When to get an oil change, how often should you change oil?

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Cars can go thousands of miles between oil changes.The owner's manual will tell you what to do with your car.

The oil change is over.The rule of thumb would say that cars can be driven more miles between oil changes.How often should you change your oil?

You can ask your mechanic.It is an invitation to recommend too frequent oil changes.Richard Reina, product training director at auto parts site CARiD.com, says dropping the keys on the counter is a mistake.

You should have knowledge about what your car needs.You can save time and money by taking your car in.

1.Your owner's manual is a good place to start.The manual tells you how much time you can allow between oil changes.Changing the oil filter is an inexpensive item that most manufacturers recommend.

Oil change schedules are listed in many owner's manuals.If your driving habits fit the description of severe, such as driving at low speeds, extensive idling or towing a trailer, you will need more frequent oil changes.

The manual for the 2016 Mazda3 recommends oil changes every 5,000 miles for normal driving and every four months for severe driving.

If you don't want to read the book, look for it online.Most manufacturers have online versions that can be searched.

2.There is a service light on your car.Some cars have a light that says "service" while others have an icon of a wrench.When the light comes on, it is time to schedule an oil change.

The service light might be telling you that you need to do other maintenance, such as a tire rotation.Look in your owner's manual to find out what your light means.

A service light is displayed on some cars that use a different system for calculating when you need an oil change.A computer records information about how long you drive and the engine's operating conditions.When an oil change is needed, it is determined.

The quality of the oil isn't measured; instead, a calculation is made based on your driving patterns.If you drive less than 5,000 miles, the light might come on after a lot of short trips.It might come on after 6,700 miles if you do a lot of highway driving.

If you have an oil life monitoring system, you don't have to worry about whether you are under the normal or severe schedule because the car's computer will figure it out.Your owner's manual can tell you if your car has an oil life monitoring system.

Your mechanic will put a sticker in the corner of your car telling you to come back in 3000 miles after an oil change.If you followed your manual's recommended 5,000-mile intervals, you would get 12 oil changes.

Should you follow the repair shop's schedule?It feels like you are giving a reward to a friend when you give your car an oil change.

Too frequent oil changes will not make your car last longer or run better.You are throwing away money and time.

According to RepairPal.com, the average price for an oil change is between $42 and $79 for most cars.

Changing your oil too frequently is bad for the environment.The California Integrated Waste Management Board says used oil is a serious environmental problem because it is insoluble and contains heavy metals and toxic chemicals.