How Often Should You Change Your Oil?
How Often Should You Change Your Oil?
Posted on February 29, 2024
Changing your car's oil is vital, as oil degrades and gets dirty over time thanks to its constant use. Oil lubricates your engine's moving parts, reducing friction and damage from standard wear and tear over time. Regularly replacing this fluid helps eliminate the buildup of sludge, which can block oil passages within the engine.
Changing it While You're Under Warranty
When your Acura vehicle or another one is new and under warranty, it's vital to ensure you regularly change the oil to prevent damage that would void the warranty. All the details you need to find are in your owner's manual, including the oil type, time, and mileage recommendations. All new vehicles, including your new Acura, will require often inspections and maintenance, and the oil will be changed during the process.
Some newer Acura models have a built-in oil-life monitoring system. This tool uses sensors, an algorithm, and software to track temperature, drive time, cold starts, idling, and engine revs. The system will calculate an estimate of the oil's condition through this data. However, it's essential to remember that the software works according to the recommended oil in the owner's manual.
Changing it When You're No-Longer Under Warranty
Common sense and educated guesses are the largest indicators of when you'll want to change your oil once your warranty ends. Frequency recommendations vary depending on your driving style and habits, as well as your location and vehicle. As such, it's hard to pinpoint when to change your vehicle's oil.
Modern lubricants allow for a range between 8,000 km all the way to a stunning 24,000 km, depending on various conditions and the specific oil used. Multiple factors will influence the need to change your oil more frequently, including how often and far you drive and the speed you maintain on the road.
Are Frequent Oil Changes Better for Your Car?
Most service providers and mechanics will recommend shorter gaps between each oil change, often under 8,000 km. While more frequent changes to your engine's lubrication won't hurt it, it can put a significant dent in your wallet, given enough of them. However, sticking to the manual's recommended frequency should be fine in most circumstances unless you're driving your car in severe conditions.
For older vehicles which use more oil, it's essential to check the dipstick at least once a month. If your car has an oil-life monitor, then following its guidance is all you need to do. It's also essential to change your oil filter according to the manual.
Factors That Influence the Need for an Oil Change
There are four main factors that influence how often a car needs to have its oil changed. These factors include driving style, engine condition, oil quality, and the type of oil your engine is recommended to take.
When in Doubt
Whenever you're in doubt, open your vehicle's owner manual and take a look at the recommendations. If you're uneasy, you can always change the oil a little earlier at your local dealership, Crown Acura, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, as it won't harm the car.