On the one hand, experts say that the more often we change the oil, the better. With another - good oil it is not cheap, and the oil change procedure takes quite a lot of time, which is never enough. But how much is your car worth?
How often to change the oil - almost Hamletian rhetoric ...
Let's start with the fact that the era of cars that can be called eternal has sunk into deep and fast oblivion. Until now, on the roads you can find cars that are 30 years old or more. Do you think that the “swallows” that left the nest in the 2000s will be able to last just as long? This is unlikely. Today's automaker is not at all interested in cars scratching asphalt with tires for decades. Since the manufacturer must maintain its service infrastructure, then our cars are simply obliged to break down, and new cars must regularly leave the halls of car dealerships.
That is why, when calculating the oil change interval, the automaker does not care in any way how long the engine of your car will last. The only important thing is how the engine will function during the period after-sales service. So if you still believe in fairy tales about the integrity of car manufacturers, then it's time to smash the rose-colored glasses.
Timely oil change is the key to the "health" of the engine
How often do you need to change the oil in a car engine?
An unequivocal answer to the question "How often should I change the oil?" no one will give you. There simply cannot be a universal answer, because it is necessary to take into account the individual characteristics of the car and the driving style of its owner. You can always peep the recommended service interval in the book of the same name, but these are just recommendations that in no case can be regarded as true in last resort. For example, if we are talking about a sports car, then this car is unlikely to be idle for months in the serpentine traffic jams of big cities. And if you are talking about a golf-class car, then you should not expect that every day it will go to the track and cut through the space-time continuum at a speed of 200 km/h. And the oil change interval for such different cars will be different too.
A qualified oil change will please both your car and you personally
What affects the frequency of engine oil changes?
The main factors are the season, fuel quality and operating mode. Very often, manufacturers make recommendations regarding the frequency of oil changes, taking into account "severe conditions" of operation. vehicle. What is it and what is it eaten with?
Oil change procedure
When timely oil change in the car engine is especially necessary
There are many factors that can be attributed to the conditions of "heavy operation" of the car. However, we will only mention the main ones.
- Simple car.
If the car is operated irregularly, then you can be sure that the engine of such a car will last much less than the one that “comes to life” daily. This is due to the condensate that forms in the engine during idle time and, in combination with fuel and consumables, turns into acid, which surely corrodes the inside of the engine. And if, when buying a car, you hear a sentimental story that only occasionally did grandfather go on dates with a familiar grandmother, you should know that this is a rather dubious advantage. - Prolonged idling of the engine.
Most often this happens in traffic jams, while the cooling system becomes less efficient, and the oil heats up. - Regular transportation of large loads.
If your car is overloaded, it puts extra strain on the car's "heart muscle" as well, which means premature oxidation and thickening of the engine oil. - Frequent starting off.
This again applies to the ubiquitous traffic jams, when drivers have to brake immediately after the car starts moving. Most of all, the oil heats up precisely at the moment when the car starts to move. A high temperature means an automatic decrease in properties. - Poor quality of fuel used.
No special explanation is needed here, because everyone knows that low-quality fuel does not burn completely, and its residues are mixed with oil, reducing its efficiency. - Express oil change.
If you, saving time, count on the fact that a vacuum oil change will get away with you, and the car will get away with the engine, then you are deeply mistaken. In fact, during such a procedure, a lot of used oil remains in the engine, which in the future will negatively affect the operation of the engine in general.
From all of the above, it follows that the car should drive a lot, at moderate speeds, almost empty and on European quality gasoline. Naturally, this all sounds at least utopian. But still, the knowledge gained can be used in order to reduce the consumption of oil by your "glutton".
Longlife - extended oil change interval
Some automotive chemical manufacturers position their oils as those that have an extended drain interval. Motorists simply can't stop pecking at such ads, because they want to believe that they are not only saving money, but also complimenting their engine. But few people know that an oil change using the longlife system can only be done if the following conditions are met:
- the manufacturer of a particular car model provides for an extended oil change interval
- the vehicle manufacturer has issued a certificate for a specific longlife engine oil
- the car is operated exactly in the mode that is provided by the manufacturer, as acceptable for "long life"
So what is it anyway optimal interval oil change in a car engine? Rather, what should be guided by to determine it? To get started, follow the manufacturer's recommendations.
The bluish tint of the exhaust indicates the content of oil particles in the gas.
Then decide which factors in your car's personal life fall under the category of "hard conditions".
Having tracked the adverse moments that your car has to endure, reduce the service interval yourself, which was determined by the automaker.
The oil in the car engine must not be forgotten to be changed on time!
Checking the oil level should become an automatic action, like breathing.
Based on the foregoing, we change the oil and try not to fool ourselves.
