Motor oil is super important for the proper functioning of most automobile engines. If your car’s motor oil starts to leak or degrade with age, your engine might rapidly overheat and seize up. This is why regular oil changes are considered a vital maintenance task. Let’s take a look at the various factors that determine how frequently a driver should visit their local Buick dealer to have their motor oil refreshed.
How Often Should Your GMC or Buick Get an Oil Change?
Check Your Owner’s Manual
For a long time, drivers were expected to have their oil refreshed every 3,000 miles or so. Fortunately, advances in engine construction, fuel-delivery systems, and oil chemistry have lengthened this average interval to between 7,500 and 10,000 miles.
This longer oil lifespan applies to sophisticated synthetic motor oil, which most modern cars now use. It’s best to check your owner’s manual for the recommended type of oil and oil refreshing interval for your particular model.
Consider Your Regular Driving Conditions
Daily Short Trips of Under Five Miles
An optimal drive for most vehicles is more than five miles, which gives the engine and oil plenty of time to warm up to an ideal lubricating temperature. If you regularly use your car for shorter trips than five miles, however, the engine is undergoing excessive wear and tear, and the motor oil wears down faster as well.
Carrying or Towing Heavy Loads
Any addition of weight to your vehicle puts the engine and oil under increased pressure. Therefore, regular trailering or carrying heavy loads means you might need more frequent motor oil servicing.
Stop-and-Go Traffic With Prolonged Idling
Regular commuters should also consider having their oil checked and changed more often. Prolonged idling is tough on any car’s engine, and heavy urban traffic usually involves a great deal of idling, not to mention additional airborne contaminants from all those exhaust fumes.
Extremely Hot or Cold Temperatures
Both excessively hot and cold temperatures can negatively impact motor oil for different reasons. The cold can thicken the oil, reducing its lubricating qualities, whereas overly hot climates can break down older motor oil, leading to deposits that clog up the engine.
Ask for Guidance at Your Local Buick Dealer
It can be difficult to calculate exactly how often you should have your oil refreshed. A trusted technician at your local dealership can take your regular driving conditions into consideration and offer their advice. You can then set up a routine schedule with automatic reminders that ensure you never miss an oil servicing visit again.
Have your oil refreshed today at Royal Moore Buick GMC. We’re a long-standing local dealership providing the region’s drivers with top-of-the-range new and used vehicles along with courteous, personalized customer service.
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