Why Do I Need to Change My Oil Every 5,000 Miles?

Inside your vehicle’s engine, there exists hundreds of intricate metal parts all moving at an incredibly high rate of speed. Naturally, this movement generates a lot of heat. Motor oil decreases friction while keeping each part freely moving.

Motor oil also helps keep your engine clean by removing any moisture or dirty particles thaat inevitably find their way inside. This is why old oil tends to look and move like thick molasses.

Over time, your engine’s oil will also start to break down and lose viscosity. If not regularly changed every 5,000 to 10,000 miles, it can lead to several issues, including:

• Lower fuel efficiency
• Weak acceleration
• Overheating
• Premature wear and brakes
• Engine seizure

How Do I Know When to Change My Oil?

Inside your vehicle’s glovebox, you should have an owner’s manual. Here, the manufacturer lists how often you need to change your specific model’s oil. The manufacturer might also provide this info on their website.

If your vehicle’s odometer is high, we recommend speaking to one of our service professionals. They’ll be able to map out a maintenance schedule that best suits your vehicle’s needs. This especially is important if you use your vehicle for work or hauling heavy loads.

We know how busy your life can be. That’s why we make it possible to schedule service reminders, so you never miss an important milestone.

How Do I Check My Vehicle’s Oil?

No matter your experience level, knowing how to check your vehicle’s oil is a simple and important task everyone should know how to perform. All you need is a shop rag and a level place to park!

For the best results, take your vehicle for a quick spin before opening up the hood. Make sure the engine is off before pulling the dipstick. Your oil dipstick will typically have a yellow ring and rest near the engine block.

Carefully remove the dipstick from its holster and take note of the oil’s color and scent. Clean oil is amber colored and odorless. A few dark flecks are often normal and no cause for alarm. On the other hand, if your oil appears thick or smells burnt, you’re probably overdue for a complete change.

Using the shop rag, wipe the dipstick clean before returning it to the holster. Remove the dipstick again, this time taking note of the oil level.