The service life of a car engine directly depends on the condition of the engine oil in it. If you miss the oil change period and it ceases to perform its functions, then intensive wear of the engine mechanisms will begin. And this will bring the repair time of the motor closer and can result in expensive costs.
Engine oil change recommendations
Each new car is supplied with a service book, in which, among other instructions, you can find the recommended oil change intervals in the engine so that it runs up to overhaul for the longest possible time. Typically, oil change intervals are measured in kilometers. It can be 5, 10, 20 thousand kilometers.
While the car is under warranty, the terms for changing the oil are strictly observed by the car owner. After the end of the warranty period, the owner of the car decides when to change the oil in the engine.
Why is it important to change the engine oil on time?
The oil in the engine is changed because as the car is used, it loses its function to effectively lubricate the rubbing parts in the engine, after which their intensive wear begins.
The owner cannot immediately notice the negative changes in the engine, so he must regularly monitor the condition of the oil visually: its level, color, smell, in order to make a decision on replacement in time. Each driver must check the condition of the oil before leaving the garage, especially if several thousand kilometers have been covered after replacement.
The mode of operation of the car significantly affects the quality characteristics of the oil. There are several points in the presence of which the oil needs to be changed more often.
- Infrequent use of the car, significant breaks in the trips, for example, in the winter, the car is not in operation. Deposits and condensate corrode parts, impurities then enter the friction points, and wear occurs. You should remember the folk wisdom "The car drives while it drives."
- Driving on a constantly loaded car, transporting a trailer.
- Driving on hilly terrain.
- Constant trips over short distances - the engine does not warm up.
- Standing in traffic jams and moving in toffees.
- Driving in polluted air.
- Gasoline quality. Usually, domestic gasoline far from the standards that cars should operate to, moreover, it is not uncommon to dilute it at gas stations.
- Use of poor quality consumables.
- Vacuum oil change, in which part of the oil that has not been drained remains in the engine. The remainder intensively performs its "dirty" work on the accelerated loss of fresh oil of its physical and chemical characteristics.
All of the above conditions are present in our automotive spaces, so we need to change the oil more often than the service book recommends.
Oil change on an old car
The question of how often to change the oil in the engine becomes relevant with the age of the car. It is impossible to avoid the wear of engine parts, but to extend the life of the motor by frequent replacement quality oil is quite real.
Changing the oil in a car bought on the market should be approached with particular care. All the stories of market traders about the ideal condition of the engine should be taken into account, but the oil should be changed immediately. Unless, of course, the previous owner did not change it himself before selling it.
However, even if the engine oil is fresh, it is not a guarantee that it has been changed regularly in the past. It is advisable to change the oil before the recommended time. Thus, harmful deposits can be washed out of the inside of the engine with special additives present in the oil.
Longlife or extended oil change interval
Modern motor oils have excellent characteristics. If you buy engine oil from well-known manufacturers, you can be calm for the operation of the engine in any conditions. Some manufacturers produce oils with an extended replacement period, the so-called longlive.
Consumers buy it and think that by doing so they will save their car engine and their wallet. At the same time, they do not take into account that oil with a long-life indicator can be effectively used only in the engine for which it is intended. Car manufacturers inform consumers about this.
When it is necessary to change the oil in the engine of a car, each motorist decides for himself, but it will not be superfluous to remind him that the oil change procedure, completed on time, is the key to the durability of the automobile heart - the motor.
Any self-respecting manufacturer attaches an instruction manual to the car - a service book. Among other recommendations, you can find in it the rule that regulates the replacement of oil in a car. You should not treat it as an absolute truth, because any manufacturer cares more about his reputation than about the owner's wallet.
The frequency indicated by the manufacturer is determined by testing and is only suitable for some average car. Over time, the data from the service book loses its relevance, and in Russia it may not make sense from the very beginning: fuel quality, atmospheric pollution, seasonal temperature changes - all this affects the condition of the car, and at the same time the amount of oil consumed.
Engine oil
The standard oil change frequency is every 10-15 thousand kilometers, but a different number may be in the service book. Immediately it is worth subtracting a third from these kilometers due to poor quality Russian oil or fuel. A bad product is sold not only in Russia: most of the oil sold in the CIS countries does not meet European standards. An exception can be considered the mark of "long-liver" - Longlife-01 (or simply LL-01). In this case, instead of the deducted interest, you need to add the same amount to the interval.
Engine oil- an element capable of inflicting . Over time due to high temperatures oil stops absorbing dust and combustion products. You can not skip his check, which, by the way, is not at all difficult to carry out.
Checking for transparency
Such a check does not depend on how long ago you conducted similar tests. Transparency is a visual assessment. Cleanliness is evaluated by eye, and comparison is made with oil that has not yet been in the engine.
