More and more motorists on the roads are a consequence of both the growth of the population in general and the improvement of living standards. Owning a car is simply becoming an obligatory part of the social image of a prestigious person, and not just being functionally used as a means of transportation. But not everyone knows how to take care of their four-wheeled friends, and as a result, they begin to ask questions.
This approach is reasonable, because a car service is not always at hand, but your own hands can solve many problems. One of the questions: how often to change the oil in the engine? Actually, this will be discussed below.
Basic FAQ
The question of frequency, in fact, often fades into the background. Especially when it comes to choosing. So now a few small subtopics of interest to motorists will be revealed. Naturally, one way or another, this will concern the question of how often to change the oil in the engine. You will get a direct answer too. But this topic is generally quite complicated, because for the solution you need to know many variables. That is why everything is so individual.
Where to buy engine oil?
If you look at the appropriate stores, you can see that the shelves are literally clogged with a variety of oils and other similar compounds. The choice is practically unlimited, because, in addition to branded lines, it is quite possible to find the composition “from the manufacturer” as well.
Before choosing this or that option, you need to find out one especially important thing - any oil, whatever it may be, always consists of a certain base, as well as additives.
How are oils divided?
The separation takes place according to the thesis already voiced - that is, given the basis of the product. There are three main types - mineral, synthetic and semi-synthetic bases.
Using them as a foundation, they create all the products that are exhibited in car supermarkets. Oddly enough, you have to choose from the last two types. Mineral oils as such are almost never found.
You can buy either semi-synthetics or synthetics, where the composition is based on a variety of artificial compounds. The first is usually cheaper and weaker in quality, but it is suitable for most cars. The second, in turn, is often more expensive - but the appropriateness of its use is a big question.
How often to change the engine oil?
Any driver will exhaustively answer this question - the more often, the better. True, here you encounter certain difficulties, since this process is quite long, and the product used itself costs a certain amount. So usually in the technical characteristics of the machine a recommendation from the manufacturer is affixed.
Actually, there is simply no definite answer to this question - it can be any number from 5 to 50 thousand kilometers inclusive. True, a whole chain of factors plays a role here, which will be discussed below.
What aspects should be considered?
As you already understood, any manufacturer technologically calculates the recommended service interval. You should be guided in it first of all.
Also, do not forget about those points that can reduce the intervals between regular maintenance. These are usually external factors. They mainly affect the life of the motor itself - so pay special attention to this.
Based on all of the above, you need to calculate an individual replacement schedule. But this will still be something rather arbitrary, because in addition to time and mileage, there are other factors, and you simply can’t take into account everything until this happens.
Manufacturer's recommendations
This item is the most important in the question that has been raised. Indeed, is it possible to find out how often to change the oil in the engine (Ford Focus 2nd generation, for example)? Yes, such an opportunity exists. To do this, you just need to look at such a graph as the service interval in the technical documents for the machine. There is nothing complicated about it.
But you should know that these are just general recommendations. So the average conditions used in the assessment can be completely incomparable with those in which you live. This is quite normal, and you just need to consider everything that happens with the machine and inside it.
How does the manufacturer calculate the service interval?
Cars do not live forever - it is simply unprofitable for manufacturers. Accordingly, a logical conclusion can be drawn from this - any recommended time frame is by no means a concern for the engine of your car. At least when it comes to long-term prospects.
There is nothing particularly surprising in this, since the manufacturer is interested in only one thing - that the machine worked the entire warranty period and it could not be sued. There is even some benefit here, especially if the mechanism breaks shortly after the warranty ends.
In addition, there is also a marketing moment - the longer the interval specified in the documents, the more attractive the machine will become for the buyer.
Indeed, how often to change the oil in the engine, this is just another argument with which you can convince to make an absolutely unjustified purchase.
There are no specific tips on this. Trusting the manufacturer is up to you. But in the CIS, the justification and feasibility of such an approach may be somewhat different. This should also be remembered.
Factors affecting the interval between replacements
It’s worth starting with the main reasons. First of all, this is the season, as well as the operation mode of the machine. That is, in general, it all depends on when and how you use the car. Here it is no longer just a matter of a reasonable grain, but rather a reasoned conclusion.
