How often should you change synthetic engine oil?

How long does it take to change the engine oil: what does the interval depend on?

Hi all! The operation of a car is closely related to the need for periodic maintenance and replacement of some consumables. At the same time, even experienced motorists sometimes wonder how long it takes to change the engine oil.

I think each of you understands perfectly well that oil is a consumable material that has a certain service life. Even with a new car, driving with the same lubricant is not worth driving significantly longer than with a used car.

If you purchased a new car, you will first have to break it in. This usually requires from several hundred to several thousand kilometers. After break-in, it is recommended to immediately change the oil.

In the future, as the mileage increases, the engine will begin to wear out. To maintain it in optimal condition, timely replacement of lubricant should be treated with the utmost care. Let's talk about frequency and when it is necessary to change the lubricant, how long it can last in a given case.

What is important to know about replacement

I don’t want to waste time explaining why the oil is changed. I'll say it briefly. It has its own service life, over time it loses its characteristics, and therefore does not fulfill its intended tasks.

If the replacement interval is violated, the active process of destruction of the internal combustion engine may begin. Moreover, regardless of whether you have an injector or the processes occur in a diesel power unit.

There is no need to rush into premature replacement. The oil is not cheap, so you will simply be wasting your money.

I will immediately disappoint you. There is no universal figure that would accurately answer how many kilometers the engine lubricant should be changed. There are only recommendations from car manufacturers, stated in the operating manual.

To begin with, try to never exceed the recommended replacement interval. Moreover, it is recommended not by the manufacturer, but by real practice. Let's assume that the manufacturer of your car has prescribed in the manual to change the oil every 15 thousand kilometers. Many people do this. But then they are surprised that the engine does not work well, its service life was not even enough to reach 250 thousand kilometers. This is a common mistake and is strongly discouraged.

Others rely on the manufacturers' instructions for the engine lubricant itself. There are separate lines of allegedly long-lived oils that can operate for 30-50 thousand kilometers without changing their characteristics.

But there is absolutely no guarantee that the actual service life on your or any other machine will be at least half of the declared period.

Both car manufacturers and oil manufacturers usually prescribe average values in their instructions, which are more relevant for ideal operating conditions.

They do not take into account air pollution, the quality of the fuel used, the individual properties of a specific lubricant or engine, specific operating conditions, the driving style of the car owner, and much more. Only occasionally do manufacturers focus on the climatic characteristics of a particular region. But this is typical for cars assembled for a specific market. This rule does not apply to mass models. Therefore, you cannot follow only official instructions. It's dangerous in places.

Remember one more important thing. The automaker itself is not interested in their engine serving for decades. It is more profitable for them for the engine to die much earlier, and for people to buy new cars.

The logic is scary, but fair. That is life.

What determines the replacement interval?

There are several main parameters that, to one degree or another, affect the lubricant change interval in the car and the actual service life of the engine oil.

seasonality;
operating mode;
fuel quality;
driving habits;
oil base;
operation of oil filters;
operation of fuel filters;
general condition of the motor.

If you suddenly notice oil in the air filter, there is clearly a problem in the system. Any penetration of oil not where it should be is a direct signal for action.

The driver himself can influence some points. For example, synthetic oil, due to its properties, characteristics and composition, lasts longer than mineral or semi-synthetic oil.

The driver himself can make certain adjustments to the lubricant service life. For example, he is able to choose high-quality oil, buy good and effective filters, monitor the operation of the internal combustion engine, correct any malfunctions in a timely manner, and adhere to a careful driving style.

The oil will last much less than the period stated by the manufacturer if the machine is operated in so-called severe conditions. These include long downtime followed by travel, frequent traffic jams, driving at low speeds, downtime without work in winter, frequent stops, traffic jams, constant low engine speeds, etc. All this prevents the engine from warming up to operating temperature, and therefore the oil cannot provide the most effective lubrication and protection of rubbing surfaces.

Yes, low-quality fuel will not do anything good. After all, its combustion products accumulate in the lubricant, changing its chemical composition, as well as mixing with harmful, sometimes abrasive, impurities.

About replacement in numbers

Now let's talk about specific numbers. They are still universal and will not be the same for everyone, but they can be taken as a basis for your own calculations.

