How many kilometers should a sedan generally go before changing the engine oil?
2 Answers
Typically, many car owners in China follow the recommendations of 4S dealerships and perform routine maintenance every 5,000 kilometers or every six months, which usually includes changing the engine oil, oil filter, and air filter. However, most car owners in Europe and America generally change their engine oil every 10,000 kilometers. Here are the specific details: Functions of engine oil: The primary functions of engine oil are lubrication, cleaning, and cooling. In fact, engine oil is used in many parts of a vehicle, but the oil changed every 5,000 kilometers refers specifically to the engine oil. Most people generally use semi-synthetic or fully synthetic engine oil, while conventional oil is rarely used. Conventional oil is typically used in agricultural machinery, three-wheeled vehicles, and motorcycles. Recommended intervals for oil changes: Conventional oil: 5,000 kilometers; Semi-synthetic oil: 7,500 kilometers; Fully synthetic oil: 10,000 kilometers before the next maintenance.
Having driven sedans for decades, changing engine oil really depends on the vehicle condition and oil quality. Older cars used to require mineral oil changes every 3,000+ kilometers, otherwise the engine would get noisy or fuel consumption would increase. Nowadays, with new cars using semi-synthetic or full-synthetic oil, I extend the interval to around 8,000 kilometers—more convenient and cost-effective. The key is driving habits: frequent highway driving like mine slows oil degradation, allowing longer intervals; constant city traffic dirties oil faster, warranting earlier changes. Weather matters too—large temperature differences between winter and summer affect oil performance, making regular checks essential. Don’t just rely on mileage; engine health is safety first.
