How Often Should You Change the Oil in Vehicles

The high cost of automobiles and the seemingly even higher cost of repairs are two excellent reasons to make sure you maintain your Vehicles in proper running order. A Vehicles that is properly maintained will perform better and last longer than a Vehicles that is not properly maintained. Oil changes are a key component to Vehicles maintenance and each manufacturer provides its own specifications and requirements based on engine design.

Under The Hood:

• How Often Should You Change the Oil in a Mitsubishi Endeavor?
• How Often Should You Change the Oil in a Mercedes-Benz?
• How Often to Change Oil in a Ford Explorer

 How Often Should You Change the Oil in a Mitsubishi Endeavor?

Features

A Mitsubishi Endeavor oil change service includes changing the engine oil and oil filter. In addition, all fluids are checked and topped off as needed.

Benefits

Following the factory maintenance schedule for oil changes ensures that your warranty coverage remains intact. Be sure to keep all receipts and invoices for maintenance completed.

Expert Insight

Mitsubishi recommends you follow the 3,000-mile oil change interval if your driving style includes the following: 50% or more of driving done in city traffic during hot weather, extensive idling and use of brakes, towing, short trips that do not allow the engine to warm up and driving in dusty conditions.

Considerations

You can have your oil changes completed at any Mitsubishi dealership or at an independent garage. You may also complete the service on your own, but be sure to keep a receipt from the dealership or store where you purchased the parts.

Warning

Failure to follow the oil change schedule that best fits your driving style could result in Mitsubishi challenging warranty claims. If you are not good with keeping track of service, have your Endeavor serviced at the same dealership every time, so that it will have a record of your maintenance.

 How Often Should You Change the Oil in a Mercedes-Benz?

Mileage and Months

The standard advice for changing the oil in Mercedes-Benz vehicles has been every six months or 3,000 miles, whichever comes first. Following this rule of thumb will ensure proper oil quality in your Mercedes-Benz and prevent damage to the vehicle.

Oil Sensor

Newer Mercedes-Benz vehicles have a system that monitors the car's oil use, taking into account considerations such as oil quality, the length of trips and the weather. An indicator light on the dashboard alerts the driver when the vehicle needs an oil change.

Bottom Line

Typically, the Mercedes-Benz sensor system determines that a vehicle can go an average of 10,000 miles between oil changes. As a result, drivers who change the oil at the 3,000-mile mark---regardless of what the indicator light is telling them---are wasting oil and money.

 How Often to Change Oil in a Ford Explorer

Recommendations from Ford

Ford recommends changing the oil every 7,500 miles or six months, whichever comes first. This recommendation assumes the usage of Motocraft 5W-20 brand oil or an equivalent and normal driving conditions. Special driving conditions include towing a trailer, carrying heavy loads, extensive idling or low-speed driving, off-road driving, driving in dusty areas and using a flex fuel. If you have special driving conditions, you should change the oil every 5,000 miles, six months or after 200 hours of engine operation, whichever occurs first.

Only use oils that are have the American Petroleum Institute trademark symbol "For Gasoline Engines" on the container as this guarantees that the product meets current engine and emission system requirements. You should never use oil additives, cleaners or other engine treatments. If you are maintaining your vehicle per Ford's guidelines, additives and cleaners are not necessary.

When you change the oil, you should also replace the oil filter. Ford production filters and certain aftermarket filters are specifically designed to extend the life of your engine. Using a filter that does not meet Ford's specifications may cause engine knocking. Ford recommends the Ford production filter and the Motorcraft filter or an equivalent.

Warranty Considerations

Failure to follow the manufacturer-recommended maintenance schedule or the use of parts that do not meet the manufacturer specifications can invalidate your warranty. Every time you have your vehicle serviced, save the receipt and make note of the mileage at the time of service. Some owners keep a maintenance log in their glove compartment with a written record of dates of service and vehicle mileage, but you still need to keep all of your receipts.

If you choose to perform the oil change yourself, keep the receipts for the oil and the filter purchase and a log of the exact dates and vehicle mileage. If something fails on your vehicle, you may be asked to produce the receipts in order to prove you properly maintained the vehicle according to Ford specifications.