There are a couple of ways that you could be reminded that it is time to have an oil change done on your vehicle. One is having a window decal placed with the date and mileage you should watch for. The other, if you have a newer vehicle, is a light or audible warning that reminds you it is time. If you think that if you follow these guidelines you’ll be easily on your way to getting a long life from your vehicle, guess again. It is possible that isn’t anywhere near as often as you should have it done.
So, why does each vehicle manufacturer give you a recommendation in the first place? They can only make a best guess because they have no idea the driving conditions that each vehicle will go through. They base their figures on average use and your use could be anything but average. For example, if you live on or frequently drive on dirt roads, that dusty environment pushes up the schedule for an oil change. As the engine gets older, it is more likely that it will begin to burn the oil, so you should have it changed more often. Your driving habits can also push up the timeline because fast driving, jackrabbit starts, and heavy acceleration all make the engine work harder. Even carrying around heavy loads frequently makes a difference.
When you come to us at Highway Tire Auto & Lube for an oil change, we’ll assess the state of the oil and how many miles it has been, so we can let you know if you should be on a more frequent oil change schedule. It never hurts to change the oil more often than is recommended, particularly if you want to have your vehicle for a long time. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us.