You need to change the oil always and everywhere, be it:

Hyundai Solaris;
VAZ 2114;
Renault Logan;
VAZ 2106;
VAZ 2107;
Renault Duster;
VAZ 2109;
Mitsubishi Lancer;
Chevrolet Lacetti;
Mercedes E class;
VAZ 2110;
Nissan Qashqai;
Ford Mustang;
Skoda Octavia, etc.

To determine the most correct replacement interval, pay attention to the features and mode of operation, as well as the base of the oil used.

For CIS countries, where the quality of roads leaves much to be desired and the climate is quite harsh in winter, when filling synthetic or semi-synthetic oil, the interval recommended by the manufacturer should be reduced by 50-70%. If the manual says to change the lubricant after 15 thousand kilometers, in reality it is better to do it after 5-8 thousand kilometers. Or once every 6 months, not every year.

Synthetic and hydrocracked oils have a slightly longer service life. Therefore, if they are used, the actual interval is reduced by 30-50% compared to the recommendations.

What to do before replacing

The first thing you should do is check what condition the oil is in now. For this there is a probe, your eyes and sense of smell. If the oil has turned black, traces of chips or impurities are visible, and there is also a burnt smell, it needs to be replaced.

Buy lubricant in the required quantity, since the leftovers may not survive until the next replacement. It’s important to read about the rules and shelf life of oil before opening the package and after opening it.

Quite often, motorists practice express oil changes, and then are surprised that the lubricant lasts even less. In fact, it is better to carry out such a procedure, alternating it with a complete replacement, when flushing oils are used and drained through the drain hole in the pan.

To summarize, I can say that you cannot trust the manufacturers’ instructions. This will definitely not extend the life of the motor. It is better to immediately subtract at least several thousand kilometers from this figure. But for our conditions, it’s worth dividing by 2. Then you’ll get the correct interval.

What do you think about this? What do you agree with, and which theses do you consider incorrect?

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Motor oil - how often should it be changed? Expert advice

The Vechmobile will work without requiring an oil change.

Clifford Simak. Ring around the Sun

Why change it?

Generally speaking, motor oil is a patient product. And if you create heavenly conditions for it - a clean, brand new engine, medium speeds, low loads (read: operation without overheating), then it will last longer than smart books say. But heaven is where we are not. In real life, oil begins to age literally from the moment it moves from a sealed canister into the labyrinths of the engine. Its oxidation begins, accelerated by constant heating and cooling, detergent additives leave, and dirt accumulates. There is nothing unexpected in all this: the oil must not only lubricate and cool, but also wash the engine, and also remove various impurities from it. But it is quite obvious that the rate of aging of motor oil greatly depends on its operating conditions.

Until recently, it was customary to specifically stipulate “severe operating conditions”, in which the engine oil had to be changed more often than during “normal” driving. This meant, first of all, mountain roads and unpaved roads, driving with a heavy trailer, etc. And then the list was replenished with the most formidable modern horror story - driving in traffic jams.

Why is such driving harmful to the oil? Yes, almost everyone! In the crankcase, it begins to deteriorate rapidly from contact with unburned fuel and crankcase gases that have escaped there. In this case, the oil temperature will rise due to the lack of airflow: oxidation will accelerate. Due to the inevitable growth of low-temperature deposits, increased oil contamination is guaranteed. And since at a low rotation speed the lubrication conditions in the cylinder-piston group worsen (the linear speed of movement is low - there is no oil wedge - wear increases), then all wear products in one concentration or another will necessarily end up in the oil. Iron, aluminum, chrome, you never know what else...

From the above, at least one thing should be clear: dozens more candidate theses will be written on this topic. Because there is no clear answer to the question of when exactly the engine oil needs to be changed. But not all cars have a magic warning light. And what she is guided by is a dark matter.

But we will try to do without candidate papers and without a light bulb.

Calendar? Odometer? Engine hours? Fuel?

As long as the car is under warranty, it is better to address all “oil” questions to the service technicians. But then everything depends on the operating conditions of the machine. Conventionally, all cars can be divided into three large groups.

A summer resident's car. The annual mileage is at most a couple of thousand kilometers, mostly from and to the dacha. In general, it almost always stands and only sometimes drives.

