Changing the oil in the Engine: When and how Often

One of the conditions for the operation of the car engine is a correctly selected and sufficient amount of oil. It minimizes friction and wear of working elements, maintains optimum temperature and prevents corrosion.

Regular oil changes are necessary to keep your engine in good condition. This is usually done according to the manufacturer’s schedule, but sometimes you can deviate from it. Let’s take a look at when and how you should change your oil and whether you can do it more often than once a year.

How Often to Change Engine oil

According to the regulations of car manufacturers, the oil in the engine should be changed every 10 or 15 thousand kilometers or at least once a year (depending on the brand). But some models independently calculate the frequency of replacement, focusing on the number of motor-hours and operating conditions. With prolonged engine operation in traffic jams or at high speeds, the operating temperature of the oil rises, and it degrades more intensively.

And during short city trips it does not have time to warm up to operating temperatures, which contributes to the formation of deposits. Frequent starts in frost, driving in traffic jams, off-road or in sport modes can significantly reduce the frequency of replacement – up to 7-8 thousand kilometers.

Is it Possible to Change oil Once a Year?

It is wrong to change the oil at the same time every year – it is necessary to focus primarily on the mileage. During the year, the car can pass both 5 thousand kilometers and 30 thousand kilometers, and the oil should be changed in accordance with the schedule approved by the manufacturer.

However, if the car does not drive the regulated number of kilometers in a year, the recommendation of annual change should be followed. Even if the car is not driven, the oil still oxidizes over time and loses its properties.

Seasonal oil Changes: pros and cons

Seasonal oil change is justified in two cases. Firstly, it makes sense to time the oil change to the change of season in case of high mileage. Secondly, it is worth changing oil twice a year in regions with a sharp change of climate. Usually universal oils suitable for the whole temperature range are used, but in places with extreme winters or very hot summers it makes sense to use more specialized oils.

For example, in winter, pour less viscous varieties that make it easier to start the engine in the cold. And in summer – more viscous, guaranteeing some fuel economy. Double replacement is more expensive, but seasonal oils themselves can be cheaper than universal oils.

When an Extraordinary Change is Required

Mandatory replacement is required after repair work that involves draining the oil or partially disassembling the engine. Also, oil should be changed when other liquids get into it. For example, water when overcoming water obstacles or coolant when gaskets break.

Sometimes car owners or service employees mistakenly pour other technical liquids into the oil filler – this is also a reason for immediate replacement. But to change the oil, if it has become dark, does not make sense – in the process of operation, the lubricant accumulates dirt, and this is normal.

How to Check the Engine oil Level

You can check the oil level in two ways: at any service station or by yourself. No special tools are required for such manipulation. It is enough to prepare gloves and any clean rags or paper towel.

The oil level is always checked when the engine is not running and on a flat horizontal surface. The sequence of actions when checking oil is usually as follows:

4 Steps to Check the Engine oil

1. Preparation. The vehicle is parked on a level surface with the engine off and the transmission in P (Park). If the vehicle was previously in motion, the engine should be allowed to cool down. It is recommended to wait at least 15 minutes.

2. Oil dipstick. This is a special rod located in a tube attached to the cylinder block. The lower end of the dipstick is immersed in the oil in the engine crankcase. The outer edge, as a rule, has a plastic handle of yellow or orange color with the image of an oiler. On the opposite end there are special marks on which the oil level is measured. These may be the two letters L and H (low and high) or the words MIN and MAX.

3. Measuring the oil level. To measure the oil level, you need to pull out the dipstick completely, and then wipe it with a paper towel or rag. Then dip the dipstick back into the tube, pushing it in as far as it will go.

4. Checking the oil level. Pulling out the dipstick again, you should look at the tip – there will be an oil film there. If it overlaps the lower mark, slightly short of the MAX mark, there is enough oil in the car engine. If the oil film is close to the MIN mark, the oil should be topped up. In the case when the level is far below this level – the movement is prohibited.

How to add oil to the Engine

Ideally, the oil should be the same oil that was put into the engine at the last service. Information about this can be found in the service book or on a tag, which is sometimes attached to the filler neck or the handle of the oil dipstick. If it is not possible to add oil of the same brand, you can pick up another brand, but strictly with similar viscosity and quality indicators.

To do this, you should study the manufacturer’s recommendations, checking them with the markings on the canister.

• What is the Difference Between Petrol and Diesel Engines?

Types of motor oil

Motor oils are divided into synthetic, semi-synthetic and mineral. They can be summer, winter or multigrade, only for gasoline or diesel engines, and universal. To designate the type of oil and its characteristics, combinations of letters and numbers are used according to the classification:

• SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers): is labeled with the abbreviation SAE and numbers denoting viscosity. For winter oils the letter W is added, all-season lubricants have two numbers and indexes W and SAE.

• API (American Petroleum Institute): pairs of letters are used to indicate the characteristics of the oil. The first ones refer to the type of motor: S – gasoline, C – diesel. The second letters follow alphabetically from A and correspond to the year of manufacture of the car.

• ACEA (Association des Constructeurs Europeens d’Automobiles): this classification contains subclasses: A – gasoline cars, B – diesel cars and E – heavy-duty diesel trucks. The numbers used with each letter refer to the oil’s performance and composition.

Oil should be added to the cooled engine in small portions of 250-300 grams. After each refill, wait a few minutes to allow it to reach the crankcase and check the level again.

Pour into the diesel engine oil for gasoline engines without special need should not be. Lubricants for heavy-fuel units differ in composition and performance characteristics. They are designed for higher compression ratio, higher operating temperature and contain a special package of detergent additives.

Using oil with characteristics other than those recommended by the manufacturer is also undesirable. For example, a less viscous oil than required can cause excessive engine wear, since it does not form a sufficient protective film on the working elements. A more viscous mixture than required will reduce fuel economy, increase engine load and slow down the oil flow rate through the system.

What Happens if you Overfill the Engine With oil

Overfilling the oil is just as dangerous for the engine as a lack of oil. If the MAX level is exceeded by a millimeter, you can not worry and wait for the natural working out. If the overflow is a centimeter or more – you should contact a car service to remove the excess.

Indirectly on the overflow of oil (if it was not noticed at the time of filling, for example, because the car was standing on a slope) can indicate:

• Blue, white or gray smoke from the exhaust pipe;
• Difficulty in starting the engine, increased fuel consumption for no apparent reason;
• Oil leakage.

Oil overflow can lead to the following faults:

• Failure of the neutralizer due to oil entering the combustion chamber and further release with the exhaust gases;
• Leakage or rupture of gaskets and oil seals due to increased pressure in the lubrication system;
• Accelerated wear of spark plugs, oil filter and pump;
• Deterioration of acceleration dynamics and responsiveness of the accelerator pedal, as excess oil will create additional resistance to the rotating crankshaft.