How often to Change Full Synthetic Engine Oil in Your Car

The internal combustion engine contains many moving components which rub together. To prevent friction which results in high and uneven temperatures, there needs to be oil flowing through the components on a regular basis. Oil is a lubricant for the engine which cools down the components and ensures they operate smoothly. More importantly, oil prevents the engine from overheating and becoming damaged from it.

Every car owner knows that oil needs to be changed on a regular basis. If you keep the same oil in your engine without ever changing it, the oil becomes dirty and slimy. Then it won’t be able to do its job properly in the engine. Fortunately, there are different types of oils out there which last longer than others. The best type of engine oil is synthetic oil because it is formulated to give car owners the most mileage before the next oil change is needed. There is no other engine oil which lasts longer than synthetic oil. And always use the best oil filter for synthetic oil to support the performance of synthetic oil.

Some people may complain that synthetic oil costs more money, but it isn’t that much money as far as car maintenance goes. If you were to purchase 5 quarts of fully synthetic motor oil, it would cost you anywhere from $25 to $50. A hybrid motor oil only costs about $20, so it’s not too much of a price difference. Meanwhile, synthetic oil gives you a lot more mileage from its use. You’ll find out how much more mileage as you continue reading.

Changing the Synthetic Oil

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Car dealerships and auto shops have been telling people for years to get oil changes every 3,000 miles. This may have been the case back in the day when conventional crude oil was the standard oil used in car engines. But now, there are synthetic oils which are formulated to stay healthy for at least 5,000 miles or more. Most car manufacturers will recommend that you change your synthetic oil every 5,000 to 6,000 miles. Just look in the owner’s manual of your vehicle to verify this.

For some makes and models, they even recommend you change your oil every 10,000 miles. It all depends on the sophistication of the engine technology and the condition of the oil filter. If the filter does a good job of preventing debris in the oil from entering the engine, then the oil should last for the maximum amount of time possible.

The average person needs to get an oil change every 6 months. That is the average amount of time it takes for most people to drive 5,000 miles. But if you are someone who drives less and doesn’t pack on that many miles after 6 months, you should still change your oil anyway. Car manufacturers tend to warn people not to leave the same oil sitting in their engine for long periods of time. It needs to flow and move consistently to stay in good shape. So, in a way, driving frequently actually helps the oil healthy too.

Consequences of Not Changing Synthetic Oil

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Synthetic oil may be the most powerful oil, but it won’t last forever. Corrosive compounds will eventually form in the oil if you don’t change it in time. What’s worse is these compounds will stack up in the middle of the engine components and weaken the overall performance of the engine. In addition, the oil loses its lubricating properties as it continues to be used past its expiration time. Without these lubricating properties, the engine is at risk of overheating and getting damaged.

Fortunately, modern cars come with plenty of warning systems to let you know when a problem like this is starting to occur. You likely have engine and oil warning lights on your dashboard to signal when you have an engine or oil issue. This should remind you to change your oil if you haven’t done so for quite some time.