Weekend car. Travels mainly from Friday evening to Sunday evening. As a rule, driving is suburban, the annual mileage is ten to two thousand kilometers.

City employee's car. He drives every day, constantly getting stuck in traffic jams. The annual mileage is small - about tens of thousands of kilometers.

It is clear that our division into groups is arbitrary, but the principle is clear. The recommendations for changing the oil are also clear. Let’s say that for the mentioned summer resident (and such drivers constantly call the editor with this very question!), we recommend that they be guided only by the calendar. A year has passed - change the oil, even if the odometer readings have hardly changed.

Everything is also clear with the weekend car. The driving mode of such a car in today's conditions is close to ideal: a high average speed (say, 50 km/h) allows one to be guided, as in the last century, by the odometer readings. Let's say you drove 15,000 km - change the oil.

But what should a resident of a metropolis do? The average speed is at most 20 km/h, the daily mileage is about thirty kilometers, but at the same time a person spends several hours in the car every day. It is clear that it would be possible to travel several times more on the autobahn in the same time. And if you look only at the odometer, then mentally you need to, as they say, divide everything by two - no motor oil will definitely withstand the mentioned 15,000 km.

However, there is another way. Since a city car works a lot, but does not run much, it makes sense to measure its mileage not in kilometers, but in engine hours. This is what, for example, owners of boat motors have always done. Technically, the problem can be solved in one go: it is enough to install an hour meter in the car. There are quite a lot of them on sale - both electronic and electromechanical. Connect the meter to any circuit activated when the engine starts, and that’s it! The memory is non-volatile and is not afraid of being disconnected. We recently equipped the Largus editorial office with a similar device.

Now - a little arithmetic. Let's assume that the car's instructions instruct you to change the oil at least every 15,000 km. At an average speed of 50 km/h this corresponds to 300 hours. If we take this value as a guide, then even at a lower average speed you can change the oil after the same 300 engine hours, although the mileage will be less.

But this method is only suitable for pedants who have the patience to collect fuel receipts and then add up the burned liters.

In addition, in this way it is difficult to compare, for example, a three-cylinder Matiz and a full-size American SUV with a V8 under the hood. Therefore, when choosing such an algorithm, you need to start from a certain average consumption for the car, taking into account its class, in order to keep your own “accounting”.

And one last thing. In some cases, the impetus for an immediate oil change may be its actual condition. For example, if there is a scary drop hanging on the engine dipstick that looks like tar, or, on the contrary, the consistency of the oil has begun to resemble water, then there is no time to think. It is clear that for monitoring you will have to climb under the hood from time to time, but... But we believe that this is not the worst habit.

Oil change period: after how many km or months it needs to be changed in the engine

Many people believe that vehicle inspections are carried out exclusively during maintenance. You can’t argue with this, but what to do during the period of post-warranty service. When to carry out such an important procedure as changing the lubricant in the engine? On this score, you can hear different answers among car enthusiasts. From the usual seasonal ones in the form of “I’ll replace them when summer or winter comes,” to the classic “I’ll wait for the required odometer reading.”

Official answer: after how many kilometers should you change the oil in a car engine?

Factory recommendation

In the classic version, the operating book prescribes at what mileage to change the oil in a car engine. Typically this figure varies between 13,000-15,000 km. It is worth noting that the value was chosen for ideal load conditions:

Clean motor.
Average speed.
Work without overheating.

This mode is achieved at an average speed of at least 50 km/h, which is ensured when driving on country roads over long distances.

Is it worth deviating from the manufacturer's requirements?

In most cases, yes. Here is a list of severe operating conditions for motor lubrication that require routine maintenance more often:

Driving on mountain roads.
Traveling in dusty areas.
Frequent trailer towing.
Increased ambient humidity.
Severe frosts and constant temperature changes.

For these reasons, preparing a car for a long trip involves completing the accessories with a canister of oil.

Real numbers or how long does it take to change the engine oil?

Recently, there has been more and more talk about the dangers of such a regime as moving in traffic jams. With such operation, the emulsion in the crankcase quickly deteriorates. This occurs as a result of contact of the composition with unburned fuel and crankcase gases.

