parts of the engine that function in a wide range of loads and temperatures in proper condition by lubricating the parts. Due to its composition, the oil is able not only to keep the movement in the heart of the car, but also to cool it.
What should be considered when choosing an engine oil change interval?
Most drivers drive their «iron» friend on the principle of «it will do» until the oil turns into «soot». But this practice leads to an early and often irreversible breakdown. The oil begins to rapidly lose its lubricating, washing, protecting and other properties. This leads to an increase in its viscosity, a deterioration in its pumping through the system, more intensive wear of rubbing surfaces and, unfortunately, an inevitable overhaul of the internal combustion engine.
When choosing a fluid change interval, it is worth considering not only the number of kilometers, but also all influencing factors. For example, in 10 hours of “uninterrupted” work, a training car at a racetrack can easily cover 30 km, while its speed is the same as in a traffic jam. And on a country road for the same amount of time, he will travel 700-1000 km. But the conditions will be closer to ideal: without constant braking, with sufficient airflow and without idling. It would seem that the oil will work the same way, only in the first version, 5000 km is about 11 months of work, and in the second, only a few trips.
Japanese experts, who are considered leaders in the auto industry, are confident that the already listed extreme conditions, as well as driving on roads with frequent braking and acceleration, driving on gravel and snow, will be an indicator for changing the fluid. It is these indicators for changing the fluid every 5000 km and more thorough care of the car engine.
In some cases, the impetus for an immediate oil change may be its actual condition. For example, if a frightening drop that looks like tar hangs on the engine dipstick, or, on the contrary, the oil has begun to resemble water in consistency, then there is no time to think.
What should the engine oil be?
There are many legends surrounding the choice of oil. Someone checks it for color and smell, and some try to freeze the oil to check its suitability. But these are not at all indicators of its quality, because it becomes dark during operation. Soot, soot and the smallest wear products of rubbing engine parts get into it. The composition of oils includes detergents that keep this dirt in suspension, thereby preventing it from settling on engine parts. For example, Mobil uses special technologies that allow you to extend the «life» of engine oil, respectively, increase mileage and maintenance intervals.
Your car’s engine needs constant care, which can only be obtained at trusted service stations with extensive experience and modern service.
Only original engine oil can provide reliable protection for your car’s engine. Mobil 1’s Jeep Service Center has a large selection of Mobil products sourced directly from authorized distributors, guaranteeing the authenticity and quality of all lubricants.
Qualified and experienced employees will perform oil change services, observing all safety measures, and you can be convinced of this in a special recreation area where all the work of the master is broadcast.
You can make an appointment by phone +7 (423) 246‒45‒92 or on the Jeep Service website jeepservice-vl.ru
Maintenance culture: why does the engine oil need to be changed every 5000 km?
April 15, 2020
Primpress
Engine oil change is a topic that car enthusiasts don’t want to bring up until it’s time. But how do you know when that time has come? Some act according to the recommendations of the car manufacturer and are guided by 15,000 km, someone is sure that it is enough to change in spring and late autumn.
There are those who loudly declare “the more often the better”, however, experts say that it all depends on the operating conditions of the car, but on average, replacement must be done every 5000 km.
Photo: PrimpressPrimpress
Not every motorist thinks about the actual life of engine oil, and what functions it will perform. Engine oil is a lubricant that ages particularly quickly under severe operating conditions.
Video of the day
If you delve into the technical literature, you can find additional recommendations from the Japanese, which are often written in small print. The fact is that an oil change every 15 thousand km is possible only under ideal operating conditions. That is, a clean engine, high-quality fuel, no overheating, no dangerous driving, no idling, and it is also desirable to observe an average mileage of 10-19thousand kilometers per year, while not making short trips.
In reality, this happens far from 15 thousand kilometers or even 10.
In the city, we constantly stand in traffic jams where there is not enough airflow from the engine, so the oil “wears out” faster. The main task of engine oil is to keep the many moving parts of the engine, which operate in a wide range of loads and temperatures, in proper condition by lubricating the parts. Due to its composition, the oil is able not only to keep the movement in the heart of the car, but also to cool it.
What should be considered when choosing an engine oil change interval?
Most drivers drive their «iron» friend on the principle of «it will do» until the oil turns into «soot». But this practice leads to an early and often irreversible breakdown. The oil begins to rapidly lose its lubricating, washing, protecting and other properties. This leads to an increase in its viscosity, a deterioration in its pumping through the system, more intensive wear of rubbing surfaces and, unfortunately, an inevitable overhaul of the internal combustion engine.
When choosing a fluid change interval, it is worth considering not only the number of kilometers, but also all influencing factors.
For example, in 10 hours of “uninterrupted” work, a training car at a racetrack can easily cover 30 km, while its speed is the same as in a traffic jam. And on a country road for the same amount of time, he will travel 700-1000 km. But the conditions will be closer to ideal: without constant braking, with sufficient ventilation and without idling. It would seem that the oil will work the same way, only in the first version 5000 km is about 11 months of work, and in the second only a few trips.
Japanese experts, who are considered leaders in the auto industry, are confident that the already listed extreme conditions, as well as driving on roads with frequent braking and acceleration, driving on gravel and snow, will be an indicator for changing the fluid. These are the indicators for changing the fluid every 5000 km and more thorough care of the car engine.
In some cases, the impetus for an immediate oil change may be its actual condition. For example, if a frightening drop that looks like tar hangs on the engine dipstick, or, on the contrary, the oil has begun to resemble water in consistency, then there is no time to think.
What should the engine oil be?
There are many legends surrounding the choice of oil. Someone checks it for color and smell, and some try to freeze the oil to check its suitability. But these are not at all indicators of its quality, because it becomes dark during operation. It gets: soot, soot and the smallest wear products of rubbing engine parts. The composition of oils includes detergents that keep this dirt in suspension, thereby preventing it from settling on engine parts. For example, Mobil uses special technologies that allow you to extend the «life» of engine oil, respectively, increase the mileage and maintenance interval.
Your car’s engine needs constant care, which can only be obtained at trusted service stations with extensive experience and modern service. Only original engine oil can provide reliable protection for your car’s engine. The Mobil 1 Jeep Service Center stocks a large selection of Mobil products sourced directly from authorized distributors to ensure the authenticity and quality of all lubricants.