Eh, if only one could change the oil in the car according to the rules prescribed in the instruction manual. The problem is that under the action of different aggressive factors the lubricating substance tends to lose its quality before the stated period. Therefore, it is very important for any driver to know and be able to determine “the very moment”. Today we are going to speak about it.
In the vast majority of vehicle owner’s manuals from manufacturers, one of several “classic” figures will figure in the question of oil changes. Most often it is 15 thousand km of run or at least once a year. At the same time in the instructions of the cars sold in Western Europe, the interval can reach 20-25 thousand km per year. However, here it is important to understand the main thing: none of the car brands is interested in underestimating the terms of oil replacement, because it leads to increased price for maintenance of the vehicle. And this means that the car with more expensive service looks less attractive on the market. Therefore, it is necessary to look in the instruction manual, but you should not rely only on it when defining the terms of oil replacement. What else should the motorist consider?
Table of Contents
Severe operating conditions
There is a fairly wide list of conditions that are recognized by designers as harsh for engine operation. Each of these conditions accelerates engine oil wear. First and foremost in this list are frequent heavy-duty rides, prolonged idling, use of cars in dusty conditions, traffic with frequent stops, the movement at high speeds of 140-150 km / h, frequent travel for short distances, car use in severe cold, driving in the mountains, driving in a tense rhythm, movement on roads treated with reagents. Thus driving in heavy conditions reduces the period of oil replacement at least twice to the mileage of 7,500 km, or to replace every 6 months.
Running Hours
Modern motor oils retain their qualities for about 250-350 hours of operation of an internal combustion engine. To determine the engine hours, you can use the onboard computer of the car. Also sold today are special electronic timers for calculating engine hours. Such counter works as long as the ignition is on. It is easy to convert hours into mileage. For this purpose, it is enough to multiply the operating time of the engine by the average speed. For example, 30 km/h * 250 engine hours = 7,500 km. This figure is half of the mileage at which the manufacturer recommends changing the oil.
Oil Condition
You can’t get a complete picture of the oil’s condition without regularly checking its level and physical properties. If the oil level has not changed for a long time, and then it drastically dropped, it means one of two things: either the car is broken, or the lubricating substance has finally lost its useful properties. At the same time, it is important to remember that oil does not necessarily leak by itself. Its level can decrease, for example, because of mixing with antifreeze. In this case, an easily recognizable white or light yellow emulsion will appear on the dipstick and oil filler cap.