Let’s add here the lack of proper cooling of the container and we get optimal conditions for lubricant oxidation. This is an undesirable phenomenon that directly causes the aging process. In addition, at low speeds the lubrication conditions for the CPG worsen. This means that all wear products will soon end up in the crankcase area.

General recommendations from experts

During the entire period of use, car oil goes through several states. They can be conveniently configured into three groups. On this basis, it is convenient to note how long it takes to change the engine oil in order to preserve its factory service life during mixed city/highway operation:

Clean (up to 7,500 km) – ensures that the engine remains in perfect condition.
Working (8-15 thousand km) - contaminated liquid, which has naturally aged and lost a number of its properties (undesirable status - negatively affects the power plant).
Emergency (over 15 thousand km) - guaranteed clogging of the oil system, emergency friction mode and, as a result, extreme wear of components.

"Traffic" cars

For each machine, the period for changing the lubricant is selected individually. This is absolutely logical and directly depends on the conditions in which the car is used. For example, with a weekend car everything is clear. It is used mainly over long distances. Engine performance is close to optimal - no questions asked. Change it in accordance with the service book and there will be no problems.

Important! Even if the car just sat for a year with a new emulsion or drove, say, a couple of thousand kilometers in 12 months, the lubricant must be changed without reservation. Oil is a chemical, and chemical compounds degrade due to stagnation.

The situation with the city employee's car looks much more complicated. The vehicle travels no more than 20-30 km per day. Average speed – 20 km/h. The main feature is that the power plant operates uninterruptedly for several hours, black carbon deposits form on the spark plugs and in the combustion chamber. Agree, in 3-4 hours you can travel much more on the autobahn than in traffic jams.

The concept of motor resource

All conversations translated into mileage terms are approximate. The most accurate answer in this matter is given by engine hours. Based on the total operating time of a diesel or gasoline engine, it is impossible to miscalculate the timing of routine maintenance on the engine.

Determining the red limit is simple: just estimate how long it will take the car to cover the official 15,000 km at an average speed of 50 km/h. The answer is immediate – 300 hours. We take this figure as the change point. At the same time, do not forget about the mileage - it is strictly not recommended to exceed 15,000 km.

Technically, solving the problem of measuring the operating hours of a power unit is not difficult. It is enough to purchase an engine hour meter: either electronic or electromechanical. It cuts into any operating circuit that is activated by the ignition switch. All that remains is to secure the device in a convenient place and the installation is complete. There is no need to be afraid to disconnect the battery – the gadget’s memory is non-volatile.

Theoretical option

An alternative to the odometer and engine hours is the amount of fuel burned. We calculate how many liters will be consumed per 15,000 km at individual average consumption, which is shown by the BC. So, the answer to the question, after how many liters of burnt fuel should you change the oil in a small car engine, is this - every 1,000 liters. However, you will have to work hard to ensure that all fuel receipts are collected and processed.

Short tips

The lubricant in the engine should be changed based on the operating conditions of the vehicle:

5-7 thousand km: 95% of the time – driving through traffic jams in a cramped metropolis at an average speed of no more than 20-30 km/h.
13-15 thousand km: 70-80% of the time – driving on the highway.
Every year, regardless of mileage: the oil begins to age after the plug is opened.

The most accurate method for determining the time for routine maintenance is to record engine hours using a meter. The red limit is 300 units. An alternative technology is to count the number of liters of fuel burned.

How often should you change the engine oil?

Not all car owners know when to change the engine oil. And many of them do not trust the data provided by the manufacturer on lubricant change intervals. There is some logic in this, since replacing it after the recommended 15 thousand km is not always correct. It is necessary to look at the time worked by the engine and the speed of movement. In addition, you need to take into account operating conditions, mileage, and technical condition of the car. Additional factors that influence the frequency of lubricant changes include engine parameters and the date of the last change. In the review you will learn more about the mentioned factors, correctness and errors when replacing lubricant.

Why you need to change your engine oil regularly

What can happen if you do not change the lubricant in the power unit for a long time? To answer, you need to find out what role oil plays. It includes a base and a certain amount of additives that protect the surfaces of engine parts. While driving a car and even while parked, chemical additives gradually decompose. In motion, this process proceeds faster, natural deposits are created that settle on the walls of the crankcase. Some lubricant substances oxidize, acidity and viscosity change.

