subject: Car Care: Optimizing Your Oil Usage [print this page] There is an intensely divisive debate going on in this country. Finding an answer is a sluggish endeavor, drenched in rank byproduct and bred from misinformation. Different sides are sharing ill-informed expertise, when few truly understands the complexities involved in protecting the health and wellness of our nations cars. Im talking, of course, about oil changing.
Everyone has their rule of thumb in regards to timing an oil change just right. And in truth, many of those rules of thumb are wrong; especially the claims that 3,000 miles or 5,000 miles are the exact benchmarks to change your oil. While this can serve as a reminder, it is far too imprecise to make for an optimal plan in managing the quality of the oil in your car, and thus the longevity of your engine. Each car is different, runs in different environments, and has mechanical components (engine, oil quality, etc.) that degrade in different ways. What we have to offer is not rules of thumb on when to change your cars oil; rather tell tale signs and tips to better understand your automobiles oil usage patterns, and use that information to optimize you engines oil changing regimen.
Our first tip is to let go of your preconceptions about oil usage and push a benchmark mileage number out of you head. Next, pick up a book. More specifically, your automobiles owners manual. All car models and engines run differently, and the factory suggestions for each automobile model will be far more helpful in finding an estimated benchmark for car care.
However, this is still imprecise. Different conditions and running patterns cause a benchmark system to grind to a halt in terms of finding that optimal time to change your oil. How can you strike that perfect number then; or at least get as close as possible?
Take that factory suggested number and when your mileage gets close to it, check the oil yourself. Some basic, tell tale signs are odor and color. Unclean oil often smells terrible, and is a deep black color from the debris and imperfections in an engine rather than the amber that clean oil is. When you believe your oil needs to be changed based on the factory suggestions and physical signs then change it; but take a sample of the old oil to an auto repair shop to be tested.
The test will tell you the condition of the oil beyond what you see in the physical identifiers. Youll know if the oil still was usable, or if you got it out of your engine in the nick of time. Take this information and repeat the process with the new oil, only wait to check the new oil based on test results. After a few rotations, youll have a more clear understanding of how your engine uses oil, and when you should change it.
How does this payoff in terms of cash? Assuming an oil change at an auto repair shop costs $25; over a 150,000 mile period, here is the breakdown of money spent overall:
Oil Change every 3,000 miles: $1,250
Every 5,000 miles: $750
Every 8,000 miles: $468.75
If you can pinpoint where you cars engine lands on this spectrum, savings could be close to $1,000. For a little research and some special care it seems worth it, right?
