Did you know an oil change is one of the greatest preventative measures you can take to sustain a used car? In Middlesex NJ, there are hundreds of places to get it done, often costing as little as twenty dollars. But why is it important to get done, and how often should you do it?

How often you should change your oil depends on what kind of vehicle you have. Most manufacturers suggest you change your oil once every 7,500 miles, or once a year, whichever comes first. This is true for most passenger cars or small trucks. If your vehicle has a turbo engine in it, or uses a diesel engine, most manufactures recommend every 6 months, or 3,000 miles. Those are the recommendations for “ideal” driving conditions. However, if you drive in hot weather for long distances on the highway, extreme colds, dusty roads, ect, you are in the “severe service” driving section. Thus, it will be natural for you to need to change your oil even more.

A new car can easily get by with once every 7,500 mile oil change, however as a car ages, and parts start to wear, it is wise to start changing more often. This is why most oil companies suggest you change your oil every 3,000 miles regardless of your vehicles type. So what do you do for your used car? There are three factors to consider. First, what does your owners manual say? Use that as your baseline. Next, what conditions are your driving in? If you are just taking it a few miles a day in ideal conditions, you can stay at your manufacturers recommendations. However if you fall into the “severe service” category, adjust how often you do change your oil accordingly. Finally, how many miles are on your vehicle? There isn’t a set way to figure this, however if your vehicle has over 100,000 miles on it, it is safe to recommend a change once every 3,000 miles.

Topics middlesex nj, Oil Change, Used Car Tips