At high load and temperature, chemical processes occur with greater intensity. But modern production is becoming more advanced, technologies are being updated, as is the chemical composition of lubricants. Therefore, new lubricants can protect the engine for a long time, remaining clean even under extreme heat.

The control units of modern cars are programmed to control the frequency of engine oil changes. Such data are calculated using empirical dependencies. The actual parameters are used as the basis for this. This is the number of engine revolutions, speed, number of starts in cold weather, temperature conditions during operation. The firmware of the electronic unit takes into account technical tolerances and errors, so only the approximate replacement time is determined.

Today, many counterfeit engine lubricants are sold in retail outlets in Russia and abroad. In addition, the fuel is also of low quality, so you need to change the oil even more often. The recommended minimum mileage before replacement should be reduced by 30%. If, for example, the factory provides for this procedure after 15 thousand km, then it is better to reduce the mileage to 10,000. You will not go wrong if you change the oil annually, regardless of whether you drive a car or not.

Results of untimely replacement

We list the consequences of failure to replace the lubricant and their specific causes.

The appearance of deposits. The cause of the sediment is the decomposition of chemical additives and contamination of the lubricant with combustion products in the crankcase of the power unit. As a result, engine power decreases and exhaust gases become toxic and dark.
Increased wear of the piston group and other parts. Reasons - the lubricant does not fulfill its task due to a change in the chemical properties of the additives.
The oil becomes more viscous. The reasons also include changes in the quality of additives. For example, they begin to oxidize and their polymerization is disrupted. As a result, circulation becomes more difficult and engine parts wear out faster. Oil starvation of the engine often leads to difficulty starting it in winter, and sometimes even jamming occurs.
Displacement of connecting rod bearings. This defect occurs due to clogging of the lubrication channel with thick oil. The smaller the cross-section of the lubrication passages, the more the connecting rod bearings experience the load. As a result, they overheat and turn over.
Turbine failure. If the car is equipped with a turbocharging system, its rotor may become unusable. This occurs due to the high pressure of dirty oil on the bearings and compressor shaft. Therefore, scuffs and defects appear on them. In addition, used oil clogs the compressor passages, which can cause it to seize.

Note! Do not drive a car with thick and black oil - the engine will wear out quickly.

The problems considered are more relevant to city cars. Such conditions are difficult for the motor.

What determines the frequency of replacement?

Each car manufacturer gives detailed information in its manual about when to change the oil. But this information does not always correspond to real life. Usually in the documents you can see the mileage on average from 10 to 15 thousand km, depending on the brand of the car. But in reality, these numbers are influenced by various factors.

Quality and type of fuel (diesel, gasoline, gas).
Engine displacement.
Type and class of oils used.
Brand of lubricant poured (mineral, synthetic, semi-synthetic).
Condition of the engine oil.
Full mileage.
Replacement method.
The quality of the purchased oil.
Mode and operating conditions.
Vehicle condition.

The plant’s recommendations are not taken into account in this list, since for them the frequency of replacement is a marketing ploy.

Engine size and type

A powerful motor can more easily withstand heavy loads and difficult working conditions. Therefore, the lubricant will not deteriorate too much. A car with a powerful power unit moving on the road at a speed of 120 km per hour does not put much stress on it.

Subcompact cars are usually equipped with a transmission with a low gear ratio for driving at low speeds and engine speeds. Therefore, in difficult conditions, their motors experience greater load compared to powerful engines. When the load increases, the piston group heats up more, and the volume of gases in the crankcase increases. This increases the temperature of the motor lubricant.

It’s especially difficult for “small cars” with forced 1.2-liter engines. In this case, the load is also added by the turbocharger.

Operating mode

First of all, the frequency of engine lubricant changes is affected by the operating mode of the vehicle. Without going into details of this process, there are two types of modes - urban and suburban. The question is, if the car drives around the city, its mileage will be less, and the load on the power unit will be greater. This is due to frequent downtime in traffic jams and at traffic lights with the engine running. There is not enough cooling.

