How often should the engine oil of a car be changed?
2 Answers
Mineral oil: 5000 kilometers or 6 months. Semi-synthetic oil: 7500 kilometers or 6 months. Fully synthetic oil: 10000 kilometers or 12 months. The functions of engine oil: 1. Lubrication: There is rapid relative sliding between the piston and cylinder, as well as between the main shaft and bearing bush. To prevent excessive wear of parts, an oil film needs to be established between the two sliding surfaces. A sufficiently thick oil film separates the surfaces of the relatively sliding parts, thereby reducing wear. 2. Cleaning: Good engine oil can carry carbon deposits, sludge, and worn metal particles from engine parts back to the oil tank through circulation, and flush away dirt generated on the working surfaces of parts through the flow of the lubricating oil.
Every time my friends ask me this question, I share my own experience. When I first started driving, I was also confused, but later I figured it out. For regular family cars, you usually need to change the oil every six months or 5,000 kilometers, especially with mineral oil. That's what I follow for my Japanese car. If you're using fully synthetic oil, the high-quality kind, it can last up to 10,000 kilometers, but definitely don't exceed a year. The key is to check the manual! The manufacturer's recommendations are more accurate than anything else. I've noticed that if you often drive in city traffic or mostly take short trips, the oil degrades faster, so it's better to change it earlier. An oil change isn't expensive, but delaying it and damaging the engine would be a huge loss.
