When the oil looks dirty. Not light brown but a darker brown. Or has a burnt smell of foam on the dip stick. You should learn to look at oil. All driveing conditions are different. So some were between 3,000 miles and 103,000 miles. Oil unless burnt does not wear out. It is that the aditives can only hold so much and last so long in use. It use to be every 500 miles or so many hours. Before filters and additives.
If use use the recommended oils and filters and drive in a normal way however often the manufacturer recommends. Some cars now have an indicator to tell you when it is needed.
My car does 10,000 miles between oil changes. I drive a diesel which is common here in Europe.
I know cars that do double that.
Everyone will have their own opinion on this and there is no one right answer fits all. It depends on numerous factors such as driving style, conditions, type of oil, age of the engine, etc etc. A good rule of thumb is every 3,000 miles and to check the oils condition every week. With a conventional oil I would not go much longer than 3,000 miles and with a synthetic I wouldn't go longer than 5,000 miles. If the engine has many miles on it(200,000+) I would switch to 3,000 even with a synthetic due to oil dilution and contamination from aging components. If you drive the vehicle hard, make short trips, or in dusty conditions you should also change it at 3,000 miles. Remember you can't change the oil to much!
the oil will last almost for ever,(unless extremely overheated, you'll know by how acrid it smells), so for the last 16 years I change only the filter and then top up with fresh oil. About once or sometimes twice a year. The detergents and anti oxidants are what break down in the oil and the API doesn't mandate what these may be, so every manufacturer has their own formulation. My 1988 f150 now has 400,000 miles on it and purrs like a kitten.
The engine serves as the heart of your vehicle, so changing its oil based on the manufacturer's recommendation is perhaps the single most important thing that you can do to keep your vehicle's engine running longer. However, you must read these recommendations closely to determine the correct interval; the interval that matches your vehicle's operating conditions and your driving habits.
The Normal interval listed in the owner's manual applies to vehicles driven under ideal conditions. While you may consider your driving habits and operating conditions quite normal, read the fine print. Some exceptions to Normal driving include:
Frequent short trips (less than 10 miles, especially during cold weather)
Stop-and-go city traffic driving
Driving in dusty conditions, on gravel roads, etc.
Driving at sustained highway speeds during hot weather
Towing use
Diesel or turbocharged engine
These conditions commonly appear in the description of severe service driving.
You should change your oil every 3 months or 3000 miles which ever is first. Always change the oil filter, and use good quality engine oil of the correct weight 10w30 for example.
I use Mobil 1 full synithic in my truck with team filter.
The English grammar needs to be fixed first. "How often should motor oil be changed?" is correct grammar.
The first step is to read the car manual. The manufacturer has specific recommendations that must be adjusted to the use of the vehicle. A commercial vehicle operating at 80% plus of maximum payloads has different needs that a sedan used to commute to work. A car in Michigan is different than a car in Florida as to environmental conditions and stresses. Next is the motor oil used. There are three types. Mineral motor oil, synthetic blend motor oil and synthetic (due to marketing forces also named Full Synthetic) motor oils. Mineral oil is petroleum based motor oil. Synthetic blend is a mixture of mineral oil and synthetic oil. Synthetic oil is just that, man made chemicals based on petroleum. A car that is used every day to commute to/from work, shopping etc. as most people use their cars, does OK with mineral oil. The new standard is six months or 6,000 miles. Cars in colder climates or hotter climates, in my opinion, need or do much better as to wear, with synthetic blend. Cars not used each day or for a few miles, do better with synthetic blend motor oil. Why? These oils cling to metal better, do not oxidize and have more detergent characteristics than mineral oil. Most cars have their wear at startup due to the oil draining to the oil pan at the bottom of the engine. Next factor is the high operating temperatures of engines. Synthetic motor oils are for super abused or used engines in heavy vehicles or for those in super extreme weather conditions. I just received in the mall a "special offer" for a synthetic oil change for "only $99.00." Yet, you can buy a gallon anywhere for less that $35. There is no need for synthetic motor oil for most us and there is no reason to pay $100 for one oil change even for once a year service. I have used synthetic blend for decades. I have a 2001 vehicle with close to 100,000 miles and the engine is very clean, no leaks, and little motor oil used between service. The ultimate choice is based on the type and use of the vehicle. For most of us, six months or 6,000 miles, mineral or synthetic blend fits perfectly.
*Ed is all wet! Not one car or truck recommends 3,000 mile oil changes for the past 20 years! The manual in the glove compartment will tell you at which mileage interval the crankcase oil and filter be changed.
As per the service schedule. There is little to be gained from changing the oil very 3,000 miles.
The ONLY people who actually recommend an oil and filter change every 3,000 miles anymore are the people who sell oil and filters.
Why not try actually reading the manual that came with your car that tells you what the people who designed and built the car recommend for service. They even give you a printed schedule of what should be done and when. That makes a lot more sense than asking the bunch of 12-year-old children who post most of the "Answers" on this forum.
Hmm about till the oil turns a darkish brown then its time to change it. Just kee[ checking the oil on the dipstick
I go 5,000 miles. Many cars now have electronics that monitor your driving patterns, and the car will "tell you" when it needs to be done. 3,000 is too often, in my opinion, with how well engines are made now-aways.
I always heard it's around 3,000 miles with conventional oil. And then 5,000 miles for full synthetic oil. But I personally, change mine every 3,500 miles with full synthetic oil for my car that has 133,000 miles now.
7500 miles or 12000 miles nothing less, oil companys are trying to rip you out to do it every 3000 miles. don't be fooled
I do 10,000 on full synthetic. You can do 7000 on conventional maybe even more...
Just pull the dip stick out and wipe it on your hand and look to see if it is dirty, as most if it if it was whiskey you would drink it, as who would throw out excellent good whiskey.
jan