If the car is used on country roads, the situation is completely different. The mileage is longer, and the engine is cooled much more efficiently. Therefore, the load on the motor and lubrication is also reduced.

It would be more correct to determine when to change the engine oil, taking into account the engine hours. This is done for agricultural and cargo equipment. For example, in a city a car will travel 10,000 km in about 400 engine hours, but the same distance outside the city will take only 100 engine hours. In addition, different operating modes must be taken into account.

It is not for nothing that driving in a big city is equated to rough terrain, as this has a detrimental effect on lubrication. The effect is especially noticeable when the oil level is below average or minimal. In addition, in hot weather there is more load on the oil due to the increased temperature of the air and the road surface.

Other factors

Additional conditions that affect the timing of engine lubricant replacement include high operating temperature. In addition, you need to take into account the characteristics of the oil, the contamination of the oil filter, the condition of the lubrication channels, compliance of the lubricant with the factory recommendations, its originality, and crankcase ventilation.

In addition, the type of oil plays an important role - synthetic, semi-synthetic, mineral water.

How often should you change the engine oil?

Car enthusiasts have different approaches to when it comes to changing the lubricant in a car engine. Basic control can be done using an oil dipstick. It shows the level, which should be between the minimum and maximum marks. Also, darkening of the oil is noticeable on the dipstick due to contamination with combustion products. Therefore, after some time the lubricating fluid needs to be changed.

How to treat factory recommendations

In the usual version, the operating manual contains information about how long it takes to change the oil in the car. Most often, mileage is indicated there from 13 to 15 thousand km.

These data are valid for ideal operating conditions:

Clean engine.
No overheating.
Low speed.

The ideal mode can be at a speed of at least 50 km per hour, which is typical for country driving over long distances.

In many cases it is necessary to deviate from the manufacturer's requirements. Let's consider a list of severe conditions for motor oil, due to which the replacement procedure should be carried out more often.

Traveling through mountainous areas.
Frequent towing.
Increased dust content in the air.
Sudden temperature changes, severe frosts.
High air humidity.

Given these conditions, it is recommended to take a supply of motor oil with you on a long trip.

What do experts recommend?

During the entire service life of the oil, it is in three states, which are divided into groups. They are used to determine when to change the oil.

Clean (mileage up to 7.5 thousand km) – maintains the ideal condition of the power unit.
Working (mileage from 8 to 15 thousand km) is a dirty liquid that negatively affects the operation of the engine.
Emergency (more than 15 thousand km) - the lubrication system is clogged, extreme wear of parts is observed.

Considering the operating conditions of the machine, the engine oil needs to be changed:

After 5-7 thousand km, if most of the time the car drives in traffic jams and the average speed does not exceed 30 km per hour.
After 13-15 thousand km, if the car is operated up to 80% of the time on country roads.
Regardless of the distance traveled, the lubricant in the engine must be changed annually as it ages.

How to properly change engine oil

The procedure is as follows:

Start the engine and let it run for a few minutes.
Place a container under the drain plug to drain the liquid.
Unscrew the filler neck.
Drain the oil, wait until it drains completely and replace the plug.
Replace the oil filter. Don't forget to lubricate the rubber gasket by dripping grease onto it.
Pour fresh oil through the filler neck using a funnel.
Close the filler cap and run the engine for a few minutes.
After 10 minutes, measure the lubricant level with a dipstick and add if necessary.

If the engine oil is always changed on time and high-quality fuel is used, then flushing the system is not required. Otherwise, you can wash it with special means.

Replacement errors

Many drivers do not see the difficulties and subtleties in replacing the lubricating fluid in a car engine. But sometimes they are wrong, as will be discussed below.

Mixing oils with different properties. Inexperienced drivers buy popular brands, but they can damage the engine. Not all oils can be mixed. You must first drain the used fluid and then fill in new fluid. Incompatible additives may enter into chemical reactions.
Incorrect level determination. The first measurements are inaccurate as the level changes over time. It would be more correct to check it after a few days, or after driving a few kilometers.
Insufficient tightening of the filter, filler neck and drain plug. Oil may leak through these elements.
Using oil without taking into account the operating mode. A lubricant that is suitable for use abroad may not be suitable in Russia.
Some car owners suck out old oil through the dipstick hole. This leaves sediment in the oil pan.

