How Often Should You Get an Oil Change? Mileage & Time Guide

You’ve probably heard the classic advice: “Change your oil every 3,000 miles.” But for most drivers today, that rule is outdated. With advances in engine design and the prevalence of synthetic oils, your vehicle might be able to go 5,000, 7,500, or even 10,000 miles between oil changes, depending on how you drive, and what type of oil you use.

In this guide, we’ll help you figure out the right oil change schedule for your vehicle by breaking down some key factors like the type of oil you use, how old your engine is, your driving habits, and the manufacturer recommendations for your vehicle. We'll also cover common signs that it’s time for an oil change, and what can happen if you wait too long.

General Oil Change Intervals: By Oil Type & Vehicle

Let’s start with a quick-reference guide on oil change intervals for the different types of motor oil:

• Conventional Oil: 3,000 to 5,000 miles, on average.

• Synthetic Oil Change Mileage: roughly 5,000 to 7,500 miles.

• Full Synthetic Oil: often 7,500 to 10,000+ miles.

And let’s add a quick-reference guide for each type of vehicle:

For older vehicles (10 years or older):

The general rule is to change your oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles, but this can vary quite a bit depending on your driving habits, the climate you drive in, and the type and brand of oil you use. Short trips, extreme temperatures, stop-and-go traffic, and towing can all accelerate your oil’s breakdown and require more frequent changes, even closer to the 3,000-mile mark.

For newer vehicles (less than 10 years old):

Due to improvements in engine design and the use of synthetic oils, a lot of newer cars can go 7,500 to 10,000 miles or more between oil changes. That being said, it’s still important to follow your vehicle’s manufacturer guidelines, especially if you are driving in severe conditions - frequent short trips, lots of idling, dusty roads, or heavy loads. However, "up to 10,000 miles" doesn’t mean it’s ideal for everyone. 

To summarize: 

1. Engine oil life (from shortest to longest): Conventional oil → Synthetic Blend Oil → Full Synthetic Oil. 

2. Older cars usually need more frequent oil changes, while modern vehicles can generally run longer distances between oil change service.

Motor Oil Types: What’s the Difference?

Let’s take a closer look at the three different motor oil types: Conventional, synthetic blend, and full synthetic. Here’s what sets them apart:

Conventional Oil

• Most common oil type

• Budget friendly 

• Less performance vs synthetic

Regarded as the most common and affordable variety of motor oil on the market, conventional oil is made from refined crude oil. Conventional oil is considered good for use in the majority of passenger vehicles you see on the road, since many have uncomplicated engine designs and generally have lower overall mileage. The one caveat, as a budget option, is that conventional oil is not capable of delivering the same performance under more demanding driving conditions compared to synthetic varieties. 

Synthetic Blend Oil

• More expensive than conventional, but costs less than full synthetic 

• Better performs in extreme weather and demanding driving conditions

A mixture of premium synthetic and conventional oil, synthetic blends are capable of delivering performance that’s above the cheap stuff without the premium cost associated with a full synthetic. Synthetic blends can better resist the elements without compromising on lubrication to the engine. As an added bonus, they can improve overall fuel efficiency. 

Synthetic Oil

• Premium oil type

• Can provide the best engine performance and protection 

• Additional cost may be offset by the long-term benefits

Full synthetic oil is specially engineered to provide the best engine performance and protection across the board. Like synthetic blends, full synthetics are robust when it comes to withstanding the elements and preventing contamination. Even under extreme temperatures and driving conditions, synthetic oils can deliver excellent fuel efficiency and help you go longer between oil changes. Although they come with a premium price tag, the long-term cost-saving benefits can easily outweigh the price tag to help keep your engine running over time. How often to change synthetic oil is comparatively less than its predecessors.

Oil Change Frequency By Car

Outside of your total mileage, oil change frequency is another key factor when considering how often you should change your oil. In other words, how long you can go without an oil change can partially be determined by whether you drive an old or newer vehicle. 

Older Cars → More Frequent Oil Changes

Why do older cars require more frequent oil changes? 

• Increased engine wear 

• Increased oil consumption

• Oil degrades faster

• More contaminants

Compared to modern vehicles, older vehicles (10 years old or more), require more frequent oil changes due to increased engine wear and oil quality. The older your engine, the greater likelihood it exhibits some wear and tear. Diminished engines often consume more oil and can even spring potential leaks, causing the oil to break down ahead of schedule. Due to the above, older engines also may not be capable of exacting the full benefits of premium oil.  