In addition, it is worth considering the quality of the gasoline used - this may turn out to be a key point. Also pay attention to other supplies. Actually, the same oil can greatly affect how often it will have to be changed.
There are also internal problems of the car, which can greatly affect the resulting figure.
Basically, these are a variety of leaks or fumes. In the first case, you should contact a professional service as soon as possible, because some part of the oil pipe is damaged, and this can lead to the worst consequences. In the second, you can figure it out yourself, but much depends on the reasons that entailed such consequences.
Also, manufacturers often use such a magical phrase as “harsh operating conditions”, but this should be discussed separately. In general, this greatly affects the service interval. True, descriptions of such processes are a rather laborious thing.
What is harsh environment?
It can be assumed that you imagined hearing this phrase. So, immediately forget - here you will be wrong. So, the main points of intolerable conditions for a car:
- Irregular use - cars that drive every day behave best. Otherwise, this leads to the need for frequent oil changes, as well as to other problems in the engine mechanism.
- Regular trips over short distances - this is the essence of trips on the cold engine. Actually, in most cases, especially in cities, the engine simply never warms up to its normal state, at least, following the daily route.
- Riding on the principle of "start-stop" - usually this happens at any traffic light or intersection. At the time of start, the oil heats up especially strongly, and therefore is consumed.
- The load on the machine or the use of a trailer is simply an excessive load exerted on the motor, which affects the oil itself.
- Air pollution - any dust and dirt entering the engine through the air filter can have a certain impact on the quality of its work.
- Low quality of gasoline - there is no need to explain anything further at this point.
- Idling.
Additional factors
There are also certain difficulties that cannot be forgotten. The main one on which emphasis is placed is a vacuum oil change. Here you need to know that, despite all its advantages, such as an accelerated process by an order of magnitude, and clean hands in the end, this method also has its own disadvantages.
Firstly, in this way it is impossible to drain all the oil to a drop - and in the traditional version everything just happens. In addition, sediment remains at the bottom of the sump, which cannot be removed by vacuum suction.
In general, if you use this method, then remember a few tips - alternate it with the usual. Also, do not forget that you will need to carry out maintenance after such a replacement a little earlier - just for the safety of the engine.
Domestic cars
And yet, how often to change the oil in the engine of the 2107th VAZ? Specific questions require specific answers. Only this excites most motorists. So, you have to focus on numbers from 10 to 15 thousand kilometers. In the same way, you can answer the question of how often to change the oil in the VAZ-2109 engine.
For some other domestic cars, the numbers may vary slightly. But in general, for example, the same "Lada" are not very different from the VAZs. For example, on a domestic machine, how often do I change the oil in the engine (Kalina is no exception)? The answer will be the same. Ten, maybe fifteen thousand kilometers. As you can see, there is nothing difficult in orientation. Also, due to the popularity of the model, one can often hear the question: but at Prior, how often do you change the oil in the engine? The Priora 2170 model is being repaired according to the same principle. The numbers are not particularly changing.
In addition, there are more modern models of Russian cars. They need to talk about a little more.
For example, how often to change the oil in the VAZ-2114 engine? According to the factory specification, we are talking about fifteen thousand kilometers. But reviews of motorists, rather, hint at a slightly lower number - ten. Yes, and with regular maintenance to avoid related problems.
If you are interested in how often to change the oil in the VAZ-2110 engine, the answer will not change. These are all the same ten thousand kilometers. Fifteen in some cases.
Popular foreign cars
Of the European small cars intended for the city, several brands are especially popular among Russians. Therefore, the questions are relevant: how often to change the oil in the 2nd generation Ford Focus engine, for example? The answer lies in the technical documentation - 20 thousand km. But, given the particular environmental conditions, motorists recommend slightly lower numbers. Usually opinions agree on 15 thousand, but the car may well pass all 18.
Many are also interested in how often to change the oil in the engine of Renault-Logan. Interest is justified, given the prevalence of the model. Again, the manufacturer indicates 20 thousand km. But Russian roads and harsh operating conditions halve the figure.