How Many Kilometers Can You Drive After an Oil Change?
2 Answers
Generally, you can drive about 5,000 kilometers after an oil change. Depending on usage conditions or other factors, the oil change interval can be appropriately adjusted to ensure good engine lubrication under different operating conditions and extend the engine's service life. Engine Oil: Also known as engine lubricant, with a density of approximately 0.91×10³ (kg/m³), engine oil consists of two parts: base oil and additives. The base oil is the main component of the lubricant, determining its fundamental properties, while additives compensate for and improve the shortcomings of the base oil, imparting certain new characteristics, making them an essential part of the lubricant. Functions of Engine Oil: It lubricates and reduces friction in the engine, aids in cooling, seals against leaks, prevents rust and corrosion, and acts as a shock absorber, earning it the nickname "blood" of the car.
I did some serious research on this during my last self-drive trip on the plateau. Fully synthetic oil can indeed last 8,000 to 10,000 kilometers, but it depends on driving habits. My friend mainly does long-distance highway driving and changed oil at 15,000 km, but the mechanic said the oil film couldn't hold up after checking the oil sample. If you frequently do short trips with cold starts or off-roading, mineral oil starts emulsifying at 3,000 km, while full synthetic can barely make it to 5,000 km. Once I forgot to change the oil and drove 13,000 km - the engine sounded like sandpaper grinding metal, and the oil pan was full of sludge when opened. Remember to change the oil filter when doing an oil change - a clogged filter can cause oil pump failure.
