This is the age old question is it not? “How often do I really need to change my oil?”

Almost all of the car companies and oil change companies agree that you should get your oil changed every 5,000 kilometers / 3,000 miles. It might seem silly to you that this number would be so low because it is possible for a car to run on a tank of oil for much longer. However, there are a couple of reasons why these companies have set the mark at around 5,000 km / 3,000 miles. For starters the more you drive your car without an oil change the more there is the likelihood that your oil is becoming contaminated with dirt/other elements. If your oil gets “dirty” it can lead to engine damage as the dirt/other elements make the oil abrasive and, in turn, this abrasive oil can damage your cylinder heads, pistons, etc. The dirtier the oil gets, the more damage it can inflict on your engine. Research points to the 5,000 km / 3,000 miles mark as a good time to inspect the vehicles oil for elements such as dirt/metals, etc. On the majority of cars, by this point, the “dirt” or build up of other material would only be in the beginning stages and would do minimal damage if caught early.

Another important thing to look at is the fact that oil is the lifeblood of your car’s engine. The oil can tell you what is wrong with certain aspects of your vehicle. By getting your car in for an oil change every 5,000 km / 3,000 miles you can catch things that are going wrong before they really damage your engine. For example, if coolant is leaking into your oil it can cause serious damage to your engine and by bringing your car in for an oil change our mechanics can easily discover a problem like this by examining your oil. So by bringing your car in every 5,000 km / 3,000 miles you will be able to stay on top of possible repair problems.

Also by bringing in your car every 5,000 km / 3,000 miles it will give our mechanics a chance to inspect every part of your car and  engine. When this occurs they, being experts on vehicles, could easily spot problems or potential problems with your vehicle that you would never even notice. So this visit could save you even more time and money by allowing you to stay on top of all repair issues.

I also would be a liar if I said that some cars do not drive fine and survive easily without having an oil change for 7,000 km or even more. But the longer you wait the more problems you could run into. It is definitely worth the check up. And with fresh oil in your engine your car runs better (changing every 5,000 km provides maximum possible mileage and performance from your engine) and by maintaining clean oil in your vehicle it will help with your vehicles overall upkeep. So it might seem like a good idea to save some cash and push your vehicle for longer than 5,000 km without an oil change but in the long run this could cost you big time.

Why and how does oil break down?

The biggest reason oil breaks down is because of HEAT. Although there are many other factors which lead to the breakdown of oil, heat is the most important. Each type of oil that you put in your car has a certain amount of heat tolerance. The temperature to which this oil first gives off vapors is known as the “Flash Point”. This flash point differs between different types and brands of oils. A lower flash point means that that certain type of oil will suffer vaporization loss sooner when exposed to high temperatures and this will lead to oil burn off by hot pistons and cylinders; therefore, reducing the amount of oil in your engine.

Today’s engines are smaller in size and fed less oil than the engines of the past, while they are still expected to put out the same amount of power. This makes the engines run a lot hotter and it puts an increased burden on the oil, causing it to burn up and break down quicker.

Heat breaks down the smaller, lighter molecules of oil first. This can lead to deposits and sludge being left behind and coating your engine that can cause damage. This also only leaves the larger, heavier oil molecules behind to protect your engine. These particles do not flow as well and they tend to blanket your engine’s components, which only increases the heat problem and leads to further oil burn off.

As oil breaks down chemically over time it loses its lubrication properties. Oil thins out over time as certain elements are lost to HEAT and other chemical changes.

Research may point to engines driving longer than 5,000 km without needing an oil change. However, it is important to understand that when these situations happen the car being driven is usually doing so in “normal driving conditions” which are actually the ideal or optimal driving circumstances. One rarely ever drives their car under such conditions but are rather more likely to encounter “severe service” driving. This type of driving includes short trips (especially in colder weather), city driving (stop and go), driving on gravel/dirt roads, and driving at highway speeds during hot conditions. Under these conditions your oil takes the biggest pounding and also it leads to the creation of a gaseous blob that can eat away at your cars engine and other elements. So it is very important to get your car into have the oil changed on regular intervals if you are driving under any of these conditions.