How Often Should You Change Your Oil?

The health of your vehicle is almost as important as your own health because the safety of you and your passengers may depend on the health of your car. Routine oil changes are vital to your vehicle’s health. Over the last decade, improvements in oil and engine technologies help Fairhaven drivers to go much longer in oil change frequency. Most new Mazda models today have an oil change frequency between 7,500 and 10,000 miles. Still, always check your owner’s manual for specifics for your make and model, and if you have questions, contact Alden Mazda.

Changing the oil in your vehicle regularly and on time is critical to maintaining its health and peak performance. Recent improvements in auto manufacturing and oil technology have led to motor oil becoming more effective and lasting longer. 

The rule of thumb used to be that you should change your oil every 3,000 miles or 3 months. Nowadays, most vehicles only need an oil change every 7,500 to 10,000 miles or twice a year. Quite an improvement, right? Now, let’s dive deeper into how often you should change your oil and some factors that impact oil life.

Factors That Impact Oil Change Frequency 

As you see, you can take a lot more trips around New Bedford than you used to before it’s time to see your service techs at Alden Mazda. Even with longer-lasting oil and better engines, there are certain driving conditions that can increase your oil change frequency:

• Off-roading
• Commercial use
• Racing
• Heavy towing

If you frequently use your vehicle for any of the activities listed above, you should be more vigilant than most about checking and changing your motor oil.

Is Synthetic or Conventional Oil Better for Your Vehicle?

When it comes down to which is better for your car between conventional and synthetic motor oil, it’s not much of a competition. You’ll find that synthetic oil change frequency is typically less than conventional oil as it’s engineered to perform better and last longer. Some synthetics can last up to 20,000 miles.

How Often Should You Check Your Oil?

It’s a good idea to check your oil at least once a month to prevent damage to your engine. If your oil seems thick and sludgy or abnormally dark, it’s probably time to contact us at Alden Mazda to schedule an appointment with our auto techs. 

Alden Mazda is at Your Service!

Now that you’re clear on how often you should change your oil, be sure to schedule your next oil change with the friendly and professional service department at Alden Mazda. Also, feel free to reach out to us with any questions or even for car-buying tips and service tips.