As engine technology advances, recommended oil change intervals have gotten longer. High quality oil in a well-engineered engine has led to extended intervals.
Here’s the problem: With longer oil change intervals, it’s extremely important to follow them closely. Back in the day of 3 months or 3,000 miles, if you went an extra month or an extra thousand miles, your oil was still fresh enough that it didn’t have time to build up much sludge.
If your recommended interval is 6,500 miles and you go over another thousand, you’re getting into heavy sludge territory. Once motor oil becomes sludge, it no longer draws heat from the engine. The engine might overheat and either blow a gasket or seize up. ... If the heat doesn't cause a gasket to blow, it will warp the parts in your engine.
You absolutely need to follow mileage intervals very closely. Is your driving closer to the regular schedule or the severe service schedule? If you do a lot of stop and go driving, short trips, drive in dusty or polluted conditions, hot or cold weather, or haul heavy loads, you’re driving in severe service conditions. Severe schedule recommends 3,000 miles. Regular maintenance schedule recommends an oil change every 5,000 miles. It’s your call as to when to change your oil to protect your engine.
Service advisors often report that when they talk to someone with 200,000 miles or more, the vehicle owner will say their secret is changing the oil on time. Please don’t skip an oil change. Once sludge has started to build up, it’s tough to get out.
Give us a call and schedule your oil change!
Eureka Brake & Automotive <br/>707.443-2122 <br/>www.eurekabrake.com
Revised from content contributed by NAPA Service Assistant