Oil
changes are one of the most important routine maintenance services that
your vehicle will need throughout its lifespan. However, drivers in the
areas of Shreveport, Bossier City, and Stonewall might be wondering how
often the oil in their vehicles needs to be changed.
In this guide, we at Rountree Lincoln will answer that question and give you a detailed overview of the importance of oil changes. Read ahead to learn more!
How Often You Should Change Your Oil
The
answer to this question isn't as simple as it may seem. How often you
need to change the oil in your vehicle largely depends on what type of
oil your vehicle uses and what kind of driving you utilize.
If your vehicle uses conventional oil, you'll need to get an oil change about every 5,000 miles to 6,000 miles, or about every six months. If your vehicle uses synthetic oil, you can wait a while longer between oil changes.
Synthetic oil requires an oil change around roughly every 7,500 miles. If you use your vehicle for typical everyday driving, this will equal out to about two synthetic oil changes per year.
The Importance of Regular Oil Changes
Oil changes are important because they help to keep your engine system working smoothly. Engine oil has two important jobs, including lubricating the many fast-moving parts of the engine system as well as keeping these parts clean. The engine oil in your vehicle can't perform these jobs thoroughly and correctly unless it's clean.
Signs Your Vehicle Needs an Oil Change
If you keep up with our routine oil changes, the engine in your vehicle should theoretically operate the way that it needs to without a hitch. However, sometimes your engine or the engine oil will experience a problem that requires a premature oil change.
Thankfully, there are many symptoms that you can spot when your vehicle is in need of an oil change. Some of the most common signs that you need an oil change are…
- Unusual ticking or knocking noises while you're driving
- The smell of burnt oil coming from under the hood or inside the cabin
- Unusually thick or smelly smoke coming from the exhaust pipe
- Puddles of oil under your vehicle when you leave it parked
- Dark and dirty oil when you do an at-home visual check of your oil
If any of these warning signs sound familiar, it's likely that your vehicle needs an oil change.
Need to Schedule Your Next Oil Change?
We at Rountree Lincoln are proud to provide drivers in the areas of Shreveport, Bossier City, and Stonewall with informational resources like this. When it comes to actually getting your oil changed, we can help there, too.
At
our convenient, on-site service center, our team of expertly trained
service technicians can change both conventional and synthetic oil in a
timely manner. Give us a call at our service center today to schedule your next oil change!