How often should I change my oil?
I only drive my car about 2,000 miles a year, sometimes less than that. I hate my car and only use it when I can't take my husbands (when he's not home). I try to drive it once every couple weeks and will be driving it to school two days a week starting in September. I was getting it changed every 6 months but I've been putting it off and its now been 8 months. I have a 2003 ford focus and I've never seen the oil change light come on, should I start waiting for this? Change it once a year, keep doing it every 6 months, or more often?
Crack the owners manual index in the glove compartment manual to motor oil. The better the quality of the oil, the longer you can go between oil and filter changes.
I would change it every 6 months just because you don't want the oil sitting for two long without driving it and oil changed don't cost that much. If you are only driving it 2,000 miles a year then by what every handbook says it should be done every 6,000 miles or every three months which ever comes first but in your case since your not going to even be putting half of the miles that's recommended for oil changes I would just do it twice a year or every 6 months
In general oil change is due every 3 months or 3000 miles as recommended by ford. But since you drive so few miles than you can stretch it to 6 months. Don't listen to the ones saying it doesn't matter how long you go just how many miles you drive. Oil starts to break down as soon as your engine starts due to the blowby gases inside the crankcase and it will continue to break down regardless of how many miles you don't drive. I have seen this before and can't tell you how many engines would have been saved if they had just done an Oil change every 6 months. When you consider the cost of an oil change to a new engine then it really is worth it.
Twice a year seems like a lot for the miles you put on. Once per year would still be considered 'overkill' by many people but is what I think I would do for your situation.
Once a year is what your owners manual says
If you use regular oil, change it every 3-4 thousand miles no matter how you drive, how far or how often. If you use synthetic oil change it every 4,000 miles instead of 5,000 no matter how far or how often you drive and your engine will love and run for you almost forever.
If you loved your car, you change the oil & filter every 5,000 miles, or every 3months, whichever comes first.
In your case, I would change it every year when summer comes. You will get a lot of different answers but here is the info:
Oil changes should include the oil filter, too. Old school was to change the oil filter every OTHER oil change. That was just stupid. Engine's have small oil filters which can clot quickly. They are just important as new clean oil, and they are only a few bucks!
Old school was, Change the oil every 3,000 mile or 3 months, whichever comes first. Oil needs to be change every 3 months, because raw gasoline get into the oil crankcase and dilutes the oil. So that is why it needs changing even if you only drive the car a few thousand miles a year.
Synthetic motor oil came out. It was able to handle heat better and capable of not become diluted by the gasoline. You could run this and not change your oil for 100,000 miles, but the oil filter still needed changing regularly at 3,000 [preferred] or 5,000 miles. Cost: Expensive.
Now days, Regular oils have additives which allows you to use lower multi-weight oil ( which prevents the oil from becoming sludge), and resists being diluted by gasoline. So now you can go every 5,000 miles or 3 months on your oil changes.
Synthetic oils are still here and cheaper but still a little expensive. If you use them, you can go 10,000 miles or every 3 months for oil changes. They still swear you can go 100,000 miles but I wouldn't do it. Odds are good, if you try it and your engine fails because of it, they will not replace the engine. You won't be able to afford the cost to sue them. Remember: Guarantees & Warranties are just paper.
An oil and filter change every 2000 miles is a waste of money once a year is good if doing 10000 miles
Change it when your oil has sparkles!
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