How Often Do You Need an Oil Change?

Oil changes are one of the simplest yet most important parts of your routine maintenance. They’re essential to your engine, but how often do you need an oil change? The Energy Country Ford Service Center answers this and more for drivers in Port Artur and Nederland, TX.

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When To Get an Oil Change

Whether you drive a family-friendly Ford Explorer, stylish Ford Fusion, or a tough Ford F-150, it’s going to need to get its oil changed on a regular basis. So, when do you need to get an oil change? That depends on what you drive.

For example, a compact car and a pickup truck can have very different maintenance schedules. For the most accurate answer, check your owner’s manual. It also depends on what kind of oil your vehicle takes.

Used cars frequently run on conventional oil. It’s usually good for around 3,000 miles and needs to be changed every three months. However, most new cars take synthetic oil. It’s designed to last longer and stand up to more extreme temperatures. Ford vehicles that use synthetic oil should get an oil change every six months or 7,500 miles.

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Why You Need an Oil Change

Chances are, you’ve heard something referred to as “a well-oiled machine”. It’s more than just a popular expression. It also sums up what oil does for your engine. Your engine is made up of lots of moving parts. With all that machinery working hard to power your vehicle, it’s easy for friction to build up between the parts. Oil takes care of that for you by lubricating the parts of your engine.

That’s just the first part of oil’s one-two punch, though. It’s easy for heat to build up under the hood, so oil cools your engine down, too. This also reduces friction and allows your engine to operate at a high level.

Eventually, oil starts to break down, though. After a while, it’s not an effective lubricant. That’s why you need to get your oil changed regularly.

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Oil Change Warning Signs

If you’re not sure how long it’s been since your last oil change, don’t worry. Your car can remind you that it’s time for maintenance. Some of the signs that you need your oil changed include:

• Oil pressure warning light. If you’re overdue for an oil change, you’ll eventually see a dashboard warning light that looks like an old-fashioned oil can. Since this only comes on when your oil pressure is low, schedule an oil change right away.
• Knocking sound. Your engine has a harder time when it’s running on old oil. When your parts aren’t properly lubricated, you might hear them struggling. This can create some strange noises, including a loud knocking sound.
• Dark oil. You can also check your oil any time. Just pop the hood and locate the dipstick. Next, pull it out and wipe it on a rag. Oil that’s in good condition has a golden brown, amber color. Old oil is thicker and looks like black sludge.