When to Get An Oil Change—Modernize Your Car Care

How often do you need to get an oil change? It’s a question that has always had a very simple, straightforward answer: every 3,000 miles or six months, whichever comes first. That's what most drivers have heard all their lives and what still adorns those brilliant marketing stickers oil-change companies put on your windshield.

But is it really that simple? We have self-driving vehicles zipping around mapping terrain—should we really still be following the same oil-change schedule our grandparents did?

As it turns out, the answer is a resounding no. Or at least, not usually. These days, most auto manufacturers are recommending oil changes far less frequently than they have in the past.

In this article, we’ll cover how often you should really be getting an oil change.

Why Oil Changes Are Important

Oil changes are still an important part of car care, even in the age of self-driving cars. Oil changes have two primary purposes: first, to replace old oil with new oil, and second, to clean out the engine and remove any built up gunk.

Old motor oil can get dirty and sludgy, which can lead to decreased performance and increased wear and tear on your engine. By replacing your oil on a regular basis, you can help keep your engine running smoothly and prevent major problems down the road.

Additionally, regular oil changes can help improve your car's gas mileage and extend its lifespan.

Motor Oils: Conventional, Synthetic, and Semi-Synthetic

There are a few main types of motor oil: conventional, synthetic, and semi-synthetic. Conventional oil is the most common and least expensive type of motor oil and is made from refined crude oil.

Synthetic motor oil is made from natural gas or other refined chemicals. It tends to be more expensive but can also last significantly longer than conventional oil and performs better in extreme weather conditions.

Semi-synthetic motor oil is a mix of synthetic and conventional oils and will fall somewhere between the two in terms of price and quality.

When choosing your oil, you have a certain degree of control. A manufacturer may recommend conventional oil, but you may decide that you want to use synthetic oil instead. That's generally thought to be safe because you are using higher quality oil. However, you don't want to go in the other direction and use a lower-quality oil than your manufacturer recommends.

Viscosity

Each type of oil has a specific viscosity. Viscosity is the ease with which liquids like oil flow, determined by the amount of internal friction. For example, when you see motor oil labeled "0W-20" or "20W-50," the first number is the cold weather viscosity, and the second is the hot weather viscosity. Without getting too technical, the lower the number, the thinner the oil, and the better it will flow in cold weather. The higher the number, the thicker the oil, and the better it will protect your engine in hot weather.

You'll see a wide range of viscosities available, but most car manufacturers will recommend a specific viscosity for their vehicles. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's recommendation in your owner's manual on this one.

The 3,000-mile Rule

The 3,000-mile rule is a long-standing guideline for how often to change your car's oil. Car care experts have always known that regular oil changes help keep engines running smoothly. However, with the advent of better oils and more advanced engine technologies, the old rule isn't as applicable today. In fact, many manufacturers are now recommending oil changes every 7,500, or even 10,000, miles.

How Often to Get an Oil Change

To understand how often we really need to get our oil changed in modern vehicles, we reached out to John Samples, an automotive engineer who has worked on vehicles from some of the world's largest automakers.

John explained that oil-change intervals have gotten longer over time because of the efficiencies within vehicles. As automakers are trying to make vehicles more fuel efficient, reduce emissions, and generally do more with less, it seems fitting that oil would last longer as well.

However, he agreed that there are better ways to determine how often to get an oil change than blindly following an arbitrary mileage guideline. "I would say that the average driver is probably fine getting their oil changed when the vehicle's system alerts them to."

We're trained to look at the stickered interval and think that's when we need to go, but their suggestion doesn't always follow your manufacturer’s guidelines—they are only giving their opinion. Naturally, oil change shops tend to encourage frequent oil changes.

When asked how many miles most newer model vehicles are safely able to drive between oil changes, John suggested that most vehicles are able to go between 8,000-10,000 miles, but there are several exceptions and other things to consider.

Diesel-powered cars

If your vehicle runs on diesel, the answer can get a tad more complicated. Diesel engines are built to withstand more heat and stress, so we might expect that they would be able to go longer between oil changes than their gasoline counterparts. However, the type of oil you use in a diesel engine is different from the oil used in a gasoline engine. All factors considered, you'll usually need to change the oil of a diesel engine every 5,000 to 7,500 miles.