We are by no means talking about cold oil, since its viscosity is higher and the color is slightly different from hot oil. Before checking, the car starts for 5-10 minutes. Then a sample is taken from the engine with an oil dipstick. Coca-Cola or darker oil needs to be replaced immediately. Light colors speak of suitability.
New oil after replacement can darken quite quickly. This darkening is most likely not related to quality. Many manufacturers add detergent additives to it. Immediately after contact with the walls of the engine, the additives begin to work, and the oil darkens. Thus, visual evaluation is unreliable and only suitable for those who use the same product for a long time.
Oil drain
You need to start by preparing tools and a workplace. While the engine is warming up, wear rubber gloves. Arrange everything necessary tools in close proximity:
- oil filter wrench;
- socket wrench (required to remove the oil pan);
- containers for collection and disposal, oil catcher;
- rags, paper, newspapers - anything that can be used as surface protection.
Warming up the machine is necessary to heat the oil and drain it quickly. After stopping, it is necessary to wait for some time for the oil to collect by gravity in the oil pan. It is better to stop the car on a level ground. If your workshop does not have a hydraulic lift, the machine will have to drive onto a flyover. All of the above actions are done from the bottom of the machine:
- According to the car diagram or instructions, you need to find the oil drain, which is a fairly noticeable nut on the oil pan.
- The oil drain plug is loosened with a socket wrench, but does not turn out completely (oil and crankcase may still be very hot).
- Under the place of the alleged leakage, rags and newspapers should be laid out.
- Draining of oil begins as it cools. After its completion, it is recommended to change the seal on the cork so as not to leave marks on the road.
- If you plan to fill the engine with another oil,.
Oil change
The required amount of oil can be determined in several ways. First of all, this is an instruction manual. If you can’t find it in any way, it is recommended not to pour out the old oil, but to determine its volume and pour in the same amount or a little more than the new one. Average passenger car 3.5 to 5.5 liters are required. If you still find it difficult to determine the volume, then in an adequate car service you can be given free advice regarding your particular car.
Changing the oil in a car engine does not require any special skills, but you should be careful. Oil left on the engine can ignite when heated, so using a funnel is a good idea. Cold oil moves much more slowly, so take your time. After it is completely in the oil pan, a dipstick measurement should show a mark just below the level on the tool.
Excessive oil in the engine will not lead to anything good. It will inevitably fall on the crankshaft, and he will easily turn it into foam. After checking the level, you can a little, having reached the recycling point. It is believed that used oil is dangerous for the environment and life.
Filter replacement
The oil filter collects all the contaminants collected by the oil during circulation. It makes no sense to change the oil, but keep the old filter. Ideally, the filter and the substance filtered by it should be changed at the same time. The size of the filter is also indicated in the instructions. If it is not there, you will have to go to the store, taking the old filter with you. On average, this element costs 150–200 rubles, but in some cases it can cost about 600 rubles.
The filter must be changed before changing the oil. It is also accessible from below. The principle of action is the same. Find the element according to the instructions or visually (a cylinder that stands out in color), loosen the mount and wait a little outside the area where used oil can get on you.
When installing a new filter, do not forget to wipe its sealing ring with oil, and, on the contrary, clean the attachment point with a rag. A half to three-quarter turn is sufficient to securely attach the filter. Too much zeal when tightening can also lead to leakage.
Transmission oil change
The gearbox does not come into contact with fuel, so for it you can safely focus on the intervals indicated by the service book. required once every 50-70 thousand kilometers. When to replace is up to you, but the car will be grateful if you do it early. Warming up the car before changing the gearbox oil won't hurt either.
On the automatic box gear produce complete replacement is possible only with the help of special equipment, so even in a car service they can offer you partial replacement oils. Drainage is made to the maximum possible, new product is added to the old. According to the replacement percentage, the interval also decreases. For example, a replacement by 50% means that the next time you will have to repeat the procedure after 30, not 60 thousand kilometers.
Factors affecting replacement frequency
The more authoritative the source, the shorter the replacement period he calls. Today you can hear that replacement should be done every 5 thousand kilometers. Given the ease of the procedure, this is quite possible, but Toyota and Ford, for example, indicate an interval of 10 thousand kilometers for their products. They are far from indifferent to the fate of the car under warranty. We list the main factors that reduce the figure from the service book:
- Forced downtime, traffic jams. At idle, the efficiency of the cooling system tends to zero, so the engine heats up and the oil slowly burns.
- Large loads on the vehicle associated with the weight of the towed load or driving over rough terrain.
- Large loads on the engine associated with sharp acceleration and braking.
- Long downtime in the garage, irregular driving.
- Dirty air filters or a lot of dust.
