How many kilometers should a car drive before changing the engine oil?
2 Answers
Car oil change intervals are determined based on the mileage driven or the engine's operating hours. For example: if using mineral oil, change it every 5,000 kilometers; if using semi-synthetic oil, change it every 7,500 kilometers; if using full synthetic oil, change it every 10,000 kilometers. Precautions for changing car engine oil: it is necessary to strictly follow the oil grade specified in the car's user manual. If the same grade is not available, a higher grade oil can be used, but a lower grade oil must not be used as a substitute. Also, pay attention to whether the oil viscosity meets the requirements.
My experienced car mechanic always said that changing engine oil is like getting a physical check-up - you can't rigidly stick to the mileage. Mineral oil does recommend changes every 5,000 km, but full synthetic can easily go 10,000 km. The key is how you use your car. If you're always stuck in city traffic with the engine running at low RPMs, the oil degrades much faster than highway driving. Last winter, a car's oil turned black like soy sauce after just 3,000 km because the owner only drove three-kilometer short trips daily. So oil change intervals should consider both road conditions and driving habits - the maintenance manual is just a baseline reference.
