Is there a way to test if it's too dirty/old?How can i know for sure that I need an oil change and not just more oil?Think with your dip stick, Jimmy!How can i know for sure that I need an oil change and not just more oil?change your oil every 3000 miles some recommed 5000 miles plus oil filterHow can i know for sure that I need an oil change and not just more oil?look at oil stick
if not light brown get oil change
change oil every 4000 milesHow can i know for sure that I need an oil change and not just more oil?ask your wifeHow can i know for sure that I need an oil change and not just more oil?5 months or 5,000 milesHow can i know for sure that I need an oil change and not just more oil?Three things cause oil to fail to do its job:
1. Dirt, while oil filters can take large particles out of the oil small ones get through and act as sand paper on all the friction surfaces. Seen as dirty oil on the dipstick.
2. Age, as oil is cycled through a hot engine it looses additives and cooks. Once a can of oil is opened it starts aging. You can not see this and any test to find out if it has happened will cost more then the oil change.
3. Water, this happens even in perfect engines, there is an emulsifier in the oil that helps it to deal with this, but it has its limitations. When this fails engine gunk starts to build up. Unless you take the valve covers off, it is not detectable. So to find out if the oil is failing in this area, once more the cost of doing so exceeds the cost of an oil change.
So there are two criterion for oil changes, distance and time. With standard type oils 3 months or 3000 miles. Synthetics also have a limit that can be much longer.
Just change the oil, it is easier on the budget then a new engine and/or fewer miles per gallon.How can i know for sure that I need an oil change and not just more oil?ya either just change it every 3-5000 miles or if you want to try and get more use out of the oil (not a great idea but some do) just check you dip stick every at 3000 and then every 500 after that
