How do you know when to change your oil

Q: What does it look like when your oil needs to be changed?

The oil in your vehicles engine should be an amber or honey color and have a thin consistency. If its darker in color, thick, and smells exceptionally strong, it needs to be replaced. So when you check the oil on a dipstick, and its black or has a thick texture, its time for a change.

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Your Driving Costs
Helping Others is the Family Business
Tow Providers Never Give Up
Keeping Cool When Things Heat Up
How do I know when my car needs an oil change?
How often do I really need to change oil?
What does it look like when your oil needs to be changed?
Can you notice when you get an oil change?

The AAA Approved Auto Repair Facility Locator is a powerful search tool that gives you easy access to information on over 7,000 AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities across North America.

Every automobile engine needs oil, but not just any oil will do. Modern engines are designed and built to exacting standards and require oils that meet very specific industry and automaker specifications to ensure a long service life. Failure to use the right type oil, and document its use, could void your new-car warranty. Most late-model cars require synthetic-blend or full-synthetic, low-viscosity, multi-grade, resource-conserving oils that minimize friction and maximize fuel economy. However, choosing the right oil is not always easy. The proper oil for your make and model of vehicle must have the correct SAE viscosity grade, meet performance standards set by the API, ILSAC and/or ACEA, and comply with any unique specifications established by the automaker or engine manufacturer. These requirements are detailed in your vehicle owner's manual, and your auto repair shop can provide information on your vehicle’s recommended oil specifications as well.

Depending on vehicle age, type of oil and driving conditions, oil change intervals will vary. It used to be normal to change the oil every 3,000 miles, but with modern lubricants most engines today have recommended oil change intervals of 5,000 to 7,500 miles. Moreover, if your car's engine requires full-synthetic motor oil, it might go as far as 15,000 miles between services! You cannot judge engine oil condition by color, so follow the factory maintenance schedule for oil changes.

Oil Change Intervals – Older Cars

Older cars typically have oil change intervals based on mileage, and have two maintenance schedules, one for cars driven in "normal" operation and another for those used in "severe service." The latter category involves operating your car under one or more of the following conditions:

Primarily short trips (5 miles or less)
Extremely hot, cold, or dusty climates
Sustained stop-and-go driving
Carrying heavy loads or towing a trailer

If your vehicle use falls under the severe service definition in your owner's manual, maintain your car using the more rigorous schedule. However, if you drive your car under normal conditions, be wary of spending hard-earned money on oil change services and other maintenance work your car may not need or benefit from.

Oil Change Intervals – Newer Cars

Most newer cars are equipped with oil-life monitoring systems that automatically determine when an oil change is needed and notify you with an alert on the instrument panel. Early simple systems are time and mileage based, but current advanced designs analyze actual vehicle operating conditions to identify when the oil will begin to degrade. In fact, the owner's and maintenance manuals for many newer cars eliminate "severe service" recommendations altogether because the oil-life monitoring system automatically shortens the oil change interval when it detects heavy-duty operation.

Whenever you have your car's oil changed, the service technician should reset the oil-life monitoring system. If you change your own oil, you can reset the system by following the instructions in the vehicle owner's manual.

Less frequent oil changes on newer engines make it essential that you check the oil level monthly and top it up as needed. While many engines will use less than a quart of oil between changes, others can consume as much as a quart every 600 to 700 miles. Maintaining proper oil levels can help you avoid costly car repairs; engine wear or damage resulting from low oil levels will not be covered by your new-car warranty. Note that if you do not put many miles on your car, most automakers recommend an oil change every 12 months, even if the maintenance reminder has not come on.

Finding Quality Auto Repair

AAA recommends that you plan ahead for vehicle service by finding an auto repair shop and technician you can trust before you need them. AAA.com/Repair provides information on nearly 7,000 Approved Auto Repair facilities that have met AAA’s high standards for appearance, technician training and certification, insurance coverage and customer satisfaction. AAA regularly inspects every Approved Auto Repair facility and surveys their customers to ensure ongoing performance. In addition, AAA members receive special benefits that include auto repair discounts, an extended 24-month/24,000-mile parts and labor warranty, and AAA assistance in resolving repair-related issues.

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Your Driving Costs

For over 70 years, AAA’s Your Driving Costs has provided members, consumers, and the media with information on the average costs of owning and operating a new automobile. ...

Helping Others is the Family Business

Helping people is something Kevin’s family has done for years – through his own towing company rescuing stranded drivers and his work with this local community. So it was no surprise to Kevin when one of his drivers, Scott, went above and beyond when he witnessed a horrific accident....

Tow Providers Never Give Up

Roland, of Arrowhead Services, received a call for a vehicle stranded in very remote area. He was determined to find him no matter how long it took. He is someone’s father, husband and he wanted to be sure he made it home okay....

Keeping Cool When Things Heat Up

In the summertime, afternoon temperatures in Florida can easily get above 100 degrees. Johnnie, a tow provider with Meyers Towing, responded to a member whose car had stalled out on the side of the road....

How do I know when my car needs an oil change?

Ten Common Signs Indicating an Oil Change Is Needed:.

Knocking sound from engine. Oil helps the engine run smoothly. ... .

Irregular oil texture. ... .

Low oil level. ... .

Glowing of warning lights. ... .

Exhaust smoke. ... .

Vibrations when idling. ... .

More travel than usual. ... .

Issues in changing gears..

How often do I really need to change oil?

It used to be normal to change the oil every 3,000 miles, but with modern lubricants most engines today have recommended oil change intervals of 5,000 to 7,500 miles. Moreover, if your car's engine requires full-synthetic motor oil, it might go as far as 15,000 miles between services!

What does it look like when your oil needs to be changed?

The oil in your vehicle's engine should be an amber or honey color and have a thin consistency. If it's darker in color, thick, and smells exceptionally strong, it needs to be replaced. So when you check the oil on a dipstick, and it's black or has a thick texture, it's time for a change.

Can you notice when you get an oil change?

Some people will note that their vehicle drives a little bit smoother, but it is probably not going to be noticeable to the vast majority of people. If you have left that oil change a little bit longer, though, then you will likely notice some major differences in the way that your vehicle drives.