How often should I change my car’s oil?

Question

Grandpa always told you to change your oil on a regular basis. But what does regular mean? How often you should perform this service depends on the vehicle type, oil type and driving conditions.

Accepted Answer

Oil change intervals for older vehicles Cars built more than a decade ago typically use conventional engine oil instead of synthetic. The guideline has always been to change oil in these vehicles every 3 months or 3,000 miles. Some manufacturers might push things a little further, recommending a 5 month or 5,000-mile interval. A more frequent interval should be followed for vehicles driven under one or more of the following: Consistent short trips under 5 miles Extreme temperatures or dusty climates Excessive stop-and-go driving Towing or hauling heavy loads

Accepted Answer

Oil change intervals for newer vehicles Many modern vehicles – including Lincolns – recommend using synthetic engine oil. Typically, these vehicles are also equipped with an oil life monitoring system to tell you when an oil change is required. These systems used to be somewhat inaccurate, as they calculated oil life based on times and miles. Newer versions analyze engine operating conditions to determine when the oil begins to degrade. This makes them much more reliable and eliminates the “severe” service schedule. Now, the vehicle can detect driving conditions that may affect oil life

Answer

But that doesn’t mean you should rely completely on the oil life monitoring system. The manufacturer's maintenance schedule should always be followed – regardless of what the vehicle is telling you. Many modern vehicles have oil change intervals of 7,500 or even 10,000 miles. This eliminates the old 3 months/3,000 miles standard, saving you both time and money. If you don’t have an owner’s manual handy, the South Bay Lincoln team is happy to look up your vehicle’s recommended oil change interval.