Wondering How Often Should You Really Get Your Oil Changed?

Oil changes are the most simple and inexpensive service for your vehicle.  Fresh, clean oil optimizes your car’s performance by lubricating parts and keeping the engine clean and healthy.  Following the right oil change interval is crucial, as well as cost-effective.  Engine damage caused by dirty or low oil is far more expensive than regular oil changes.

The oil change interval will vary depending on the age of the car, the type of oil used, and driving conditions. It used to be usual to change oil every 3,000 miles, but with modern lubricants, most engines today have suggested oil change intervals of 5,000 to 7,500 miles. If your engine requires full-synthetic motor oil, you may go as far as 15K miles between services!

So how often should you really get your oil changed?  It’s certainly time for an oil change if your car starts to exhibit one or more of the warning signs below:

1. Dark and Dirty Oil -- Clean oil is an amber color, but it will darken and get dirty from the particles it collects from the engine.
2. Noisy Engine -- As oil loses its efficiency in lubricating the metal parts, you will start to hear louder noises coming from the engine, such as knocking, rumbling, and even roaring.
3. Oil Change Light -- An illuminated oil change light on the instrument panel indicates that there’s too little oil in the system. By the time this light comes on, damage may have already occurred in the engine.
4. Exhaust Smoke – If you see smoke coming from the muffler, there could be an oil leak or faulty parts in the engine.  Ask your auto mechanic to run a diagnostic test to pinpoint the issue.
5. Oil Smell Inside the Car -- If the smell of oil is strong inside your car, it means there’s a leak. If the smell is mixed with the smell of gas or exhaust fumes, it indicates that your vehicle is overheating and oil is burning in the exhaust area. 

Keep your car running at optimum performance and extend its life by keeping up with regular oil changes. Many auto shops offer oil change coupons as an incentive to take good care of your vehicle.

Wondering how often should you really get your oil changed?  Contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Gary’s Quality Automotive to ask about our oil change coupons and to make an appointment.  Our auto repair shop proudly serves vehicle owners in Grand Island, NE, Wood River, NE, and Doniphan, NE.