How Often Should You Change Your Engine Oil

The nemeses of every car engine are friction and overheating which can be effectively countered with proper lubrication, in the form of engine oil. So one of the most important car maintenance jobs, which you cannot afford to overlook is changing it at regular intervals. Most new car owners tend to be ignorant about how often should engine oil be changed, to ensure smooth functioning of the car engine. The aim of this article is to inform you about the proper time frame for changing your engine lubrication oil.

Role of Engine Oil

The car engine constitutes the heart of a car and provides the motive force required for its functioning. It is the car part which has the highest number of moving engine parts, with explosive combustion of gasoline occurring inside. A tremendous amount of heat and friction is generated which can rip the engine apart, if it was not for the cooling and lubrication mechanism designed to prevent it.

Engine lubrication oil performs many functions which are aimed at improving efficiency. One of its prime functions is to create a thin lubricant layer over moving parts which come in contact with each other. This reduces the effect of friction. It also acts as a coolant by taking away a substantial amount of engine heat that is created inside due to explosive combustion.

It also works as a cleansing agent to remove any particulate matter, which would otherwise create more friction. It transports such particulate contaminants from the engine confines and transports them to the oil filter. It also acts as a sealer which fills any of the microscopic cavities created on the combustion chamber walls. Lastly, it also prevents the corrosion of the engine inside due to rust and other corrosive agents. That's why, it's essential that you choose the right engine oil for your car and change it at regular intervals.

Recommended Engine Oil Change Interval

As the engine oil is used and recirculated for a substantial amount of time, its efficiency decreases and eventually a point is reached when it becomes completely ineffective. Changing your engine lubrication oil before that point is reached is essential. Depending on the car usage, driving conditions and engine design the recommended interval for oil change varies.

Some cars have an oil replacement schedule provided in the manual, which needs to be followed dutifully. Some car models have an oil change indicator, which signals when an oil replacement is necessary. Most car repair technicians recommend an oil replacement after a 5000-7500 miles of running. However, for exact information about engine oil change, it's recommended that you refer your car manual, which also specifies what oil brand you should go for. Some over cautious people even go for an oil replacement after every 3000 miles of running. Personally, I recommend that you stick to the schedule presented in the car manual.

I suggest that you create a proper schedule for replacing engine oil. Plan a car maintenance schedule, which holds date wise information about oil change. Make sure that you keep an eye on the oil level indicator light and get your car's oil status checked out. If you dutifully replace the oil at fixed intervals, your car engine's life will be substantially extended. Remember that you may need an oil change for your car after every 5000 miles of running.