Trucks and work vehicles

Trucks and other work vehicles often put in a lot of miles under heavy stress, which means they need more frequent oil changes to keep everything running smoothly. The type of work your truck does will also be a factor. If you're frequently towing or hauling heavy loads, you'll need to change your oil more often. In general, most trucks will need an oil change every 5,000 miles or so.

Hybrid vehicles

If you have a hybrid vehicle, you still need to change your oil. Most hybrid vehicles should be treated like traditional gasoline cars, meaning you may be able to travel 8,000-10,000 miles between oil changes.

Electric vehicles

The biggest exception to the rule. No motor? No oil.

Trust your vehicle

Rather than looking at the sticker in the corner of your windshield to know when to change your oil, trust your vehicle. Oil-change monitors are standard in most vehicles today and they'll tell you when it's time for a change. These systems take into account your driving habits, the type of oil you're using, and other factors to give you a more accurate estimate.

Signs That You Need An Oil Change

Benchmarks and rules of thumb are great starting points, but your ideal mileage between oil changes may vary based on different factors.

If you're ever in doubt, there are a few other signs that can indicate it's time for an oil change:

Dashboard lights: If your vehicle was made in the last 20 years or so, it's likely equipped with an oil-change monitor. When it's time for an oil change, a light will appear on your dashboard.
Excess engine noise: If you hear knocking or ticking coming from your engine, it could be a sign that your oil is dirty or low.
Exhaust smoke: If you see blue or black smoke coming from your tailpipe, it's a sign that your oil is burning. This could be due to several different factors, but you should have it checked out as soon as possible.

Getting Your Oil Changed vs. Doing It Yourself

Once you've determined that it's time for an oil change, you pretty much have two options: do it yourself or take it to a shop. This is another situation where the options we have today are much more efficient than they used to be.

If you're the do-it-yourself type and have access to the tools and space needed to change your oil, a quick YouTube lesson could give you the guidance you need to change your own oil. Just make sure to dispose of your used oil properly.

If that doesn't sound quite up your alley, there's no shame in taking it to a shop. In fact, most people choose this option nowadays given how quick and inexpensive it is. Heads up—some shops may try to upsell you on other services, like a new air filter and other routine car care items, so just be aware of what your car needs and what services you’re interested in before you go.

Average Cost of an Oil Change at the Shop

The cost of an oil change has come down a lot in recent years thanks to advances in technology and increased competition. You can expect to pay anywhere from $40 to $80 for an oil change at a shop, depending on the type of oil used and a few other factors.

Average Cost of a DIY Oil Change

A good quality oil filter typically costs about $20, and a quart of oil will usually cost about $30. In total, you're looking at a cost of around $50 for a DIY oil change.

Save on Oil Changes and Beyond with Car Care from Clearcover

While taking your car in for an oil change may not be the most expensive part of vehicle ownership, it's super important!

To make managing your vehicle maintenance easier (on your mind and your wallet), let Clearcover lend a hand with our modern approach to vehicle care.

With Clearcover Car Care, you'll save an average of 25% on car maintenance, including oil changes.* Plus, you can easily compare prices, schedule appointments, and approve services right in the app.

Best of all, Clearcover customers in eligible states receive our Car Care benefit with their car insurance policy at no extra cost.

Technology Has Advanced—Your Car Care Habits Should Too.

While we encourage getting away from the outdated rule of oil changes every 3,000 miles, it is essential to perform this basic maintenance regularly and as needed. Depending on your car, driving habits, and the type of oil you use, you could go much longer without an oil change than our parents and grandparents could in their day.

Looking to save on your next oil change and your insurance at the same time? Clearcover’s got you covered. We're the smarter way to insure your car, and we have a modern, customer-first approach to vehicle care. Get a quote today.

*Car Care is only available in AZ, IL, IN, OH, PA, and UT. Savings vary based on shops and services selected.