Taking into account common mistakes will extend the life of the motor. Each car owner determines when to change the oil, depending on the factors affecting it.

How often do you change engine oil? Procedure for changing oil in a car engine

Every car owner knows: in order for the car to function fully, its systems require periodic maintenance.

The first step is to replace old, used oil. This procedure requires adherence to a certain frequency. Every driver should know how often to change the oil in a car engine. Careful attention to the motor significantly extends the operation of the entire system.

It is better to change the oil periodically than to repair or purchase a new engine. This is one of the most expensive car systems. When and how to change engine oil? Advice from experienced auto mechanics will help you find the answer.

Why change the oil?

To understand how often to change the engine oil, you need to delve into the question of why this is necessary at all. Engine lubricants perform a number of important functions. First of all, they protect moving elements from mechanical destruction and abrasion.

During engine operation, carbon deposits form on its parts and dirt accumulates. High-quality motor oil collects soot particles and keeps them suspended. This makes it easier to operate the motor mechanisms.

If you do not change the engine oil for a long time, contaminants accumulate in the lubricant and begin to settle on the working surfaces of the mechanisms. This complicates the functioning of the system and causes destruction of parts.

Another important purpose of consumables is to protect all mechanical elements of the system from corrosion. Without high-quality lubrication, the engine will not be able to operate for a long time and fully.

Types of oil

There are different types of motor lubricants. They must be selected correctly for each car. Each manufacturer tests the operation of the motor mechanism. As a result of the research, conclusions are drawn about the most suitable type of consumables.

Changing the oil in a car engine can be done using products made on the basis of mineral, synthetic and semi-synthetic substances. The consumables also contain special additives. Mineral oil is cheaper. It is used by drivers of cars whose engines have high mileage.

For new engines, manufacturers allow the use of synthetic or semi-synthetic products. They are more fluid and have pronounced cleaning properties. Such products do not require replacement as often as mineral varieties. Synthetic-based substances can protect the mechanism much better.

Replacement frequency

To understand how often to change the engine oil, you must first look at the operating instructions. It states that it is necessary to change consumables for the engine every 10-14 thousand km.

However, this figure is an average. It is affected by the loads to which the engine is exposed during operation. For example, when stuck in traffic jams, the engine does not cool well. Consumables age much faster under these conditions. The difference is truly colossal. In this case, the oil will have to be changed much earlier.

If the car drives mainly on the highway at a speed of 100-130 km/h, the system is fully cooled. This reduces the thermal load on the motor and, accordingly, the oil. This allows you to replace consumables later.

The ideal way to operate the engine is to drive at medium speed, as well as a short amount of time idling (after the engine has warmed up).

Severe operating conditions

To figure out how many kilometers to change the engine oil, you need to find out what is considered severe engine operating conditions. If they occur, the consumables will need to be changed sooner than after 10-14 thousand km.

Unfavorable factors that increase the load on the engine and the oil in it include extreme ambient temperatures. Severe frost or, conversely, heat, as well as fluctuations in the level of air heating are considered unfavorable factors. Also, a humid climate or high dust levels may cause an immediate need for an oil change.

If the car carries heavy loads (in the trunk or on a trailer), consumables degrade faster. Road conditions in a big city and frequent traffic jams are also considered unfavorable factors. If they are present, the frequency of engine lubrication changes indicated in the instructions is reduced by 25-30%.

Effect of oil type on replacement frequency

Having figured out why you should change the engine oil, you need to consider one more point. Due to the fact that today there are a variety of products on the consumables market, the duration of their operation also differs.

Mineral varieties require replacement much more often. Otherwise, they heavily clog the engine with combustion products.

Semi-synthetics differ from them in their greater stability of the base. To improve it, such products are supplied with quite a few additives. Despite this, the presented funds degrade quickly. Good quality semi-synthetics can meet standard replacement intervals - 10-12 thousand km. But the engine must operate without heavy loads.

Synthetics also come in different varieties. Hydrocracking types are not far from semi-synthetics. Polyalphaolefin-based oils and ester materials are most often used. The most progressive and expensive are synthetic polyglycol lubricants. Their service life is much longer than that of other products.