- Trips over such short distances that the engine does not have time to warm up.
- Poor quality fuel.
- Age. The older the car, the more often the oil in it will require replacement, and when switching to another product, it is recommended to increase the high temperature viscosity of the oil in accordance with age.
If your driving style does not fall under any of these conditions, the question of how often to change the oil should not bother you. In extreme cases, the replacement can be made a little earlier than the deadline. However, in our country, the car usually falls under all the above points at once. Therefore, experts do not hesitate to name figures that are several times less than those indicated by the manufacturer. In general, if you and your car fit at least five points in the description, feel free to halve the replacement interval.
Conclusion
Over time, any engine begins to consume more oil, so the replacement interval should be reduced. The oil in such engines burns out, but repairs are so difficult that it is easier to fill in a new portion and check regularly. The oil level must be checked every 100 kilometers, regardless of whether you have a truck or a passenger car. For older engines, this figure is even less.
To help the driver, many manufacturers supply cars with sensors that notify him of the need for replacement. Such systems calculate time based on mileage and driving habits, not the molecular composition of the fluid. There are no visual signs of used oil. The dark color may be due to the composition and method of work. Don't back down from deadlines, and try to make exceptions in the direction of not increasing, but decreasing the specified interval.
How often does the engine oil need to be changed to ensure optimal engine running conditions? First of all, you need to know and take into account the recommendations of the manufacturer in this regard. Most often, the recommended replacement interval is 15,000 km or once a year. Some manufacturers have increased the distance to 20,000 km, and allow the interval to be extended to 1.5 years. But many drivers who care about their cars change every 10,000 km or even 7,500 km.
It all depends on the type of engine, operating conditions and the quality of the oil used. Even if the car has a very low annual mileage, the replacement should be done once a year. This is all the more necessary if you mainly have to make short trips, during which the engine does not have time to warm up. If, however, the car is rarely used, but for long distances, then the time interval can be increased to 1.5 years. But it is better to change the oil earlier than to exceed the allowable period. In many modern cars, following this on-board computer, which informs the driver about the approaching time of the Maintenance.
In addition, factors such as driving style and engine load must be taken into account. Active driving style at high speeds, frequent acceleration, long driving on high revs, towing a trailer or frequent off-road driving means shorter oil change intervals.
The replacement procedure itself in a good service takes a little time - just a few minutes. Pre-stock up on oil and an oil filter, the replacement of which is also required at each oil change. With time oil filter loses its properties and reduces its throughput. In a professional service, the masters themselves will take care of the type of oil and the new filter. The main thing is not to forget the rule: "Trust, but verify!"
There are some drivers who believe that it is enough to change the oil once a year, and doing this every 10-15 thousand km is only an extra expense. Unfortunately, following this principle can lead to accelerated engine wear. The oil inside the block is severely tested, especially when the engine is under heavy load. The longer the oil will work in such conditions, the more its properties will deteriorate. If you do not change the oil for 3-4 years or 50,000 km, then soon the engine will simply jam. Tightening with replacement also negatively affects individual units that feed on engine oil, such as a turbocharger.
Drivers in other countries, such as Germany, are much more concerned about changing fluids. In particular, for this reason, cars from Western Europe carelessly overcome hundreds of thousands of kilometers. This cannot be observed in Russia, where many drivers, on the contrary, try to save money at every turn or irresponsibly postpone the maintenance period, which involves the replacement of technical fluids.
The benefits of regular oil changes are not immediately visible. They are noticeable after prolonged use or high mileage. In addition to the strict frequency, the quality of the oil is also important. The car will thank the caring driver with flawless work for many years.
Vechmobile will work without requiring an oil change.
Clifford Simak. Ring around the sun
Why change it?
Now - a little arithmetic. Let's assume that the manual for the car prescribes to change the oil at least every 15,000 km. At average speed 50 km/h is equivalent to 300 hours. If we take this value as a guideline, then even at a lower average speed, you can change the oil after the same 300 hours, although the mileage will be less.
Actually, there is a fourth way. Many readers argue that one should be guided by the amount burned. Roughly speaking, I burned a thousand liters of fuel - get ready to change the oil.But this method is only suitable for pedants who have the patience to collect fuel checks and then add up the burned liters.
In addition, it is difficult to compare, for example, a three-cylinder Matiz and a full-size American SUV with a G8 under the hood in a similar way. Therefore, when choosing such an algorithm, you need to start from a certain average consumption for a car, taking into account its class, in order to maintain your own "bookkeeping".
And the last. In some cases, it can serve as an impetus for an immediate oil change. For example, if a frightening drop that looks like tar hangs on the engine dipstick, or, on the contrary, the oil has begun to resemble water in consistency, 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.
Photo: depositphotos.com and Driving