Oil keeps the moving parts inside your engine from grinding on each other. Over time it gets dirty and thin and stops doing its job. Change it on time and an engine can last a very long time. Skip it, and you can ruin the most expensive part of your car.
Forget the 3,000-Mile Rule
That number is from an older time and older oil. Most cars built in the last 15 years or so go about 5,000 to 7,500 miles between changes on regular oil. Many cars that use full synthetic can go even longer.
The real answer is in your owner’s manual. If you cannot find it, we will look up the right oil and the right mileage for your exact car during an oil change and check.
Change It by Time, Too
If you do not drive much, oil still goes bad just sitting there. Moisture and acids build up over the months. A good rule is to change it at least once a year, even if you are under the mileage.
Some Driving Is Harder on Oil
Your oil wears out faster if you:
- Take lots of short trips that never fully warm the engine
- Sit in stop-and-go traffic a lot
- Tow a trailer or haul heavy loads
- Drive on dusty gravel roads
If that sounds like you, aim for the shorter end of the range.
Not sure when yours is due? Call the shop with your year, make, and model and we’ll tell you.
Simple Signs You’re Overdue
- The oil life monitor or window sticker says so
- The oil on the dipstick looks black and gritty instead of light brown
- The engine sounds a little louder or rougher than normal
- You see a small oil spot on the driveway
What a Good Oil Change Includes
Ours is more than a drain and fill. While the car is on the lift, we check the tires, brakes, belts, hoses, and fluids. If something needs attention — say your brake pads are getting thin — we tell you and give you a free estimate. No pressure.
Staying on schedule is the cheapest way to make a car last. Book an oil change at our Holland shop, or get a rough price for a bigger repair with our cost estimator.