How Often Should You Change Your Oil?

No matter what type of car you're driving in the Parsippany, Wayne, and Morristown area, keeping it properly maintained is crucial and oil changes are a big part of that. This will elevate your vehicle's longevity, improve performance, and in some cases, even help increase your gas mileage.

However, do you know how often you should change your oil? If not, Paul Miller Subaru is here to help with our oil change guide. Check it out below to see how often you should change your oil then schedule a service appointment today!

The Importance of Oil Changes

Before we jump into oil change intervals, learning why this substance is critical under the hood of your vehicle is a good place to start. Oil acts as a sort of lifeblood in your car, allowing your engine and other crucial components to perform to their best abilities.

Oil lubricates your engine's moving parts, which move at high speeds to get you where you need to go. While all of this movement creates friction, the oil cuts that down, allowing them to glide smoothly and create less heat.

Oil also cleans your engine. Dirt and other types of debris can be detrimental to your engine, but with the help of oil, it's able to stay clean and not be bogged down by junk that isn't supposed to be there.

However, when the oil is doing its job, it will diminish and become dirty over time. Though this is completely normal, it can cause your engine to not run at its peak condition. This is where oil changes come in.

How Often Should You Change Your Oil?

Every vehicle and engine are different, so there are some variances to when you should schedule your next oil change. However, there are some good rules of thumb to go by depending on your specific car- the most common being changing your oil every 7,000 to 10,000 miles. This is typically for vehicles that use synthetic oil, as was engineered to last longer.

If your vehicle uses conventional oil, changing it every 3,000 to 5,000 miles is smart to keep it healthy and running smoothly. Additionally, cars equipped with turbocharged engines should get changes more frequently, about every 3,000 miles, to ensure your engine is able to supply that extra power it needs. Finally, since diesel engines can withstand a little more, waiting 10,000 to 15,000 for an oil change is usually okay.  For more information on when to get an oil change, refer to our maintenance schedules.

Signs You Need an Oil Change

Even if you get your oil changed frequently, you should still pay attention to the common warning signs that your vehicle needs new oil. Depending on your environment, driving habits, and the condition of your car, these can pop up between visits to let you know another appointment should be made. Common warning signs include:

• Dark or Dirty Oil
• Loud Sounds Coming from Your Engine
• Your Oil-Change Light is On
• Dark Exhaust Smoke Emitting from Your Vehicle
• An Oil Smell in the Car

Schedule an Oil Change at Paul Miller Subaru Today!

When it's time to replenish your vehicle with fresh oil, visit our dealership's authorized service center. Our team of professional technicians can quickly perform this task, so you never have to ask "How often do you change your oil?" again. We proudly serve the Parsippany, Wayne, and Morristown areas.