How Often Should You Change Your Oil?

When you love your new GMC Acadia or your new Buick Enclave and want to keep it in great condition, you’ll definitely want to stay up to date with regular maintenance. Do you know what your oil change frequency should be? For a long time, Henrico drivers always changed their oil every 3,000 miles, but times have changed for the better. Are you asking, “How often should you change your oil?” Thanks to improved technology, with regular driving habits in Glen Allen you can go 7,000 – 10,000 miles between oil changes. Learn more with the Rick Hendrick Chevrolet Richmond service department, below!

Oil Change Frequency Tips

7,000 to 10,000 miles is a big jump. How can you tell what oil change frequency is right for your car? New vehicles can go longer between oil changes. If you’re driving the city streets in Goochland, you can likely go longer between changes. However, if you’re using your vehicle for any of these kinds of driving, you’ll want more frequent oil changes to protect your engine:

• Off-roading
• Commercial driving
• Racing
• Heavy towing

How to Check Oil Levels

Once a month you should check your oil levels to make sure the oil is clean and you have enough. Here’s how:

• Park your vehicle on level ground and make sure the engine has been turned off for 30 minutes.
• Open the hood and find the dipstick. If needed, refer to your owner’s manual.
• Pull the dipstick out of the engine and wipe any oil from the end of it. First, check to see if any debris is left behind. If so, you might need an oil change sooner than usual.
• Next, re-insert the dipstick all the way back into its tube, then pull it out again and look at both sides to see where the oil level is.

If the top of your oil streak is between two marks or within a cross-hatched area, the oil level is good. If it isn’t, you’ll need to add more oil a little at a time, until the level is sitting at the appropriate level.

Stay Up to Date on Maintenance With Rick Hendrick Chevrolet Richmond

No need to ask, “How often should I change my oil?” anymore! Now that you know, you can schedule service at Rick Hendrick Chevrolet Richmond every 7,000 – 10,000 miles. And don’t forget to check our service specials for great deals on your GMC or Buick’s routine maintenance, including battery service!