Oil Changes in Louisville, KY: How Often Is Often Enough?

Posted on August 15, 2015 by Douglas Addington

There is some controversy about the frequency with which cars need oil changes in Louisville, KY. Every shop seems to have its own recommendations and looking into manufacturer’s recommendations just confuses consumers even more. Whether a car requires an oil change often depends on several factors, including mileage and nature of use. Here are a few factors to know about oil changes to help you understand this essential component of auto maintenance and maintain an oil change schedule for your car.

Never put off an oil change

People who put off haircuts, doctor appointments and grocery shopping often see no harm in waiting another week or 1,000 miles to delay an oil change. However, this procedure is actually very critical to the operation of your vehicle.

Oil cuts down on friction in your engine. While your car runs, oil collects contaminants and becomes thicker, meaning it will not be able to flow into every nook and cranny, as it should. As this occurs, friction increases and parts wear out.

If you wait long enough, this process can cause irreversible damage to your engine. When you compare the cost of an oil change with what you can pay for an engine replacement or overhaul, you will see that getting an oil change is time and money well spent to prevent future problems.

Driving conditions affect oil life

Events that decrease oil life can include:

• Frequent cold starts
• Extreme heat or cold
• Towing
• Taking several small trips each day instead of grouping errands

If these events are a daily driving reality for you, then the “gold standard” of every 3,000 to 3,500 miles will serve you well. When you place this much stress on your engine, it is better to be safe than sorry, so frequent oil changes will help preserve vehicle condition.

 

Vehicles that incur easy miles, meaning they are driven primarily on highways, do not require frequent oil changes. Raising frequency to every 5,000 miles can prove sufficient, but double‑check your owner’s manual for a recommendation or talk to your service technician.

Higher mileage vehicles require more frequent oil changes

Your engine will require more lubrication as it ages. Cars frequently last over 100,000 miles and while this shows some measure of durability, it also means they require care. Once you reach this six-figure milestone, consider visiting for an oil change every 3,000 to 4,000 miles.

This is also a time to consider synthetic oils, some of which may be designed for high-mileage vehicles. These products maintain their consistency longer and attract less debris. They can give you some lead time so if you go 500 miles over before the next oil change, it will matter less than with conventional oil.

Find a skilled technician

Having your oil change performed by a skilled auto technician not only ensures your oil change proceeds correctly, but also that other issues can be detected. Finding issues before they make your life more complicated can save on repair costs.

St. Matthews Imports – Auto Repair & Service offers car maintenance services, including oil changes in Louisville, KY. Give us a call to set up an appointment so we can keep your vehicle running reliably.