How to Determine When to Change Engine Oil for Your Car
2 Answers
The following are methods to determine whether your car needs an oil change: 1. Observe with oil test paper; Take a small amount of oil from the dipstick and drip it onto the oil test paper, then let it sit overnight, waiting for the oil to fully diffuse on the paper. The harder the edges between the diffused oil ring, sediment ring, and diffusion ring, the more the oil performance has deteriorated. 2. Judge based on driving experience after an oil change; Engine oil performance has a 'shelf life.' At a certain point, if you feel the car is sluggish when starting or acceleration slows down, it indicates the oil's 'shelf life' has reached its limit, and it's time for an oil change. Additionally, if you notice a significant improvement in power after changing the oil, it means the last oil change interval was too long. Next time, you can consider changing the oil 500 kilometers earlier. After 1-2 adjustments, you can find a more accurate oil change interval. Additional Information: It's best to replace the oil filter along with the oil change. The oil filter's role is to trap impurities in the oil. If not replaced in time, accumulated impurities can cause blockages. In mild cases, it may lead to insufficient oil pressure and poor lubrication of mechanical parts; in severe cases, it can cause excessive engine wear.
After years of driving, I mainly rely on intuition and experience to determine when to change the engine oil. When checking the dipstick, if the oil turns black like coffee grounds or has a pungent burnt smell, these are signs of aging. Feeling the oil on the dipstick with your fingers—if it's sticky and has a gritty texture—indicates excessive impurity buildup. Additionally, mileage is crucial; for regular city driving, it's recommended to change the oil every 5,000 to 7,500 kilometers. If you frequently drive long distances or in hot weather, the oil change interval should be shortened to around 4,000 kilometers. Overused oil can lead to increased engine noise and higher fuel consumption, so it's important to take action as soon as issues are detected.
