How Often Should You Change Your Oil?

All makes and models of vehicles come with a recommended service maintenance schedule located inside the vehicle owner’s manual. If you find yourself wondering: “How often should I change my oil?” you will identify the recommended oil change frequency in your owner’s manual. The state of your oil indicates the health of your engine. Your engine’s health is as important as you and your Brooklyn driver’s health because if your engine malfunctions, it could lead to potentially dangerous outcomes on the road while driving.

Oil Change Frequency for Older & Newer Vehicles

Every make and model of a vehicle has a recommended maintenance schedule outlined in your owner’s manual, and there are also excellent rules of thumb to follow when it comes to your car’s oil change schedule. First and foremost, you must use the type of oil your vehicle is designed for by referencing your owner’s manual. 

• Older (cars not manufactured in the last decade) rule of thumb: Change your automobile’s oil every 30,00 miles or three months – whichever comes first.
• Newer model cars: More recent model cars have an electronic oil quality and quantity monitoring system that takes the guesswork out of the process entirely. Otherwise, the rule of thumb is every 7,500 to 10,000 miles or six to twelve months. If you commute from Brooklyn to Staten Island, ensure that you keep a log of your oil changes and mileage.
• After checking your oil: You should check your oil once a month, and if you find specific issues, schedule a service appointment at the Brooklyn Volkswagen service center.

How to Check Your Oil

Follow these easy steps to check your oil levels and quality:

1. Make sure to park your car on level ground, place it in the park gear, ensure the parking brake is engaged and the engine has cooled off to prevent burns.
2. Open the hood and locate the dipstick, pull the dipstick out, clean it off with an old rag or paper towel, and insert it fully back into the tube.
3. Pull the dipstick back out and check the oil level – the dipstick has markers that indicate if the oil is low or high or at a minimum or maximum level. Note where your oil level falls between these markers.
4. Check the oil’s color making sure it should be brown or black. If it is milky in color, this could indicate a coolant leakage. Also, there should not be any flecks of metal in the oil, which could point to internal engine damage. Finally, make sure the oil does not smell burnt, as this indicates the engine is overheating, you are running low on oil, or there is an issue with your transmission.

Schedule Your Next Oil Change at Brooklyn Volkswagen

Contact us immediately if you check your oil and find any abnormalities in the oil’s level, color, or smell. We offer a variety of service specials to make it easier on your wallet when you bring your vehicle in to have your oil checked!