How Often Should Engine Oil Be Changed for a New Car?
3 Answers
For a new car, the engine oil change intervals are as follows: conventional oil should be changed every 5,000 kilometers; semi-synthetic oil every 7,500 kilometers; and full-synthetic oil every 10,000 kilometers. Below is relevant information: 1. Engine oil, also known as motor lubricant, consists of base oil and additives. The base oil is the primary component of lubricating oil, determining its fundamental properties, while additives compensate for and improve any deficiencies in the base oil's performance, imparting new characteristics. Additives are a crucial part of lubricating oil. 2. Engine oil can be broadly categorized into three types: conventional oil, semi-synthetic oil, and full-synthetic oil. If the effectiveness of the engine oil falls below the specified value, it can affect the normal operation of the engine and cause significant harm to it.
Changing engine oil for a new car depends on the specific situation. From my experience, most gasoline vehicles require their first maintenance around 5,000 kilometers or 6 months, followed by oil changes every 7,500 to 10,000 kilometers. However, if you frequently drive on mountain roads or often crawl in traffic jams, putting heavy load on the engine, it's better to change the oil earlier at 5,000 kilometers. Nowadays, new cars come with maintenance reminder systems—when the wrench icon appears on the dashboard, it's time to visit the 4S shop. Last time, before a long-distance trip in my turbocharged car, I specifically switched to full synthetic oil and noticed the engine noise significantly reduced. For the first maintenance of a new car, I recommend following the manual rather than being persuaded by the 4S shop to do it earlier, which is just a waste of money.
As a veteran driver with twenty years of experience, I've seen countless cases of engine overhauls. The most critical period is the initial maintenance during the break-in phase of a new car—the factory-fill oil containing metal shavings must be changed at 5,000 kilometers. After that, full synthetic oil can reliably last for 10,000 kilometers, while mineral oil should ideally not exceed 7,000 kilometers. Last week, I helped a neighbor inspect an SUV that frequently operates on construction sites. After just 4,000 kilometers, the oil was as black as ink. Under such working conditions, the oil change interval must be shortened. Nowadays, many new cars use low-viscosity oils like 0W-20, which have strong cleaning properties but degrade quickly, so extra attention must be paid to the time interval—it should be changed every six months or so.