Do-it-yourself oil change

To carry out maintenance yourself, you need to know the procedure for changing the engine oil. If you do all the steps yourself, you can save financial resources.

To do this, it is necessary to allocate a sufficient amount of time, especially if this procedure has to be done for the first time. It is necessary to choose a good place where no one will interfere, and where the car will not become an obstacle to anyone.

If there is no specially equipped place nearby (with a pit or a lift), you can find a special type of landscape. It could be a hummock or a hill. A hole will also work.

It is better to perform all actions in dry weather. The car must be put on the handbrake. It is very important that it does not roll off during engine maintenance. You can even support the wheels with wooden blocks or bricks.

Draining waste

Next, you need to consider how to properly change the engine oil. Depending on the location of the drain tank cap, it is necessary to jack up the car correctly. Comfort during operation depends on the correct choice of lifting wheel.

Next, you should crawl under the car and unscrew the tank cap. A container is placed under it. The processing will be hot, so the procedure is carried out carefully and with gloves. If liquid gets on your hand, wipe it off with a previously prepared cloth.

A basin is best suited for containers. It is also worth preparing a 5 liter plastic bottle. It will be possible to drain the waste into it. It must be taken for disposal to the manufacturer's collection point. Garage cooperatives also accept labor.

Before draining the old oil, the engine must be warmed up well. You can simply drive about 5 km by car. The lubricant will become more fluid, and the suspension of dirt particles will be mixed and removed from the engine parts. When heated, more waste can be drained from the engine.

Replacing the filter

When considering the procedure for how to properly change engine oil, you should study the technology for replacing the oil filter. While the mixture flows into the prepared container, you can move on to the next stage of work.

You need to unscrew the old filter. No special tool is required to remove the cleaner. The filter is unscrewed by hand. If the cleaner has stuck to its seat, use a special remover. There are different types of this tool. If desired, you can make it yourself using a purchased template.

When the puller pulls the filter out of place, unscrew it by hand. If the cleaner was installed with the neck down, old oil may leak from it. It needs to be wiped with a rag. The filter must be recycled. It cannot be washed and put back into the engine. Be sure to purchase a new filter.

Is oil needed when installing the filter?

When studying how and how often to change engine oil, you should take into account several nuances. When replacing the filter, it does not require additional lubrication in 99% of cases. Some drivers claim that lubrication when replacing the wiper helps avoid the formation of an air lock. They claim that in this case, the consumable material immediately enters the system.

However, filter manufacturers do not suggest such a procedure. The purifier seat is thoroughly cleaned of contaminants. Literally a few drops of oil are applied to the sealing ring of the new filter.

The cleaner is manually screwed into the installation location. It needs to be tightened ¾ of a turn. Oil spreads through the system very quickly. Therefore, pouring it into the filter is a waste of time. The design of the purifier eliminates the possibility of an air lock.

Filling with new oil

When considering the question of how and how often to change the engine oil, you should pay attention to pouring a new product into the engine. Mining can take quite a long time to drain. The fluid must be allowed to escape for at least 30 minutes.

It will not be possible to completely remove old oil. Therefore, it is more correct to fill the engine with the same product that was previously used in the engine. After draining the waste, the tank lid is screwed back in. You should not press it, otherwise you can break the thread.

A funnel is inserted into the neck of the tank. Oil is poured in small portions. Depending on the type of motor, about 3 liters of consumables will be required. Next, you need to wait 20 minutes for the product to distribute throughout the system.

Then you need to check the oil level with a dipstick. It should ideally be between the min and max marks. More oil is allowed. Its level then approaches its maximum value.

Expert advice

Experienced auto mechanics answer the question of when is the best time to change the engine oil. This event is best timed to coincide with a general technical inspection. But at the same time, all of the above factors should be taken into account, which can reduce the normal operation time of the consumable.

If after the first trip the oil level has decreased significantly, a leak may form. In this case, it is better to contact a service center. Experienced specialists using special equipment will be able to determine the cause of the breakdown.

Having studied how and how often to change the engine oil, every car owner will be able to carry out engine maintenance correctly and on time. At the same time, it is possible to significantly increase the working life of the system, preventing its destruction under the influence of mechanical loads and high temperatures.