How Often Should You Change The Oil In Your Car?
When Is the Right Time to Change My Oil?
There was a time when everyone would change their oil and oil filter every 3 months or 3,000 miles, regardless of the make or model of the vehicle. Today, advancements in both engine technology and engine oil mean that service intervals can be much further apart. The only problem is that it’s now more difficult to know exactly what that interval actually is for your vehicle. Some vehicles still use a 3,000-mile interval, but most new vehicles fall in the 5,000 to 7,500-mile range. For vehicles that use full synthetic oil, including certain Honda vehicles, the interval is even longer, usually 10,000 miles. The only way to know for sure what the interval is on your specific model and year is to check your owner’s manual.
There are some circumstances that could make it a good idea to get your oil changed more frequently. If you do a lot of towing, for example, you might want to change your oil more often. Likewise, if you’re taking your Civic Type-R to the track, you’ll probably need to change the oil even more frequently. If you have any questions about this, or can’t locate the recommended oil change interval in your manual, then the service team at Honda East Cincinnati can help.
Tips for Identifying an Engine Oil-Related Issue
Honda vehicles are incredibly reliable, and it’s unlikely that you’ll encounter any of these issues, but it’s good to know what these signs mean in the event that you do see one. It will help you avoid serious damage to your engine. If you’re experiencing these issues, then it’s best not to wait for the next scheduled service and bring it in right away.
Oil Spots Under Your Vehicle – Even just a couple of small drops of oil on the ground where you park your vehicle should be taken seriously, since a small leak can turn into a large one quickly, and a large leak will lead to engine damage almost immediately.
Oil Warning / Low Oil Pressure Light – If the oil or oil pressure light on the dash comes on, it means you have a much more serious problem. This likely means that you have already lost a good deal of oil, and engine damage could result from continued use. Contact us right away to have this addressed.
Honda Maintenance Minder
Assuming that you don’t have an issue that requires immediate attention, the owner’s manual isn’t the only guide you have for determining when to change your oil. The Honda Maintenance Minder system will give you a reminder when you’re approaching the point at which your oil need to be changed. But this doesn’t just measure miles since the last change, it also factors in the things we talked about before, hard driving or towing, which will shorten the interval between changes. The reminder notification will activate when 15% of your oil life is remaining. While you should always be aware of the oil change interval in the manual, the Honda Maintenance Minder is by far the best way to make sure that all factors are being considered.
Why Have Your Oil Changed at Honda East Cincinnati?
Oil changes might sound simple, and that might have been true in the past, but today, there are all different sorts of oils and blends, not to mention more specific service intervals. To be sure your oil change is done correctly, it’s best to let the Honda experts at Honda East Cincinnati take care it.