Current Events > Do I oil change based on mileage or how much time passed?

(+) Yeah! (+)

I havent changed my oil since October 2019 and only drove about 3000 miles since. I drive a 2015 Civic that has about 47,000 miles.

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tag

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It is normally what ever comes first. But you need to actually check to see if your oil is crude

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mileage is more important unless you're letting your car sit for months at a time. but you really should be looking at the oil.

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Whatever comes first. My car legit died on me while driving before because I was only going by mileage.

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So long as it didn't sit for a long time, then I think your oil would be fine.

But if you're worried, oil changes aren't all that expensive/time consuming

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wackyteen posted...

So long as it didn't sit for a long time, then I think your oil would be fine.

But if you're worried, oil changes aren't all that expensive/time consuming

You can even learn to DIY

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhD6qRuy7BI

TC, some cars are a bit of a bitch to change the oil in, but yours isn't one of them. only issue you might run into is a drain plug that some jackass cranked on with a pneumatic wrench.

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I still drove everyday to go get food and thats pretty much it.

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Get an oil change. Cars range from your standard 3,000 miles to much longer. If it's been a year, get it changed. It a cheap, responsible thing to do for your car to prevent long term problems. Saving $30 now isn't worth a $500+ issue down the line to penny pinch.

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MabusIncarnate posted...

Get an oil change. Cars range from your standard 3,000 miles to much longer. If it's been a year, get it changed. It a cheap, responsible thing to do for your car to prevent long term problems. Saving $30 now isn't worth a $500+ issue down the line to penny pinch.

This.

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Yeah I wouldnt go longer than a year without one. I usually change mine about twice a year going by mileage (every 7500)


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monkmith posted...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhD6qRuy7BI

TC, some cars are a bit of a bitch to change the oil in, but yours isn't one of them. only issue you might run into is a drain plug that some jackass cranked on with a pneumatic wrench.

I have no idea why they would do this in Today's world. Most people don't know how to do car things our age.

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Whenever my car's oil gauge thing goes below 20% which is usually well after the recommended milage and time for a change.
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Neglecting oil changes is the quickest route to needing major repairs, or ultimately throwing a rod through the side of the block. 3k to 5k intervals max. A lot of vehicles call for 7.5k with synthetics or synthetic blends, but any oil is going to start breaking down by that point and lose some of its lubricity. Keep in mind that engine oil also acts as a form of coolant, and when a piston is sliding up and down thousands of times per minute, oil is the only thing keeping it from literally welding itself to the cylinder.

Should I be worried if my dealer hasn't contacted me for my oil change? I have a warranty for 5 years of free oil changes but its been almost 30,000 miles and they haven't even called once to setup an appointment.

IXI_Fission_IXI posted...

Should I be worried if my dealer hasn't contacted me for my oil change? I have a warranty for 5 years of free oil changes but its been almost 30,000 miles and they haven't even called once to setup an appointment.

RIP your car

To people saying "whichever comes first," what amount of time is standard to have an oil change? If your car is sitting a long time you obviously should change it, but I've never heard of a specific timeframe being outlined.

Every 3000 miles is standard. So TC, you're definitely due. I can't imagine going a full year without hitting 3000

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DarkChozoGhost posted...

To people saying "whichever comes first," what amount of time is standard to have an oil change? If your car is sitting a long time you obviously should change it, but I've never heard of a specific timeframe being outlined.

Every 3000 miles is standard. So TC, you're definitely due. I can't imagine going a full year without hitting 3000

About 6 months

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DarkChozoGhost posted...

To people saying "whichever comes first," what amount of time is standard to have an oil change? If your car is sitting a long time you obviously should change it, but I've never heard of a specific timeframe being outlined.

Every 3000 miles is standard. So TC, you're definitely due. I can't imagine going a full year without hitting 3000

my job at that time was practically walking distance from my house. Then when the pandemic hit all I did was stay home and the only reason Id drive is to go to work or get food.

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Do both.

Go by mileage, personally, I try to never go above 5000 miles even if it says 10,000 in the manual

Then I usually change it if it's been 6 months

If you main do city driving, be more diligent about getting it changed. Highway driving is a fair bit easier on engine wear than stop and go

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I've always though it was 3000 miles or 3 months, but my brother (a mechanic) only harps at me about mileage, never the timeframe.

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Depends. Do you have conventional or synthetic?

Conventional Oil should be changed every 3000 miles or 3 months

Synthetic Oil should be changed between 6,000-10,000 miles or every 6-8 Months

In both cases, whichever scenario comes first is the rule. (I drove 2350 Miles on my Conventional Oil, but 3 months have passed. I should change my oil)

Synthetic Oil is more nuanced because its not all created equally. Some you should change every 6k Miles/6 Months, whild the top brand of Mobil 1 could last as long as 12,000 Miles/1 Year

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3k miles/3 months is for conventional oil.

If you use synthetic, double the months, or change it every 5k miles.

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I just get it done whenever my car tells me to. Usually every 8000 miles/6 months

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mileage is more important that time for oil changes.

especially for any more modern car made in the last 20 years.