Newer Cars → Less Frequent Oil Changes

• Advanced engine design

• Improved oil functionality

• Reduced wear & tear

• Subject to stricter fuel efficiency standards

Newer vehicles commonly feature significant engine design advancements, designed to meet stricter fuel efficiency standards and extract the many benefits of modern oil technology. As newer engines are virtually free of the wear and tear you see in older cars, there are less contaminants for your oil to combat while driving. How long you can go without an oil change may be significantly improved with newer vehicles, especially when utilizing full synthetic oil.

Time Vs. Mileage Oil Change

Is it better to change oil by mileage or time? According to the experts, you should replace your car’s oil based on whichever comes first: mileage or time. Contrary to what the “every 3,000 miles” mentality suggests, there is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to your engine oil life. While total mileage can be a decent indication of your oil integrity, it’s by no means the gold standard to follow. In addition to following the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) recommendations for your car, many experts say it's best to consider both time and mileage to determine your precise oil change interval. 

Factors That Shorten Engine Oil Life

To get a better gauge for when an oil change is necessary, it certainly doesn’t hurt to identify the key factors tied to shortening engine oil life. Here are some examples:

Frequent short trips 

Short-trip oil change frequency may be an unavoidable reality for many routine drivers who primarily follow a short commute. Driving shorter distances gives your oil less time to achieve its ideal operating temperature, which causes condensation to develop and sucks up more contaminants. While we’re on the subject of traveling short distances, stop-and-go traffic can also be a detriment to your engine oil life. 

Extreme driving conditions

More demanding driving conditions, such as driving in extreme hot or cold temperatures, can be very taxing on your engine oil. Outside of extreme weather, driving in dusty conditions or even hauling heavy loads across great distances can also quickly deplete your oil. 

High-mileage engines

Some vehicles outfitted with high-mileage engines can potentially benefit from more frequent oil changes using specially formulated blends designed for high-mileage.

Signs You Need an Oil Change

You may be asking when are you due for your next oil change? Tracking your mileage and paying attention to the sticker on your windshield with the date of your service definitely helps. In addition to those reminders, here’s a list of clear-cut signs you need to replace your vehicle’s oil:

Your check engine light is on:

This one is hard to miss. One of the most common reasons you’ll see this notification pop up on your dashboard display is because your oil is reaching the end of its life cycle. 

You’re hearing engine noises:

If you hear rattling noises from your engine, you should not ignore them. Pay close attention when you start your vehicle. If you can pick out sounds that you’d otherwise describe as ticking or knocking, this can be a good indication that the engine isn’t properly lubricated and you’re due for an oil change. 

The oil looks and smells dirty:

The oil in your engine picks up contaminations and debris from the outside environment. The older your oil, the more funky it gets in both looks and appearance. Once the oil looks like sludge, or starts to smell like it’s burning, it’s likely time to schedule an oil change.  

Worsening vehicle performance:

Have you noticed your acceleration has dramatically slowed down? As well as your fuel efficiency decreasing? Perhaps you’ve seen your car emitting more exhaust smoke than usual. Whatever the case, performance issues are a strong indication that the engine oil life is past its expiration date.

The engine stalls:

Rough idling and engines that struggle to turn (especially during colder temperatures) also suggest you need to replenish your car’s oil.

What Happens If You Don’t Change Your Oil On Time?

Every day people hear from their mechanic that they have significant unnecessary damage to their car engine. More often than not, regular routine maintenance could have avoided this entirely.

Neglecting an oil change can cause a lot of different issues for your car, including:

Increased wear and tear to the engine:

Driving with old and contaminated oil forces the engine to work harder. The worsening oil  makes it less capable of providing lubrication to the sensitive components of your engine. In the worst cases, prolonging an oil change can cause total engine failure. Risking catastrophic damage to your engine simply isn’t worth putting off an oil change.

Overheating:

While it may be easy to overlook the oil life monitor on your display, smoke coming from your engine is not subtle at all: you will definitely notice. The additional strain caused by a lack of fresh oil can lead to soaring temperatures under the hood, leading to potentially very costly repair bills the longer you drive. 

Reduced fuel efficiency:

It’s common knowledge that no one wants to spend more money on gas. However, putting off an oil change reduces your vehicle’s performance in many respects, such as the overall fuel efficiency you experience between visits to the pump.

Keeping up with the right oil change schedule is one of the simplest ways to protect your engine in the long run - if you ever need help figuring out the right oil change schedule for your vehicle, the technicians at Mavis are always here to make it easy.