At some point as a car owner, you’ve probably heard the advice that you should have your oil changed every three months or 3,000 miles. However, this is an extremely generic recommendation that does not apply to all types of cars. Not every vehicle is the same, and not every type of fuel is made equal. There are different maintenance standards for all different types of cars. Some might be fine waiting 5,000 miles for an oil change, and others might be able to go even longer than that.
So how exactly do you know when to get your oil changed, and how can you keep your vehicle and oil running smoothly? Our BMW repair shop in Conway, AR has compiled a few oil maintenance tips that, unlike the generic 3,000 mile recommendation, do in fact apply to all vehicles:
- Read the manual: First and foremost, you should refer to your vehicle’s manual when you have any specific questions about oil or other maintenance items. This might seem a bit obvious, but you would be surprised at how many people get their manual with their vehicle and then never actually open it. Your manual will go into depth about the kind of technology and parts used in your vehicle and the kind of oil it takes. You may very well be wasting your money if you change your oil after only 3,000 miles. In fact, there are some synthetic oils and certain vehicles today that make it possible to avoid an oil change until over 7,500 miles or more. It all depends on the type of vehicle you have.
- Don’t go cheap with your oil selection: As with any type of purchase, it’s always going to be tempting to go for the cheapest option available when you are picking a bottle of oil off the shelf or when you are getting your oil changed at your local garage. However, more expensive, higher performance oils also help to provide improved lubrication while driving. These higher quality oils can provide a number of benefits to your engine. Do some research before your next oil change to determine what kind would be best for your vehicle, rather than just going with the bottom shelf oil that won’t last as long or provide as many benefits.
- Don’t put off your oil changes: If you know an oil change is coming up, don’t delay. While you might be able to get away with procrastinating for a little bit, ultimately avoiding an oil change for too long will create some significant engine troubles that will be extremely expensive to repair. Rebuilding or replacing an engine is an easily avoidable expense that you do not want to deal with, so never put off an oil change if you know you are getting close to being due for one.
These oil maintenance tips will help your engine to stay in better condition for a longer period of time and help you to save some money in the long run. Contact Riverdale Automotive, your BMW repair shop in Conway, AR, for more information.