By: Viraj Shah
Your car’s oil is the primary lubricant moving within the engine. Without it, the components quickly fail. As a simple solution, regular oil changes are one of the important maintenance practices for your car. However, the timing of this service depends on several factors. Explore how your driving habits impact oil change frequencies today.
Towing Heavy Loads
According to AAA, towing heavy loads regularly puts a lot of strain on your engine and oil. Because of the severe conditions, the oil degrades faster than during everyday scenarios. As a result, you may need to change the oil more often than the standard guidelines suggest.
Check your oil manually unless you have a newer car with an oil monitoring system. Pull the dipstick from the engine block and examine the oil’s viscosity. It’s time to change this fluid when the oil appears dark and thick.
Driving in Dusty Conditions
Dust and air pollution can impact your engine oil, too. Although the engine is a closed system, dust particulates can slowly enter the block. These tiny particles mix with the oil, impacting the fluid’s viscosity.
Remarkably, the dust creates friction against your engine’s components. As a result, the particles degrade the oil and negatively impact the internal components. Changing the oil after driving in dusty conditions is highly recommended.
Commuting in Stop-and-Go Traffic
If you live in an urban environment, commuting to work in heavy traffic might be the norm. Continuous stop-and-go traffic, however, can quickly degrade the engine oil. In response, your oil changes should be more frequent than the recommended 5,000-mile intervals.
For commuters combining heavy traffic and long distances daily, consider switching from traditional oil to synthetic brands. Quality synthetic oil products give the car more miles between oil changes. In some cases, synthetic oil may only need changing every 10,000 miles.
Driving Short Distances
When a car is parked and shut off, moisture can build up in the engine. As you start the car and drive off, the engine’s operations are designed to evaporate this moisture as it heats up. If you drive the car for only short trips, however, this moisture cannot evaporate. As a result, the oil mixes with this residual moisture. Over time, the oil doesn’t lubricate as well as before.
Operating the Car in Extreme Temperatures
Engine oil is designed to withstand the extreme temperatures inside the block. When you drive the car on hot days, however, the oil’s additives break down. As you drive continuously during these hot conditions, the additives don’t offer the same lubricating power as before. Changing your oil more often is how you can ward off any negative effects on the engine during these hot conditions.
Truthfully, changing the oil more often than not is safe for the car, but it can be costly. Ideally, work with a trusted mechanic to find the right schedule for your driving style. With regular oil changes, your car can last well past 100,000 miles.
Published by: Khy Talara
