Cars And More

The evolution of the automobile has been amazing. From the early rickety models to modern computer controlled versions, things have changed a lot. That being said, friction and heat are still a threat to any car engine and have to be managed.

When it comes to keeping your car on the road, you need to maintain it. This means you need to understand the ins and outs of when to change motor oil to make sure friction and heat do not shorten the life of your engine.

Oil is an amazing substance. It can take an absolute thrashing in the harsh environment of an engine and yet still keep friction and heat at bay. After a bit, however, even oil will fail and thus must be changed out.

The oil change mantra has been so ingrained into our head that we all know it. We must change our oil every 3,000 miles or 3 months, whichever comes first. None of us know why this is. Most would be unhappy to learn it is just a marketing slogan!

Do you really think you need to automatically change you oil every 3 months? What if you only drove the car once during that period? The simple truth is every car faces different circumstances and thus needs oil changed at different times.

The simple truth is there is no one standard mileage or time period that should be used for oil changes. A big Ford truck simple runs differently than a Honda Civic. The oil in the truck will need to be changed well before the oil in the Honda.

So, how do you figure out the answer for your car or truck? Fortunately, there is a guide just for your vehicle. The manufacturer has designated it in your owner manual. This will, of course, be difficult to take for men who hate reading directions!

The manufacturer will actually specify a number of different things. The time frame and miles for a change are obvious bits of information. The manufacturer, however, will also designate a weight of oil and brand as well.

The weight of oil to be used is absolutely vital. Do not just throw anything in your engine. You can kill the engine and violate any warranty. Do not worry too much about the brand, however. You can use whatever you like in most cases.

This also brings us to the issue surrounding the types of oil you can buy. Synthetic oils are all the rage and for a good reason - the work! Depending on the vehicle, they can last 15,000 miles or more between changes.

When it comes to motor oil, I actually have a favorite brand. Mobil 1 is something I highly recommend and have had recommended to me by auto mechanics. It is more expensive, but I have never had engine problems using it.

Do not be a chump. Avoid obeying the marketing slogans of various oil change businesses. Pull out that owners manual and get the truth on oil changes for your car. You will undoubtedly save some money on less frequent changes.