Oil Change

How Often Do I Need an Oil Change?

There are many factors that go into oil change frequency, such as make, model, and model year, but also type of oil used, your environment, and your driving habits are big contributors to the frequency of an oil change. The best practice is to consult your owner's manual and see what the manufacturer recommends. In fact, your owner's manual will have a recommended schedule for all your maintenance needs. If you don't have an owner's manual,8 you can ask our technicians what they recommend. It used to be the recommendation was about every 3,000 miles, but that was at a time when your only choice for motor oil was conventional motor oil.

Conventional Oil

Conventional motor oil is derived from crude oil with several additives. The purpose of motor oil is to keep the moving parts of your engine moving well as it lubricates them, but it also helps reduce heat, and it helps keep your engine cleaner. When your engine runs, there are a lot of parts that have to rub against each other and without oil those parts would generate a lot of friction and heat. As they wear against each other, particles begin to flake off. When engine oil circulates, it reduces the friction, and it carries dirt, pollen, dust and metal fragments off to your oil filter where they are trapped so your engine doesn't have to work as hard.

Full Synthetic and Synthetic Blend Oil

These types of oil accomplish the same thing as conventional oil, but synthetic oil is a man-made formula with several additives that makes these oils, full-synthetic especially, more effective in protecting your engine. The formula produces a purer oil with a more uniform molecular structure. Full synthetic blends mean less frequency in oil changes. Full synthetic oil does not need to be changed until every 5,000-7,500 miles. Many vehicle models extend that interval to as much as 10,000 miles. It's best to consult your manual for manufacturer recommendations on your specific model.

When To Use High-Mileage Oils

If you've had your vehicle for a while, there are high-mileage varieties of oils that have additional additives to further extend the life of your engine. High-mileage oils are available in conventional, synthetic, and synthetic blends for vehicles that have over 75,000 miles on the odometer.

If you are in need of an oil change, contact us at Maplecrest Ford Lincoln of Union and set up an appointment with our Service Center, or schedule service yourself online.