We can provide a simple answer to this question: YES!
However, let's dig a little deeper and talk about why oil changes are so important to the overall health and performance of your car, truck or SUV. There are several key benefits to getting regular oil changes. This service involves replacing the oil filter and filling the pan with fresh engine oil. It's a procedure you may be able to do on your own if you know what you are doing. Or, you can bring your vehicle to a professional mechanic or quick lube place.
Let's take a look at some of the key issues to understand when it comes to automotive oil changes:
Your Engine Needs Clean Oil
Imagine the engine as the heart of your car. It keeps power circulating throughout the vehicle and it's what enables you to drive. If your engine isn't running smoothly, you will have problems. Just like you need healthy blood pumping freely through your heart and circulatory system, your engine needs healthy oil. Motor oil provides vital lubricating qualities that enable the fast-moving parts within your engine to keep moving and ultimately providing power for the vehicle. Regular oil changes ensure fresh, clean oil is running through the engine and helping keep everything working properly.
How Often Should I Get an Oil Change?
This can vary somewhat from vehicle to vehicle and driver to driver. There are numerous factors that can affect how long your oil lasts, including vehicle age, mileage and driving conditions. Oil changes for most modern cars are recommended at intervals around every 5,000-6,000 miles. Some advanced hybrids and electric vehicles (EVs) may only need servicing every 10,000 miles. Older cars with a lot of mileage on their engines might require oil changes every 3,000 miles or so.
Your driving habits and conditions may also impact oil change frequency. If you are driving up a lot of steep hills or in heavy stop-and-go traffic every day, it could put more strain on your engine and the oil running through it. Extreme hot and cold temperatures can also have an impact. Someone with a lead foot who likes to drive really fast may also need to change their oil more often. On the other side of the coin, you may have a car that you rarely drive and it sits in the garage or driveway most of the time. In this case, you may want to base your oil change frequency on time. A service may be recommended about every six months. Old oil sitting in the pan and not running through the engine regularly will start to evaporate and deteriorate, so it still needs to be replaced every so often.
Your Car Might Let You Know
Most modern vehicles have service warning lights programmed based on mileage intervals or other specialized sensors. Your car will let you know when it's due for an oil change. Otherwise, you can track the mileage yourself if your vehicle doesn't have this feature. You can also check your oil level and quality manually using the dipstick under your hood. It's a smart habit to do this at least once a month. If the level is low or the fluid looks dark, burnt or dirty, you are probably overdue for an oil change. Beyond that, you may want to bring your car into the shop if you feel, smell or hear anything unusual happening with your engine. You might just be overdue for an oil change or there could be something else that needs addressing.
If you need to schedule an oil change in Northern Delaware, call Fox Run Auto today at (302) 597-9205 or book your service appointment online. Be sure to check out our Specials page for current coupons and discounts on regular maintenance services—including our Deluxe Oil Change package.